Cairns Taipans coach Adam Forde defends NBL pride stance as … – Daily Mail

Cairns coach Adam Forde has defended his club for not participating in the NBL’s pride round, as opposition mentor Simon Mitchell said he hoped players would be ‘educated enough’ in the future to understand how important supporting the LGBTQI+ community is.

The Taipans went down 85-80 to Mitchell’s South East Melbourne Phoenix on Wednesday night, with a number of Cairn’s players electing not to wear a one-off jersey featuring a rainbow logo over religious grounds. 

All the players then decided none of them would wear the special kit as a ‘protection of our brothers that are being set up to be vilified’.

The decision prompted heavy public criticism, and the Forde remained defiant, insisting he supported his players using their own ‘freedom of choice’.

Speaking after the team’s five-point loss, the Taipans coach said while he supported the league’s gay pride initiative, he was more proud of his players for making their stand.

‘We (Taipans) support the NBL’s initiative and the message of what this round represents; individuality, unity and love, right?,’ he said.

‘And we weren’t unfortunately recipients of it, for some unknown reason. 

‘We’re doing this (not wearing rainbow jersey) because we got around our brothers and we want to protect each other.

‘Rather than feel like we’re getting singled out for any particular reason, this is us and I’m proud of them for it,’ said Forde.

The drama has unfolded just two months after Melbourne United centre Isaac Humphries became the first openly gay active player in NBL history in an emotional speech to his teammates.

‘It is a truth about myself that I have wanted to deny for a long time, but now I feel comfortable in telling you all. That truth, is that I am gay,’ he said in the video, which was released on Wednesday.

‘I have been through extremely dark times during this journey, but I have been through so much growth and I am now happy with who I am.

‘I believe it is definitely time to make a change and set an example to the next generation that they can be anything they want while still being true to themselves.’

Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell referenced Humphries’ courageous decision to come out as he applauded the league for showing their support for the LGBTQI+ community. 

‘We’ve had this thing with Isaac coming out and talking about the issues he’s gone through and some of the depths of despair he went through,’ he said after his team’s win.

‘If that doesn’t hurt everyone in our league to a degree … it’s like, ‘Man I want to pick a brother up’.

‘To know there’s people out there feeling that way, we’ve got to open our arms up to them, to make sure they know we’re a safe place, an ally and we’re friends and that your sexual orientation or how you identify doesn’t matter to us,’ said Mitchell.

Mitchell said he and his players did not realise the Taipans were not wearing the pride jerseys – but they were keen to support the initiative.

Phoenix star, Boomer and former NBA player Mitchell Creek, wore rainbow-coloured shoes and was one of the drivers of the pride round concept, which helps provide inclusiveness for the continually marginalised gay community.

Mitchell was keen to point out that criticising the Cairns side, but, in a strong statement that will please many supporters of gay pride, said he wished players would understand in the future how important supporting the LGBTQI+ community was.

‘(Just) because you see things differently you don’t need persecution,’ he said.

‘They know they’ll be up for a little bit of finger pointing, already have been. Pointing the finger doesn’t help, ostracising doesn’t help. It’s about conversation and educating yourself.

‘This round opens dialogue and I think we leave Cairns alone … hopefully over time whoever feels like they can’t celebrate this round can be educated enough to realise we’re just holding out a hand to our brothers and sisters and looking after our community,’ said Mitchell.

It’s the most simple of matters, but it can literally save lives. 

Sadly, gay men and women do often not feel safe and supported. 

LGBTIQ+ Australia’s 2021 report into mental health and suicide prevention found young people aged 16-27 were five times more likely to attempt suicide than straight people. 

That reared its ugly head last year, when seven Manly Sea Eagles players refused to wear the club’s rainbow inclusion jersey over their religious beliefs.

Much to the dismay of former Manly star Ian Roberts, the first footy player to come out, who highlighted how many young gay footy players – and people in general – struggle with suicidal thoughts and feel like they aren’t equal. 

‘Manly Seven’ member Josh Aloiai recently referred to homosexuality as a ‘lifestyle choice’, instead of the biological basis for sexuality that has been accepted by scientist for decade.

So when Humphries became just the second active male player in one of Australia’s top sports leagues to come out as gay, alongside A-League player Josh Cavallo, there was a pretty obvious motivation. 

‘All I want to do is play football and be treated equally,’ Cavallo said in an emotional coming out video in October last year.

A pretty simple request, but one ignored by far too many people.

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