Source: Radio New Zealand
File photo. Ian Roberts playing for Manly Sea Eagles in 1995. Photosport / Andrew Cornaga
The NRL’s first openly gay player has slammed the NZ Breakers as “cowards” for not wearing the rainbow Pride flag in next year’s NBL Pride Round.
The Breakers are the second club to opt out of the pride jersey since the Round began in 2023, saying it’s to protect individual players from being singled out for their beliefs. Cairns Taipans did the same during the inaugural round, when the players did not wear a pride jersey.
Ian Roberts has a prominent voice and advocate for the rainbow community in Australian sport since coming out as gay in 1995, while still an active NRL player.
He told Morning Report the NZ Breakers’ decision was shameful and could have huge repercussions for people struggling with their sexual identity.
“They’re absolute cowards.”
“Call it for what it is. This is homophobia.”
“This is bigotry. Just call it for what it is, at least have the courage to stand up and say, ‘yeah, I’m against this, I’m not for same-sex people being same-sex attracted, I’m totally opposed to that and I won’t wear a badge’.”
“The consequences can be catastrophic for kids who are dealing with their sexuality and you’ve got d…heads like this who want to jump up and wave their religious book or culturally.”
“I thought religion was supposed to be about embracing and loving and caring,” he said.
RNZ has approached the Breakers for comment.
Pride Round is the basketball league’s annual celebration of diversity and inclusion, recognising the LGBTQIA-plus community.
Roberts said he wasn’t surprised by the basketball team’s decision and believed there had been political and religious pressures.
The former Kangaroos and NSW Blues representative said the Breakers didn’t appreciate the depth of feeling within the sporting rainbow community.
“That’s why I get so worked up when people push back against it, it’s just saying, we embrace you, you’re welcome. That’s basically what it’s saying.”
“Events like this make people feel better about themselves and make people feel worthy and make people feel like they’re not freaks and they’re not all isolated.”
“It’s to be a part of this sport and to be a part of the sporting community. It should be a thing of celebration. It shouldn’t be any controversy… that’s why I just find it difficult that people want to use culture, cultural issues or religious issues or political issues to push back against stuff like this.”
“This is about saving kids’ lives. That’s the bottom line for me, that’s how I see it.”
The Manly Sea Eagles great said he believed in the power of sport to change people’s lives and hoped the NZ Breakers reconsidered their position.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
