Kane Evans

[welshmagpie]

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18njBCdhJr/?mibextid=wwXIfr
 

Credit to Kane for being brave enough to talk about his struggles and reveal to the world exactly who he is.

Though the headlines are “Ex-RL Player Comes out as Gay.” - the true headline is the example he will set for anybody else in any other sport or walk of life that is feeling they can’t be their true selves. 

I hope he continues to be supported as best he can. No surprise to hear Trent Robinson was the one who was there when Kane needed somebody most. Above all, I hope Kane is now liberated in his truth and can live life on his own terms. 

[dkw]

Had to laugh when I saw a comment on Facebook saying he couldn't hack it in RL because "gays are too soft", he obviously doesn't know who Ian Roberts is then...

[Dunbar]

I am always torn when I see stories like this.

On the one hand, I am pleased that he has decided to live his true life and everyone that does will help others who are facing a tough decision about such things.

And equally... sad that we live in a world where this still matters, a world where  people even need to be brave about who they are.

[Douglas]

7 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

I am always torn when I see stories like this.

On the one hand, I am pleased that he has decided to live his true life and everyone that does will help others who are facing a tough decision about such things.

And equally... sad that we live in a world where this still matters, a world where  people even need to be brave about who they are.

Does it still really matter today?

[Tommygilf]

21 minutes ago, Douglas said:

Does it still really matter today?

I'm pretty sure in some communities it really does.

[Dunbar]

24 minutes ago, Douglas said:

Does it still really matter today?

An interview on NRL on Nine, a Facebook post and a dedicated thread on TotalRL would suggest it does. I am sure there is mention across other social platforms and news if I did a search.

If it didn't matter then we would have none of these.

[Douglas]

Just now, Dunbar said:

An interview on NRL on Nine, a Facebook post and a dedicated thread on TotalRL would suggest it does. I am sure there is mention across other social platforms and news if I did a search.

If it didn't matter then we would have none of these.

Does that not say more about Kane Evans struggles accepting who he is rather than RL or sport in general or society as a whole accepting who he is?

[Dunbar]

2 minutes ago, Douglas said:

Does that not say more about Kane Evans struggles accepting who he is rather than RL or sport in general or society as a whole accepting who he is?

I have no idea what you are trying to get out of this conversation, but I am not joining in.

[Douglas]

2 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

I have no idea what you are trying to get out of this conversation, but I am not joining in.

I think you do hence why you are bailing out.

[Copa]

38 minutes ago, Douglas said:

Does it still really matter today?

Yes. Plenty of young gay people still self harm because the world they experience on a day to day basis makes them feel horrible and worthless. Kane coming out gives them a story of hope they can relate to.

[Douglas]

4 minutes ago, Copa said:

Yes. Plenty of young gay people still self harm because the world they experience on a day to day basis makes them feel horrible and worthless. Kane coming out gives them a story of hope they can relate to.

Again does that not say more about themselves accepting who they really are than society?

[RigbyLuger]

This thread won't last. 

[Dave T]

5 minutes ago, Douglas said:

Again does that not say more about themselves accepting who they really are than society?

No.

[Copa]

5 minutes ago, Douglas said:

Again does that not say more about themselves accepting who they really are than society?

 This might be a revelation to you, but people raised in an environment where they’re told they are rubbish, frequently grow up to feel they are rubbish.

[Damien]

These threads always go the same way. Mr Drake will no doubt need to do his stuff shortly.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

I am gay. Not that long ago, I was forced to resign from a job that I had done for years because of my sexuality. 

I thought my work colleagues were my friends; we always chatted very comfortably and openly about things and after a number of years working with them, I felt comfortable enough to reveal my sexuality to them. Unfortunately, it turned out several of them were massively homophobic and made up a number of lies about me coming onto them (simply revealing my sexuality certainly was not coming onto them) and put in official complaints about my "behaviour". My boss offered the option to go through a disciplinary process but knowing that there was no way I could fight my corner against a group of homophobes, I decided to resign from my position instead in order to simply be done with the massive, and incredibly upsetting betrayal.

It hurts to lose a whole group of "friends" in one go like that. 

Yes, in modern Britain things like this really DO matter.

[Damien]

7 hours ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

I am gay. Not that long ago, I was forced to resign from a job that I had done for years because of my sexuality. 

I thought my work colleagues were my friends; we always chatted very comfortably and openly about things and after a number of years working with them, I felt comfortable enough to reveal my sexuality to them. Unfortunately, it turned out several of them were massively homophobic and made up a number of lies about me coming onto them (simply revealing my sexuality certainly was not coming onto them) and put in official complaints about my "behaviour". My boss offered the option to go through a disciplinary process but knowing that there was no way I could fight my corner against a group of homophobes, I decided to resign from my position instead in order to simply be done with the massive, and incredibly upsetting betrayal.

