To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Not now
OK
Advert
Advert
Advert

Ian Roberts' parents stopped talking to him when he came out as gay

Max Sherry

Published 
| Last updated 

Ian Roberts' parents stopped talking to him when he came out as gay

Rugby league legend Ian Roberts has revealed that his parents didn't speak to him after he came out as gay.

He says that his family household featured "a lot of racism, and misogynistic and homophobic language", which is why chose to keep his sexuality from his mum and dad for so long.

Roberts is one of the Manly's most iconic players.

A true 'hard man', he went on to make 194 appearances in the NRL spread across stints with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, the North Queensland Cowboys and - of course - the Sea Eagles.

Advert

In 1995, Roberts became the first professional rugby league player in the world to come out to the public as gay during his playing career.

Long before his announcement, whispers began swirling about Roberts' sexuality.

Credit: Supplied/NRL.com
Credit: Supplied/NRL.com

Roberts' own mother heard two work colleagues spreading a false rumour that Roberts had been caught having sex in public with another man and that police were investigating the matter.

Advert

"My dad retold the story and said 'we just need to hear you say you are not gay, and that is good enough for us'," Roberts told the BBC.

The talented sports star then told his parents that he was, in fact, gay.

"My dad's first words were: 'But you play footy, you play for Australia.' That was where his head went," Roberts said.

Following that conversation, Roberts revealed that his parents didn't speak to him for 18 months.

Advert

It was this response from his own family, as well as the vile treatment of professional footballer Justin Fashanu when he came out, which is why Roberts decided to keep it a secret.

Credit: Supplied/NRL
Credit: Supplied/NRL

That said, things couldn't have been any different when he broke the news to his Manly Sea Eagles teammates.

"It was kind of a bonding moment for us. They were my tribe and my people, and it almost felt at times like they were trying to protect me," Roberts said.

Advert

"My experience was so different to Justin's [Fashanu] - I was embraced."

He added: "I had this persona of being an aggressive player, a guy who could handle myself on the pitch - and I could. My coming out challenged people's preconceptions of gay men.

"There were elements of pushback - of course there were - but if I knew what I knew now I would have come into top-level rugby league as a gay man."

Featured Image Credit: Supplied/NRL

Topics: Australia, NRL, Rugby League

Max Sherry
More like this
Advert
Advert
Advert

Chosen for YouChosen for You

MMA

Conor McGregor decks Miami Heat mascot with huge left hook during NBA Finals

a minute ago

Most Read StoriesMost Read

'Win or lose in Istanbul, Pep Guardiola is already the greatest coach football has ever known'

20 hours ago