Hey Blitzers,
I just wanted to share a scoop with you all before International Day against Homophobia tomorrow.
I have met with the club and we will be establishing a GLBTI supporter group called the Purple Bombers and are looking to stage the first Pride Match with St.Kilda in 2015. I'll be talking more about it on Joy 94.9 around 6pm tonight.
Very ■■■■■■ excited.
If you are interested in being a part of it. email me. [email protected]
Hi everyone, our pride event is now on sale. Please get a ticket and come support the Purple Bombers. http://www.purplebombers.com/pride-event/
We get all the blockbusters.
Nice advocacy work and i’m glad the bombers have decided to get on board.
Good work Bomberjase.
I'm glad too. We have long been seen as the progressive club "championing issues" such as the Call to Arms game (Cancer Research); the Dreamtime at the G game (Indigenous Rights); and now this one supporting GLGBTI.
Proud of my club, getting behind the Pride Match.
Like
Bombers and Saints to stage AFL's first 'Pride Cup'
Jill Stark May 16, 2014
EXCLUSIVE
ST KILDA and Essendon are in talks to hold the AFL'S first "Pride Cup" next season, to celebrate diversity and stamp out homophobia in football.
Club executives met this week to discuss staging the match next season in a bid to make gay supporters feel more welcome at the game.
St Kilda chief executive Matt Finnis said the success of a Pride Cup match earlier this month between Victorian country teams Yarra Glen and Yarra Junction - spearheaded by openly gay player Jason Ball - was part of the inspiration behind the move.
At the game, AFL football operations manager Mark Evans said the AFL would throw its weight behind a Pride Cup at elite level if two clubs were willing to get involved.
"The Pride Cup at a grassroots level was such a great initiative and received widespread support and if there's an opportunity to extend the scope of that concept at an elite level then we would love to be part of it," said Mr Finnis.
Saints players Sam Gilbert and Jarryn Geary took part in this year's Pride March in Fitzroy Street and Mr Finnis said St Kilda, which is Melbourne's heartland for the gay community, was a club "for all people" and he wanted everyone to feel welcome.
Justin Rodski, chief marketing officer at Essendon said the Pride Cup concept was still in the early stages but they were keen to get involved.
"The gay and lesbian community is an important part of our supporter base and as a football club we've always prided ourselves on inclusiveness and diversity. There's still a lot of water to go under the bridge but it is certainly something that we're happy to explore."
Mr Rodksi said they had also this week met with Jason Tuazon-Mccheyne - a gay Essendon supporter who had been a member for 30 years - and would help him set up the "Purple Bombers" to celebrate diversity in the supporter base.
Mr Tuazon-Mccheyne, who has been with his partner for 14 years, said it was important that all fans felt valued by the clubs they barrack for.
"Until recently I have had to put up with people yelling out in the crowd at players and officials words like "■■■■■■" and other homophobic language and that has made me feel that it's not always safe to go to the football," he said. "When my partner and I take our 8-year-old son to the game we certainly wouldn't feel comfortable holding hands. It's great to now get the support from the club to set up the Purple Bombers and to look at a Pride Cup game and hopefully this will lead to a safer, more welcoming environment."
The news comes after Footy Show host Sam Newman was slammed by fellow media commentators and players for criticising Michael Sam - who this week became the NFL's first openly gay player - for kissing his boyfriend live on air upon hearing he had been drafted.
Newman said the kiss was "annoyingly gratuitous" but was rounded on by the football community, including former Carlton player Brendan Fevola who said straight players kiss their partners in public all the time and it "wasn't a big deal."
Good stuff.
When you say be a part of it I sense another segment on The Hangar where fans can [i]really[/i] earn their sash.
Great idea your team.
Gotta be the Good Friday game…just gotta be.
Great idea Jason, I'm definitely right behind the idea.
I'm glad too. We have long been seen as the progressive club "championing issues" such as the Call to Arms game (Cancer Research); the Dreamtime at the G game (Indigenous Rights); and now this one supporting GLGBTI.
Proud of my club, getting behind the Pride Match.
A good move in the right direction. l urge all Blitzers to get behind this cause. Go bomberjase.
How long before the other pissant clubs start whinging they want a slice of it.
Is Koala going to sue for gimmick infringement?
(Good work.)
So,
we pay tribute to the people who sacrificed their lives for our country with an annual match,
outline the importance of Indigenous people in our country and showing them we are one in Australia with an annual match
raise awareness of ALL types of cancer and organize members to spread that awareness by accepting donations with an annual match
and NOW show gay people that we accept them in our community and not to tolerate homophobia with an annual match
BUT the entire AFL world still hate us because we took 'illegal/prohibited' drugs with absolutely NO evidence of this.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Australian media for ya.
Is Koala going to sue for gimmick infringement?
(Good work.)
koala is gay??
koala is gay??Is Koala going to sue for gimmick infringement?
(Good work.)
Are we aligning with Melbourne Storm? Is this a Man City/Melb Heart takeover?
Great initiative by the club (again) but we still are the axis of evil
100% Support :)