Australian cricket star James Faulkner has made international headlines reporting that he had come out as gay, after a post to social media celebrating his birthday.
Faulkner posted an image to Instagram with another man and a woman, with the caption “Birthday dinner with the boyfriend” – which publications around the world began to report as the sportsman’s coming out.
The 29-year-old has said the post was “misinterpreted”, explaining the ‘boyfriend’ described in the caption was in fact his housemate.
“There seems to be a misunderstanding about my post from last night, I am not gay, however it has been fantastic to see the support from and for the LGBT community, Faulkner posted on Instagram today.
“Let’s never forget love is love, however @robjubbsta is just a great friend. Last night marked five years of being house mates! Good on everyone for being so supportive.”
Cricket Australia have spoken out against the post, saying the organisation “does not consider the social commentary this morning from James Faulkner to be a joke.”
“His comment was made as a genuine reflection of his relationship with his business partner, best friend and house mate of five years,” CA said in a statement.
“James and CA are supportive of the LGBTQI community and recognises coming out can be an incredibly emotional time. The post was not in any way meant to make light of this, though the support from the community was overwhelming and positive. Cricket Australia apologises for any unintended offence.”
Pride Cup founder and Greens candidate for Higgins Jason Ball has slammed Faulkner for the post, writing that it’s “no wonder that we have so few out and proud men in the macho world of sport when being gay is still seen as something to be ridiculed.”
“James Faulkner making a joke about being in a same-sex relationship may seem like a bit of fun to him and his teammates but the reality is that for thousands of young people struggling to come to terms with their sexuality, coming out is one of the hardest things they’ll ever do and this makes a mockery of that struggle,” Ball posted to Facebook.
“This type of puerile locker room behaviour is disappointing and just makes it harder for closeted players to have the courage to be themselves when their sexuality is turned into a punchline.”
Veteran LGBTI+ activist Rodney Croome said that while sportspeople of Faulkner’s profile should “be careful”, it was great to see a positive response to the ‘news’.
“Coming out is a difficult time for LGBTI people so role models like elite sportspeople should be careful not to be seen to make fun of it,” Croome said.
“I welcome the fact that James Faulkner has clarified this was not his intention and that he supports the LGBTI community. The overwhelmingly positive response to James Faulkner’s çoming out’ sends a message to senior players who are actually gay that Australian cricket is well and truly ready for them to be open about who they are.”
OIP Staff
