Rugby
Wallabies star promotes anti-homophobia campaign
ESPN Staff
May 29, 2014
Adam Ashley-Cooper wanted to be involved because he has "gay friends and gay relationships among the family" © Getty Images
Enlarge

Adam Ashley-Cooper has urged people to take part in the first international study on homophobia in sports, the New South Wales Waratahs and Australia centre saying "we're all different yet we all have the right to be equal".

Ashley-Cooper, an ambassador for the Bingham Cup, the world cup of gay rugby, appeared in a promotional video to promote the Out on the Fields study to assess the prevalence of homophobia in global sport.

"We should have equal opportunities to achieve what we want to achieve in life," he said. "Hopefully, with this survey, we can reach a better understanding of homosexuality and homophobia in sport."

In Australia, data will be collected in future years by the Australian Sports Commission after a commitment by the major professional sports to implement changes and policies to combat homophobia.

The Australian Rugby Union, Cricket Australia, National Rugby League, Football Federation of Australia and Australian Football League agreed in April to create and implement measures to combat homophobia in sport. The organisations agreed to create the frameworks before the Bingham Cup kicks off on August 27. The Australian Sports Commission research will track the effect of the measures on sporting culture.

Bingham Cup president Andrew Purchas said at the announcement of the commitment that he hoped the unity of the codes would send a clear message to sporting chiefs across the globe.

"These guys compete against each other in terms of sponsors, players, TV rights, money and eyeballs, but they see this issue as more important than any code rivalry and they're willing and prepared to make some systemic and fundamental change," Purchas said. "We think there's a real opportunity for sporting codes around the world to take a leaf out of their book and actually come together and do something collectively."

ARU chief executive Bill Pulver announced an Inclusion Policy last year, by which rugby in Australia would continue "to be a place where everyone involved feels safe, welcome and included regardless of race, gender or sexuality".

"Developing this Inclusion Policy is important as it demonstrates that rugby is a game where you feel included and accepted, no matter who you are," Pulver said at the announcement of that policy in August 2013. "Australian rugby is making progress to support social justice and diversity. We want to ensure everyone involved in the game is treated with respect and dignity."

Bingham Cup organisers are staging the tournament in the southern hemisphere for the first time this year, in Sydney, from August 24-31.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.