It hurts to lose a whole group of "friends" in one go like that. 

Yes, in modern Britain things like this really DO matter.

Im really sorry to hear that. That sounds horrendous.

Edited June 9 by Damien

[Douglas]

7 hours ago, Damien said:

These threads always go the same way. Mr Drake will no doubt need to do his stuff shortly.

Is that what you’d want?

[Tommygilf]

Characters like Israel Folau, or at least those sympathetic to his views, are still in our game, and particularly in Australia amongst those of Pasifika heritage, openly expressed hostility to gay men on the basis of religion is not uncommon (Evans played for Fiji). That's before there is the broader RL community that Evans grew up in.

Evans being only the 2nd Male Australian player to come out shows how difficult it is. Statistically, there must be 10s if not over 100 other men like him in the various NRL squads, academies etc. 

[langpark]

9 hours ago, Dunbar said:

And equally... sad that we live in a world where this still matters, a world where  people even need to be brave about who they are.

He is of Fijian descent.  The most difficult part for him, no doubt, would have been the fear over how his family would react.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

3 hours ago, Damien said:

Im really sorry to hear test. That sounds horrendous.

Cheers. It was more the betrayal of friendship than what it was actually about that really stabbed me in the heart. Or back I suppose. 

Anyway, wouldn't want to work in an environment like that. 

[dkw]

4 hours ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

I am gay. Not that long ago, I was forced to resign from a job that I had done for years because of my sexuality. 

I thought my work colleagues were my friends; we always chatted very comfortably and openly about things and after a number of years working with them, I felt comfortable enough to reveal my sexuality to them. Unfortunately, it turned out several of them were massively homophobic and made up a number of lies about me coming onto them (simply revealing my sexuality certainly was not coming onto them) and put in official complaints about my "behaviour". My boss offered the option to go through a disciplinary process but knowing that there was no way I could fight my corner against a group of homophobes, I decided to resign from my position instead in order to simply be done with the massive, and incredibly upsetting betrayal.

It hurts to lose a whole group of "friends" in one go like that. 

Yes, in modern Britain things like this really DO matter.

So sorry you went though that, sounds horrendous and I hope you found some true friends to help you through.

One of my mates came out quite late in our youth, luckily we were all decent people so the most "hassle" he got was asking him which one us he fancied most, then getting upset when it wasnt me.

You only need to see some of the reactions on social media to this to realise its still a major issue with people, anyone denying that is a moron.

 

[Grimmy]

10 hours ago, Douglas said:

Does that not say more about Kane Evans struggles accepting who he is rather than RL or sport in general or society as a whole accepting who he is?

What have we had in Super League, maybe three openly gay male players out of thousands? That says to me either:

a. - We've had far more gay players than that but we don't have an environment where they would feel comfortable for that to be known.

or

b. - We have an environment which puts gay players off the game in the first place hence why there have been almost none in SL.

So no I wouldn't say this is just an individual challenge for him.

Edited June 9 by Grimmy

[Damien]

1 hour ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

Cheers. It was more the betrayal of friendship than what it was actually about that really stabbed me in the heart. Or back I suppose. 

Anyway, wouldn't want to work in an environment like that. 

Yes I completely understand that. Betrayal from people you think are your friends is hard to take.

Edited June 9 by Damien

[Dunbar]

5 hours ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

I am gay. Not that long ago, I was forced to resign from a job that I had done for years because of my sexuality. 

I thought my work colleagues were my friends; we always chatted very comfortably and openly about things and after a number of years working with them, I felt comfortable enough to reveal my sexuality to them. Unfortunately, it turned out several of them were massively homophobic and made up a number of lies about me coming onto them (simply revealing my sexuality certainly was not coming onto them) and put in official complaints about my "behaviour". My boss offered the option to go through a disciplinary process but knowing that there was no way I could fight my corner against a group of homophobes, I decided to resign from my position instead in order to simply be done with the massive, and incredibly upsetting betrayal.

It hurts to lose a whole group of "friends" in one go like that. 

Yes, in modern Britain things like this really DO matter.

Thank you for sharing this.

Sorry you had to go through that experience and it shows that we have a long way to go. And again, why it is so powerful that a Rugby League player has the courage and dignity to share their true self.

It matters for now but I would love to see us reach a point where this type of bravery is not needed. It feels like we are progressing as a society and then we take a few steps back (the loud voices in social media feeling empowered to share hate and bigotry do not help).

I hope you have found friends who you can share these things with and a job where you are happy.