Ian Roberts Speaks Against Josh Aloiai And Manly Eagles Over Pride Jersey Controversy
In July, 2022, the NRL Manly Sea Eagles landed in controversy after a group of players opted out of a game where team organisers had planned to wear Pride jerseys for LGBTQIA+ solidarity. Since then, rugby’s first openly gay player, Ian Roberts, has spoken out against the reasons the players provided regarding their boycott, reports News.com.
ROBERTS BELIEVES IGNORANCE IS TO BLAME
Seven players were responsible for the boycott that launched a national conversation about homophobia in sports. Manly Sea Eagles prop Josh Aloiai was one such player and he has broken his silence and provided his reasons for the boycott.
“You should never be put in a situation where your religious views or cultural views and beliefs conflict with your job,” says Aloiai. “We personally don’t want to live that way or endorse it but, at the same time, we quietly took our stance and didn’t say anything hateful or hurtful.”
Ian Roberts is heralded as an LGBTQIA+ icon and the first openly gay Australian NRL player. In response to Aloiai’s comments, Roberts has spoken out saying he believes the boycott remains unreasoned, reports Sydney Morning Herald. “Why isn’t he going to wear the jumper? I still don’t think I’ve heard a deep enough reason for him to say that,” says Roberts. “He’s saying he is loving and Christian but the acceptance isn’t for everyone. It’s contradictory and it’s hypocritical.”
When discussing his choice to boycott the Pride jersey, Aloiai says his family received death threats.
“(We received) death threats, my family got threats, I got threats about my son,” he says. In response to this claim, Roberts says, “I really do hope that the club or the NRL chases this up because it’s something that’s just totally unacceptable.”
Ian Roberts advocates for equality in sports and believes that players who cite religious reasons for their disapproval of LGBTQIA+ inclusivity are operating from a place of ignorance. “He sounds very ignorant. He says, ‘We’re accepting of all people. But I draw the line at wearing a rainbow’,” says Roberts.
Ian Roberts speaks exclusively to DNA in a feature interview in the December issue (DNA #275)
