As the #TakeAKnee debate rages throughout the NFL and across the USA, another controversial sports/society campaign plays out on the other side of the world in Australia after the Australian Football League (AFL) altered its iconic logo at above the doors of its Docklands HQ in Melbourne to read ‘Yes’ in a show of the league’s support for marriage equality.
The AFL is committed to equality & diversity, & we support the rights of all Australians to live, work & play free from discrimination. pic.twitter.com/XUoAuEcwzJ
— AFL (@AFL) September 20, 2017
“The AFL is committed to equality and diversity, and we support the rights of all Australians to live, work and play free from discrimination,” the organisation tweeted on 20 September.
The AFL is committed to equality & diversity, & we support the rights of all Australians to live, work & play free from discrimination. pic.twitter.com/6X62btsYEp
— AFL (@AFL) September 20, 2017
Then, just 12 hours later, it switched back to its familiar form after something of a fan backlash.
The switch comes as Australia’s same-sex marriage referendum process – which runs from September through November – gets underway.
A long-time, high-profile sports supporter of same-sex marriage (it hosts an annual Pride Game to champion LGBTI rights in sport and speak out against homophobia at matches), the AFL changed the logo on Tuesday, 19 September to use its iconic badge, familiar to so many Australians across the country, as a symbol of support.
The move resulted in a vigorous media and fan debate throughout the league and across the nation.
It's a big YES from the @AFL. https://t.co/8Hfl2S7U0t pic.twitter.com/mVO6gntbGW
— AU Marriage Equality (@AMEquality) September 20, 2017
The AFL has changed its logo to YES to encourage people to vote in the #SSM survey. my toon @theheraldsun #marriageequaility #VoteYes pic.twitter.com/qt0F7Eqhjv
— Mark Knight (@Knightcartoons) September 21, 2017
A poll on Australia’s Fox Sports, which saw 7,600 votes, saw 64% disproval of the AFL’s public stance.
“The AFL will only polarise people and really has no right to be involved in the political world of marriage equality,” said Premiership-winning coach Mick Malthouse.
While the Western Bulldogs, North Melbourne, Collingwood, Sydney and St Kilda all, like thee league itself, publicly pledged support for same-sex marriage.
One of the AFL’s leading clubs, the Carlton Blues, was caught up in its strand of supporter strife after it refused to fully endorse the AFL’s stance in a club statement that simply declared the team to be a “leader in engendering equality”.
While Carlton’s official club stance was that marriage equality is a personal matter and that clubs should not speak for their fans, some of its supporters threatened to cancel their club memberships.
Comment:
The debate’s profile and the league’s logo switch received a particularly high profile as it occurred just ahead of the AFL’s showpiece game: the 2017 AFL Grand Final, will be played between the Adelaide Football Club and the Richmond Football Club at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 30 September 2017.
The AFL is not the only Australian sports league to take a stance.
The ARU, NRL, Cricket Australia and the Football Federation Australia have all publicly supported the ‘yes’ campaign.
Links:
AFL:
http://australianfootballleague.tumblr.com/
https://www.instagram.com/AFL/
