Rugby Australia has terminated the contract of Israel Folau after the star fullback uploaded an inflammatory social media post. Folau took to Instagram on Wednesday night to proclaim that 'hell awaits drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters.' Rugby Australia released a statement on Thursday, saying 'in absence of compelling mitigating factor' it is their intention 'to terminate his contract.' The 30-year-old is one of Australian Rugby's biggest stars and recently became Super Rugby's greatest try scorer.

When I read Israel Folau’s comments on Wednesday they took me right back to a place of shame and isolation.

I was 12 years old when I figured out that I was gay.

At the time, I thought it was the worst possible thing I could be.

I loved playing sport, but on the footy field, the word gay was used to mean bad, weak, stupid or disgusting.

I internalised those words, and for years I hid my true self from my teammates.

The toll it took on my mental health was profound. At times I wondered if it would be easier if I didn’t exist.

I am now an out and proud gay man, but it broke my heart to think of all the kids struggling to come to terms with their sexuality who would hear Folau’s assertions that “hell awaits” them and feel ashamed, afraid and alone.

It’s this kind of ignorance that contributes to the disproportionately high rates of depression, anxiety and suicide among young LGBTI people.

Words matter. They have the power to lift us up, but they also have the power to cause enormous damage.

While I support freedom of speech, no freedom is absolute nor without consequence.

Folau’s right to express his religious beliefs ends when those comments risk inflicting grave harm on an already marginalised community.

Sport is a proxy religion in this country. Whether he likes it or not, Israel Folau is a role model to many young people, and when he speaks, his words carry weight.

What is particularly troubling about his fire and brimstone rhetoric is it tells people of faith they have to choose between being themselves and their religious community.

It has all the hallmarks of gay conversion therapy — a practice that despite the advances we have seen in the fight for equality is still happening in Australia.

A report released last year by La Trobe University and the Human Rights Law Centre presented devastating testimonies from gay and trans people who are still being forced into religious programs to “pray away the gay”.

Despite clear evidence this practice has pushed people to the brink of suicide, our own Prime Minister, when asked whether he would support moves to outlaw conversion therapy, said it was “not an issue for me”.

It’s perhaps unsurprising our sports stars are less than enlightened on matters of equality when our own Prime Minister does not support the LGBTI community and continues to give a green light to systemic discrimination.

During the Wentworth by-election, Scott Morrison promised to repeal laws allowing religious schools to expel gay students and fire gay teachers.

But in the months that followed, he backflipped on this promise, putting the interests of the right wing of his party ahead of the basic rights of the LGBTI community

The good news is despite a lack of leadership from the Prime Minister, the Australian sporting world is largely on the right track.

Israel Folau’s views have made headlines because they are so far out of step with the culture being fostered by our major sporting codes.

Rugby union has made great strides towards inclusion. The Bingham Cup is smashing stereotypes and breaking down barriers. Across the ditch, the All Blacks revealed rainbows jerseys as part of an inclusion campaign dubbed “Diversity is Strength”.

Rugby Australia should be applauded for the strong stand they have taken in terminating Folau’s contract. This is the second time he has breached their code of conduct by vilifying LGBTI people.

And in my sport of AFL, we have seen the Pride Game become an annual fixture in both the men’s and women’s elite competitions.

As the grassroots level, last year I founded Pride Cup Australia, a new non-profit organisation that, with the support of VicHealth, now has 45 communities signed up to stage pride-themed sporting matches in 2019 alone.

As a symbol of how far we’ve come, last month 10 CEOs from Victoria’s major sporting codes signed a “Pledge of Pride” — committing to enact education and policy changes to ensure LGBTI people feel safe and welcome in their sports.

It is a moment that my isolated, fearful 12-year-old self could never have imagined. But we made it happen and are working towards a world where young people don’t have to choose between the sport they love and being themselves.

I know we still have a long way to go. And I know there will be gay and trans kids out there who read Israel Folau’s comments and are feeling scared and ashamed.

To them, I say this: there is nothing wrong with you.

Know that there are people out there who are proudly gay and Christian. Know that these two things are not incompatible.

Know that you deserve love. You are worthy.

Jason Ball is a former Aussie Rules player and the founder of Pride Cup Australia and the Greens candidate for Higgins.

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