On June 5, 2016, the most wonderful person asked me to marry him. Some of you might know him as the full-forward at Richmond, but to me he is the same-old annoying guy from my English class that I met in year 11.
I’m not going to lie – I’m not really the wedding type. Getting married had always been important to Jack, but not so much to me. I had always been far more invested in thinking about the life we were building together outside of a possible wedding, but surprised myself and was beyond ecstatic.
There are no words to describe the joy that followed for us in those next few months, so much so that I couldn’t believe that for such a long time I had deprived myself by thinking I wasn’t the marriage type.
Reflecting on this joy, it suddenly became so obvious how privileged I was to even be able to consider marriage in such a way. The debate of equality was right on my own doorstep.
I can’t begin to imagine how it must feel to have that decision denied completely, and never will. I am lucky enough to have not lived that experience, and it would simply be unkind and naïve to pretend I know how devastating this must be.
When I share this realisation with Angela Forrester and Luke Sorrell, the founders of Richmond’s very own LGBTIQ supporter group, the Golden Tigers, they nod to one another and I feel as though there is a long-running inside joke that I suddenly understand.
It has long been clear to them that not everyone in our country agrees that we should all be entitled to marry whoever we love, regardless of sex or gender.
As founders, Angela and Luke each have their own deep love affairs that many of us can relate to. Angela wishes she had the romance of Luke – a fourth-generation Richmond member. Luke has fond childhood memories of watching the Tigers with his family in rain, hail or shine.
Angela’s passion for Richmond, however, developed from an ex-love. Having grown up in Sydney, she had never watched a game of AFL until her former girlfriend dragged her along, after they moved to Melbourne. After a couple of years, Angela was hooked. She has now been a Richmond member for 10 years, and like so many Tiger supporters, just can’t explain how much she loves the Club.
Angela and Luke’s stories are similar to so many other Tigers supporters . . . How often do we all hear supporters described as either ‘long-suffering’ or ‘on-board because they got swept up in the romance of the Richmond story’? All too frequently.
But less familiar for many of us, are the challenges that Angela, Luke and our LGBTIQ supporters have confronted within our very own football community.
“We get people asking all the time why we need a ‘special group’ just for LGBTIQ Richmond supporters’,” says Angela, who explains that sadly, homophobia both in the stands at AFL games and in many online AFL-based forums, is woefully present.
Groups such as the Golden Tigers create a family for those who don’t have any support of their own. “If we can support these guys whilst working toward social change, such as marriage equality, we will feel as though our group has been a huge success,” states Angela.
The Golden Tigers were born out of an innocent conversation almost six years ago, as Angela and a friend shared the sentiment that if an AFL player were to come out anytime soon, there would be a huge group of people ready to throw their arms around him.
Luke agrees, and believes that the hardest part about coming out, is coming out to yourself.
“As you can imagine, living a closeted life is not good for your mental health, but even once you do reveal your authentic self, there are new pressures that you face every day,” Luke said.
This just reiterates the importance of the Golden Tigers, who aim to not only provide this supportive environment at AFL games, but also at external events such as the recently-held ‘Move in May’ – the largest public community fun run in Australia that supports and celebrates International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT).
RFC staff members and players’ partners walk in 2017’s annual Move in May event alongside the Golden Tigers
Created by Angie Greene’s Stand Up Events, Move in May not only raises important funds for preventative educational programs, but also ensures that we celebrate equality and inclusion in sport and in life – regardless of sexuality or gender.
And, as Luke explains, such events provide a huge sense of solidarity . . .
“Just seeing the rainbow colours, is enough to ensure that we feel included and considered. We don’t want to see others vilified at sporting events or anywhere else just because of who they are,” he said.
The Golden Tigers currently have more than 50 followers on their Facebook site and within the group, however, given Richmond is one of the biggest clubs in the AFL, Angela and Luke agree that their priority is to ensure this number increases over the course of the year.
They’d like to think the group hasn’t grown further yet because LGBTIQ Tigers supporters already have all the support they need, but feel this sentiment is slightly optimistic.
Angela and Luke encourage anyone reading this, whether identifying as LBGTIQ or heterosexual, Richmond fans or opposition supporters, to always seek out the Golden Tigers as a support mechanism should you need a welcoming group to enjoy the football with. The Golden Tigers vow to always make a stand for others. So please, seek out our friends the Golden Tigers – and make a stand for them to ensure no one feels vilified or unsafe at our great game.
Twitter: @rfcgoldentigers
Facebook: RFC Golden Tigers
Email: rfcgoldentigers@gmail.com
