Essendon star Brendon Goddard believes there is room for an AFL home and away scheduled round celebrating the gay community in wake of the club’s formation of a gay and lesbian supporter group.
Long-time Bombers member Jason Tuazon-McCheyne was given a green light by the Dons to establish the ‘Purple Bombers’, a gay and lesbian supporter group featuring its own 2015 membership packages and logo.
But Goddard believes the entire league needs to get behind Essendon’s ground breaking move.
“I think there’s got to be the support from us being behind this but from the AFL as well and then from the wider footy community and the other footy clubs,” Goddard said Thursday.
“I don’t see why it can’t happen. It’s obviously probably a little while down the track with organising this stuff but I think they deserve the right.
“It’s great for this [group] to come to fruition and become something.
“We want to create a place not only here at Essendon but at the footy that everyone is welcome and equal.”
The AFL launched home and away rounds celebrating the involvement of less recognised groups around the sport, including an indigenous and women’s round, founded in 2007 and 2013 respectively.
“I look forward to the day when a football club will actually hold a pride round and stand and say we value all of our fans,” Tuazon-McCheyne said.
“The AFL doesn’t have any out players and a lot of its fans aren’t even out in the audience.
“It’s time that changed and we should have a diverse environment where we can all be accepted and appreciated for who we are. It’s really important I can sit there and be happy and be myself and know that I’m accepted and valued by the club that I’ve loved all my life.”
Essendon’s recently appointed CEO Xavier Campbell threw the club’s support behind the movement at Thursday’s press conference.
“The Purple Bombers is great initiative. No matter what your race, religion, gender or sexuality – everyone deserves the right to head along and enjoy the football in a safe and positive environment,” he said.
“Our club has always championed diversity and inclusion at the football – and the formation of the Purple Bombers supporter group is the next step in this important initiative.”
Photo: Scott Barbour
