- 'We want to start getting across the line'
- VFL: Zebras smash Pies to continue form
- Riewoldt dominates Coaches votes, again
- Pakenham FC experience day-in-the-life-of the Saints
Russell Greene deeply regrets homophobic remarks he made during his 304-AFL game career with Hawthorn and St Kilda.
Greene, who is now an ambassador for Stand Up Events — an organisation that partners with St Kilda’s new community platform Junction Studio — played 120 games for St Kilda and 184 for Hawthorn in a career spanning 15 seasons.
Founded by Green’s daughter Angie, Stand Up Events supports homosexual and transgender communities through activities such as 'Move in May'.
Senior St Kilda players Leigh Montagna and Jarryn Geary have featured in video promotion for the event that celebrates International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT).
“I used to say terrible, homophobic things,” Greene told Mike Sheahan in an interview for Fox’s Open Mike, which will air Tuesday night at 8.30pm.
“The suicide rate of people who are LGBT is 50 per cent higher than heterosexuals. I could be responsible for someone at worst taking their own life.
“It still haunts me today some of things I’ve said to people in jokes. It cuts me so deeply.”
“It was brutal what we used to say to blokes.”
In Round 21, the Saints will host the first game of its kind in global sport when they play Sydney at Etihad Stadium in the AFL’s inaugural Pride match.
Saints CEO Matt Finnis says the game will provide an opportunity to spread the message that anyone and everyone is welcome at the football.
“The Pride match is a wonderful opportunity for the Saints and the Sydney Swans to stage the first game of its type in world sport,” Finnis said.
“For us that creates a hero opportunity to send a message that says everyone’s welcome, everyone belongs at the footy.
“The sad reality is for so many gay people they haven’t felt comfortable at the football and that’s not right so we’ve got to do what we can to change that.”
The issue of inequality is especially relatable for Greene, with his son Brent having revealed in an emotional conversation with his dad a decade ago that he was gay.
Greene regrets he did not do more to support his youngest son at the time.
“He’d just finished VCE,” Greene recalled.
“I knew there were distinct and heavy moods swings and they were huge. In retrospect I would have said ‘Brent, are you all right?’ I should have probed a little bit more and asked ‘what is really upsetting you?’
“I went up to his room and I said ‘Brent, all you wanted to tell me is that you were gay.’ I started crying. He said ‘I didn’t want to bring this out because I didn’t want to upset you or mum.’
“He came out to Angie, our daughter, three years prior.”
Click here to read the full article.
