
RedBloodBlackSwan
Premiership Player
- Aug 29, 2021
- 3,669
- 7,220
- AFL Club
- Sydney
This will be a tough lesson for Riak. He is going to have to go away and rebuild the trust of his supporters and his teammates while likely feeling somewhat on the outer. How he responds will mark his development as a man. I hope he comes back stronger and better and more aware.
Of course, it is not as tough as being a young gay boy who just found out one of his favourite players sees homosexuality as something to be ashamed of (I don’t profess to know this is what Riak actually thinks, in fact I suspect it is not true if you take the Swans statement at face value, but this is not doubt how a young gay boy may perceive it).
By my calculation, about 3,000 people who follow the swans are gay boys still finding their way in the world (assuming 1 million supporters, with 20% under 18 and about 3% of those gay). If even only 1% were aware of and admired Riak, then that is 30 boys having a rough time right now. And there are thousands learning about this in the news.
How sad that some phrase Riak probably heard and used countless times while growing up could cause so much harm. I hope some of the older players are getting around him, and I hope he is able to share his lessons to help stop the cycle.
Of course, it is not as tough as being a young gay boy who just found out one of his favourite players sees homosexuality as something to be ashamed of (I don’t profess to know this is what Riak actually thinks, in fact I suspect it is not true if you take the Swans statement at face value, but this is not doubt how a young gay boy may perceive it).
By my calculation, about 3,000 people who follow the swans are gay boys still finding their way in the world (assuming 1 million supporters, with 20% under 18 and about 3% of those gay). If even only 1% were aware of and admired Riak, then that is 30 boys having a rough time right now. And there are thousands learning about this in the news.
How sad that some phrase Riak probably heard and used countless times while growing up could cause so much harm. I hope some of the older players are getting around him, and I hope he is able to share his lessons to help stop the cycle.
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