Source : ABC NEWS
Former Brisbane Lions player Leigh Ryswyk says the support he has received after becoming the first AFL player to come out as gay has “blown me away”.
Ryswyk publicly came out as gay yesterday during an interview on Melbourne FM station Joy 94.9, but said his friends had known for several years.
The 41-year-old spoke on ABC 891 Adelaide this morning and said the reaction he had received since coming out had been overwhelming.
“[It] has been amazing to be honest, overwhelming support, love, messages from people from everywhere. I can’t lie, it’s blown me away,” he said.
Ryswyk played one AFL match for the Brisbane Lions in 2005, followed by a successful career in the SANFL where he played more than 200 matches for North Adelaide.
Asked if he believed he could have come out while still in the AFL, Ryswyk said he had not been ready to make that public at the time.
“Different things happen within your life and you just move forward,” he said.
“When I was ready, I was ready and that’s now.”
Ryswyk said he hoped his story could help others sportsmen feel comfortable to “be themselves” and that there would come a time in society when announcing a person’s sexuality would not be necessary.
Former West Coast defender Mitch Brown expressed similar sentiments when he became the first openly bisexual man in AFL history last year, saying he hoped his story would create the “safety, comfort, and space” for others to come forward.
Ryswyk said while AFL clubs and the AFL community would largely be supportive of queer players, crowd behaviour could be a factor in why many did not feel comfortable being openly gay.
“The club itself will just wrap their arms around the player, the AFL community as a whole will do that — the outside world, fans and media at times … then maybe that fear [from] them,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter what happens on the footy field, if someone misses a football kick and they can get trolled, right?
“People are very passionate about their footy teams and want to see them succeed, but the environment needs to change and education continue to happen, and that’s why we need to start at a younger level because again it’s learnt through that level.
“Once everyone’s on board, we want to feel safe anywhere we go.”
Speaking at a press conference today, Ryswyk said he was never made to feel unsafe at any of the clubs he had played for, either at AFL or SANFL level.
“Football clubs literally are your family and you feel like you can be you. I’ve never, ever felt at any football club I’ve ever been to that I couldn’t be me,” he said.
“In the end, it’s up to me to come out and be me if I want to share that, but I’ve never been held back or worried that if I was to do it that there would be any ridicule.”
Ryswyk still plays local footy for the Barossa Districts Football Club and is due to play tonight.
He said he was excited for the game, and most of his footy mates already knew he was gay.
“I’m excited. I posted in the footy chat last night and put the link to the interview and said ‘if you’ve got a spare hour, have a listen’.”
Brisbane Lions chief executive Sam Graham released a statement this morning, expressing his hope that Ryswyk’s story could make the sport more inclusive.
“It is great to see Leigh share his story and journey publicly,” Graham said.
“We want our game to be an inclusive environment for everyone, including players, staff, members and fans.
“As a club, we hope this has a positive impact across football and society more broadly.”
North Adelaide also released a statement, throwing its support behind Ryswyk, who is a life member at the club.
“The North Adelaide Football Club supports former player Leigh Ryswyk, who has come out publicly as the first openly gay past or present AFL/SANFL player,” the club said in a statement.
“Leigh played 226 games for the club, is a North Adelaide Football Club Life Member and SANFL Life Member, and was a key contributor to our 2018 Reserves Premiership, overcoming broken ribs suffered late in the home and away season.
“As a football club, we pride ourselves on fostering an inclusive environment where players, staff, members and supporters from all communities feel safe, respected, and free to be themselves.”
