Gay League Player Seen apos;gayer apos; Things In Locker Room Than Manly Jersey

A gay rugby league player has said he's witnessed 'much gayer' things in locker rooms than the Manly Sea Eagles pride jersey. 
Seven first grade Manly players will boycott Thursday night's clash against the Roosters over claims the club's incorporation of the + rainbow into a one-off jersey, saying it goes against their religious beliefs.  
The boycott has caught the world's attention, with former rugby league player Keegan Hirst among those to weigh in on the issue. 

Hirst was the first British professional rugby league footballer player to come out as gay in 2015 and has since built a career around helping 'gay men build incredible bodies, a rock-solid mindset and incitasecurity.com unstoppable confidence'. 
The athlete took to Twitter on Wednesday and said he would be proud to wear the first pride jersey in NRL history - adding that scenes he had witnessed in league locker rooms were 'much gayer' than rainbow stripes. 
The divisive move has caught the world's attention with former rugby league player Keegan Hirst (pictured) one of the latest athletes to weigh in on the ongoing saga
The athlete took to Twitter on Wednesday and said he would be proud to wear the the first pride jersey in the history of NRL and that mens locker rooms were 'much gayer'
'Hey @SeaEagles.

I'd be honoured to wear your Pride shirt. As should all your players. Shame on the ones who aren't,' he tweeted. 
'The ironic thing about the @SeaEagles Pride/player boycott saga is that I know what goes on in RL changing rooms. 
'And a lot of it would be seen as being MUCH 'gayer' than a rainbow on a jersey.' 
Hirst went on tell his 23,000 followers that having a religious belief is a choice.
'If religious beliefs meant someone wouldn't play with black players, would we say 'it's their religion, it's ok.' No, we wouldn't,' he said.

'Discrimination is discrimination.'
Hirst questioned how it would feel to be a gay child who wanted to play rugby league and to see they might not be accepted by their teammates. 
A rugby league player has said he's witnessed 'much gayer' things in men's locker rooms than the Manly Sea Eagles pride jersey (pictured)
Keegan Hirst was the first British professional rugby league footballer player to come out as gay in 2015 and has since built his career around helping 'gay men build incredible bodies, a rock-solid mindset and unstoppable confidence'
'The sport isn't as inclusive as it likes to think it is.

Symbolism matters. If it didn't, those players wouldn't care,' he said of the 'Manly seven'. 
He also believes it is hypocritical of players to refuse to wear a jersey with the gay rainbow design while playing for a club whose chief sponsor is a gambling company Pointsbet and whose home ground is named after the beer Four Pines.
While the Bible contains condemnations of homosexuality, so too does it have passages condemning drinking and the pursuit of money. 



'I'd be interested to hear what which religious and cultural beliefs stop you wearing a shirt with a rainbow on but not one that promotes gambling etc?' he wrote. 
The boycotting players were advised to steer clear of the game against the Roosters at Manly's home ground in Sydney's northern beaches.
Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau'atu, Tolutau Koula and Toafofoa Sipley have been warned there are safety concerns following advice from NSW Police. 
Six of the seven players were of Pacific Island heritage, while Jason Saab is of mixed indigenous and Nigerian background with a Lebanese stepfather. 
Hirst (pictured) pointed out the hypocrisy of the Manly Seven refusing to wear a jersey with an inclusive message but happily wearing brands that endorsed gambling or drinking alcohol
Manly star Kieran Foran models the rainbow pride jersey which has seen seven of his teammates boycott Thursday's match versus the Roosters as it doesn't align with their cultural and religious beliefs
Brisbane Broncos and Queensland Origin legend Sam Thaiday earlier on Thursday says he would have no problems with the jersey if he was still playing.
'100 per cent, I would wear it loud and proud,' Thaiday told the Today show. 
'This is a debate that's been going on all week.

I literally have a sore in between my legs because I sit on the fence with this one in the sense that I have to be inclusive and respect the players who have decided not to wear the jersey.
'But well done to the 17 players who will run out tonight for Manly and wear that jersey.

They're starting a conversation in rugby league. It's hopefully a step forward into the future and seeing what's going to happen going forward.'
Speaking on Sky News Australia, Zali Steggall, the independent member for the  Warringah federal electorate which takes in the Manly area, declared the stance of the boycotting players was generated more by 'macho masculinity' than Christian beliefs.
'I'd be interested to hear what which religious and cultural beliefs stop you wearing a shirt with a rainbow on but not one that promotes gambling etc?' former rugby league player Keegan Hirst tweeted on Wednesday
'I do feel personally that their position is fairly hypocritical, given they take a stance on inclusion yet have no issue with gambling or alcohol (signage) on their jerseys,' she said on Thursday.
'I feel this is not about religion, I think this is a sort of macho masculinity that needs to be addressed within rugby league.' 
RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share The issue could not have popped up at a worse time for Manly with the Sea Eagles and Roosters placed either side of the top-eight dividing line.
Manly were already missing players ahead of the clash with the eighth-placed Roosters, who sit slightly higher on the ladder on for-and-against.
Manly are the only club to wear a pride jersey this weekend, becoming the first team in the 114-year history of the competition to wear such a design.
Manly wingers Jason Saab (left) and Christian Tuipulotu (right) are among the players who oppose wearing the jersey on religious grounds 
Coach Des Hasler (pictured) and Sea Eagles general manager of football John Bonasera contacted the seven players on Wednesday to tell them to stay home on Thursday based on the advice of NSW Police
The historic jersey celebrates inclusivity, with the traditional white piping replaced by rainbow lines.
The jersey sold out in the men's, women's and kids section on Manly's website just hours after the player boycott.
It's understood Manly players were only shown the jersey design on Monday, despite it being in the works at the club for more than 12 months.
Many have criticised the club for springing it on the players without any notice.
Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler acknowledged the situation was a farce, and that the playing group should have been consulted prior to the club launching their historic rainbow jersey.
'They (seven players) are not wearing the jersey as it conflicts with their cultural and religious beliefs,' Hasler said.
Manly prop Josh Aloiai is one of the seven Manly stars who will not be playing on Thursday night due to the pride jersey being worn
'And I am concerned for their (mental) welfare.

Their spirituality is a central part of their well-being. The club has made an error from which it will learn.'
Hasler went onto 'sincerely apologise' to community minority groups, the 15 other NRL clubs, the LGBTQ community as a whole and the Australian Rugby League Commission in what quickly descended into a fiasco.
'The execution of what was intended to be an extremely important initiative was poor.

There was little consultation or collaboration between key stakeholders, both inside and outside the club,' he added.
'Sadly, this poor mismanagement has caused significant confusion, discomfort and pain for many people.
'We have even adversely affected our playing group, a wonderful group of people comprising of many different races and cultural backgrounds.'


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