Queer Crows group breaks silence on Rankine slur
A volunteer organisation that supports the Adelaide Crows and aims to make the AFL/W a safe environment for LGBTQIA+ people has spoken out about Izak Rankine’s homophobic slur.
Rainbow Adelaide Crows said they were “deeply concerned and disappointed” by another homophobic slur in the national sport, and saddened that it has happened “in our club”.
The group is a volunteer organisation that supports the Adelaide Crows and aims to make the AFL/W a safe environment for LGBTQIA+ people.
He is the sixth AFL player banned for an on-field homophobic slur since April last year.
“When a player directs a homophobic slur, it is less likely to offend the player it is aimed at, but the LGBTQIA+ community,” the Rainbow Adelaide Crows statement said via Instagram.
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“We understand that while the slur was not necessarily made as a genuine example of homophobia from Izak, research indicates a wider, ingrained problem of the term being used to demean or intimidate others. This sends a clear message that queer people are seen as ‘lesser’.
“The AFL has been very clear on their position on using homophobic language, yet it is still happening. This demonstrates that there is still work to be done in this area.
“We know that the players are given online training modules and some AFL clubs have participated in the ‘Pride in Sport’ or other educational programmes. We believe this should be mandatory for all AFL clubs, the Adelaide Football Club is yet to participate.
“When slurs like this are used, it gives power for others to mimic and assume that if the celebrity or sports star they idolise and look up to can use them, then it’s ok for them to use them too.”
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Rainbow Adelaide Crows engaged with the club this week and are “hopeful that Izak and the AFC will learn from this incident and use it to make much needed improvements”.
“We look forward to helping them however we can to ensure this happens as a matter of urgency,” they said.
Tim Silvers, CEO of the Adelaide Crows, said in a press conference last night that “we don’t stand for what was said and that behaviour”.
“We’ve got a number of our supporters and fans that are part of that community. I apologise to them. We want to have an inclusive environment, which they’re a part of and I hope to see a number of those fans and those supporters, including the Rainbow [Adelaide] Crows, at our [Adelaide Crows AFLW] game at Unley on the weekend,” Silvers said.
Rainbow Adelaide Crows also said there had been a large increase in homophobic remarks on their social media, which includes posts made last weekend about the AFLW.
“We have always wanted to provide a safe space for our community at both the men’s and women’s AFL matches and on our socials,” they said.
Rainbow Adelaide Crows have said this is particularly prevalent when they post about player marriages and baby announcements.
“Player marriage and baby announcements are always very popular with fans expressing their well wishes,” they said.
“However, this is a very different scenario when the announcement involves two AFLW players, as they always attract a lot of homophobic comments and must be heavily moderated or simply have the comments switched off.”
Rainbow Adelaide Crows congratulated Crows AFLW player Anne Hatchard and partner Georgie on their pregnancy through an Instagram post on August 8. That post has no comments at the time of publishing. This is the most recent pregnancy or marriage announcement by Rainbow Adelaide Crows.
