By PETER DOUGLAS
PRIDE Cup ambassadors have again set about busting the myth that rural Victoria is a breeding ground for homophobia.
In a well-attended event at Yarra Glen Recreation Reserve, the third instalment of the emerging event featured a fun, welcoming environment while delivering plenty of strong community messages.
That message is to celebrate diversion and inclusion in sport, with the event’s origins involving Yarra Glen footballer Jason Ball, who was the first Australian Rules player at any level to come out as being gay.
On hand to help this year’s Pride Cup were veteran Channel Nine newsreader Peter Hitchener, and Victorian Gender and Sexuality Commissioner Rowena Allen.
At a special luncheon before the feature senior match, Mr Hitchener told the crowd that it was a myth that rural Victoria was a place of ignorance.
“Country football is not a homophobic place, the Yarra Glen Football Club and Jason Ball have taught us all that,” he said.
Hitchener recalled his own experiences growing up, and explained how he wished there was an ambassador like Jason Ball during his early years.
“Coming from the bush, and at an early age, I didn’t really understand all the words they used,” he said.
“… I learnt to fight and survive, but I wish there was someone like Jason Ball around – a mentor – when I was going through that.”
Meanwhile, Ms Allen said it was only too easy to get caught up in Jason Ball’s story and not really acknowledge his journey.
“We’re all amazed about the story of Jason Ball, but it came at a cost … it’s hard to be the first, it’s much easier to be the second,” she said.
Ms Allen said the event was also a way to pay tribute to those who have gone before and strived for inclusion.
She also acknowledged the importance of the pride theme, which has now filtered to other codes and is set to become and AFL event this year.
Jason Ball also addressed the audience, told the audience of his early life and path towards the third Pride Cup.
“I was 12 years old when I realised I was gay; I always associated that word with something bad … I wished that I wasn’t gay … I had thought about taking my own life,” he said.
“I thought this (the football club) was the one place I couldn’t come out … I couldn’t talk about relationships or what you did on the weekend.”
Eventually, he came out to a team-mate and then to the wider club.
“To be able to see rainbow jumpers on the players which everyone is happy to put on, makes me so proud,” he said.
Also present on the day were numerous Yarra Ranges Shire councillors, as well as representatives from Eastern Health, Headspace and the Pink Magpies.
