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NRL first sporting code to have a float in Mardi Gras parade

adamkungl

adamkungl

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http://www.nrl.com/gayme-on-for-nrl-at-mardi-gras-festival/tabid/10874/newsid/93435/default.aspx

The NRL will make history on Saturday night as the first sporting code to include its own float in the annual Mardi Gras parade.

It will be the second consecutive year that the NRL has been part of the Mardi Gras Festival but the first time it has operated a float.

Three-time Canterbury Bulldogs premiership winning player Paul Langmack and NRL Welfare and Education Manager Paul Heptonstall have led the charge, helping to organise and design the float which will feature a tribute to rugby league anthem icon, Tina Turner.

Langmack said he was proud to once again be involved in the Mardi Gras festival.

"It was honestly one of the best experiences of my life to be part of all the fun and festival atmosphere last year and to take it one step further and have our own rugby league float in 2016 is fantastic!" Mr Langmack said.

"We want everyone to feel that they can be themselves, no matter what their background or choice. We are not here to pressure anyone to reveal their sexuality; that is entirely their choice. But we want people to know that as a game, we support and stand by our mates, no matter what their sexual orientation is."

Rugby league representation will be widespread this year on board the float, with Bulldogs CEO Raelene Castle and NRL community ambassadors Wendell Sailor, Mario Fenech, Dan Hunt, Ruan Sims, Nigel Vagana, Dean Widders and Jason King some of the names joining the celebrations.

Pride In Diversity Senior Program Manager Ross Wetherbee congratulated the NRL for continuing to take a stand when it comes to respect and inclusiveness for all.

"Pride In Diversity and the NRL have had a strong partnership since 2014, when rugby league became the first national sporting code to endorse our Anti-Homophobia and Inclusion framework," Mr Wetherbee said.

"It is humbling to see such an historic game as rugby league lend its voice to the respect of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation."

The NRL's float will feature goal posts, a tribute to Tina Turner and will carry the tagline 'GAYME ON – Pride In League'. Participants on board the float will be wearing NRL Club colours, with all teams represented, along with Indigenous and Pacific Island jerseys.
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Congrats to all involved here for this initiative in supporting the community.

It's a bit sad there's no current players on board the float, would be a brave move to show it's more than just a token gesture.
But if there were, who would your top 5 be to get up there in tight NRL themed leather?

I'd have

1) Shaun Johnson
2) RTS
3) Mitchell Pearce
4) Wade Grahame
5) Jamie Soward

aaand Nathan Brown representing the coaches.

Thoughts/suggestions? :cool:
 
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rabbitohs95

rabbitohs95

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Very surprised Ian Roberts isn't there. See him all the time around Surry Hills so it's not like he's out of the city or anything.

Agree there should be some current NRL players but you have to take into account a majority won't be available because of the games being on plus other commitments. Maybe they can work on it for next year.
 
adamkungl

adamkungl

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"I'll f**k anything I dont have a sexuality"
has to be up there with
"There's 4 toey humans in the cab ready to squirt some sauce, fire up ya sad merkin"
in all time greatest Rugby League pissup quotes
 
LESStar58

LESStar58

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rabbitohs95 said:
Very surprised Ian Roberts isn't there. See him all the time around Surry Hills so it's not like he's out of the city or anything.

Agree there should be some current NRL players but you have to take into account a majority won't be available because of the games being on plus other commitments. Maybe they can work on it for next year.
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Hasn't Roberts distanced himself from the game of late? Something to do with his advocacy for concussion cases and such?

Roberts did more than enough just by coming out in the first place. For the time it was a massive thing for the game. He doesn't need to be on a float.

As we know, rugby league is an inclusive sport. Kudos to Langmack and such.
 
B

betcats

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rabbitohs95 said:
Very surprised Ian Roberts isn't there. See him all the time around Surry Hills so it's not like he's out of the city or anything.

Agree there should be some current NRL players but you have to take into account a majority won't be available because of the games being on plus other commitments. Maybe they can work on it for next year.
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Ian Roberts might be gay but he doesn't strike me as the type of guy who would have much interest in mardi gras.
 
Horrie Is God

Horrie Is God

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Big Ian has to be there IMO..

125fa5b0a5040768a4302e1f998ab164.jpg
 
LESStar58

LESStar58

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betcats said:
Ian Roberts might be gay but he doesn't strike me as the type of guy who would have much interest in mardi gras.
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Makes sense.

I worked with a gay guy who is outright against Mardi Gras on the basis that while he is a gay man he just didn't see how the event is relevant to the lifestyle he leads.

I also remember a fella writing an article one day with the headline "why I'm not proud to be gay" and it was to do with the only time he ever went to Mardi Gras and only saw it as an opportunity for blokes to see how many other blokes they could root and how many drugs they could take over a weekend. Again, he just didn't see how the event was relevant to him.
 
DiegoNT

DiegoNT

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grouch said:
Terrific article here on Ian Roberts, written in August last year. Worth a read

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/bl...roberts-rugby-leagues-first-openly-gay-player
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Good article. I remember a story my father told me of playing football against him as a junior. Now my father is the same age and is old fashioned and a homophobe. Ian Roberts name was brought up in discussion and i remember my father saying ' i played against him when we were younger and i gave the big p#$f a black eye'. After a little pause he also added ' but then he ended up giving me 2 black eyes and a broken nose. He may of been a p$$f, but he was a bloody tough p#$f". Roberts being the type of player he was definitely broke down a lot of barriers and stereotypes for gay people in australia, and this initiative by the nrl will hopefully do the same. Played football with a few guys who eventually come out of the closet, and to here the hard times and mental torment they go through, especially in a macho sport like nrl where gay slurs are common place (and I'm guilty of them to), made me fell sorry the blokes so any initiative by the nrl to make people more inclusive and welcome in our game is a good thing in my opinion.
 
M

MacDougall

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5,744
adamkungl said:
"I'll f**k anything I dont have a sexuality"
has to be up there with
"There's 4 toey humans in the cab ready to squirt some sauce, fire up ya sad merkin"
in all time greatest Rugby League pissup quotes
Click to expand...

Nothing will ever top toey human. That shit was my wifi password for years.
 
txta2

txta2

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LESStar58 said:
Makes sense.

I worked with a gay guy who is outright against Mardi Gras on the basis that while he is a gay man he just didn't see how the event is relevant to the lifestyle he leads.

I also remember a fella writing an article one day with the headline "why I'm not proud to be gay" and it was to do with the only time he ever went to Mardi Gras and only saw it as an opportunity for blokes to see how many other blokes they could root and how many drugs they could take over a weekend. Again, he just didn't see how the event was relevant to him.
Click to expand...

Well the by the sound of it the lifestyle he leads he can thank them for the mardi gras as it lead to gay public acceptance and celebration of their rights over 30 years ago. So to say he is outright against it is a bit over the top.
 
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