The only openly gay men’s basketball player in a top-tier competition has expressed his disappointment at the Cairns Taipans’ boycott of the NBL’s Pride Round jerseys.
Melbourne United centre Isaac Humphries, who came out as the game’s first openly active gay player in November, issued a statement to ESPN in response to the Taipans’ collective decision not to wear a rainbow logo on their jerseys this week.
The NBL’s inaugural Pride Round has been overshadowed by Cairns’ decision to “opt out” of the uniform initiative in Wednesday’s game against South East Melbourne Phoenix after the club claimed “our team has already been subjected to a barrage of abuse and harmful commentary that has led to individuals being targeted and shamed.”
Humphries responded to the jersey snub on Friday in a statement that he also shared on Instagram.
“My teammates are like family. Like family, I will always come from a place of love and acceptance,” Humphries said.
“So, when it comes to inclusion, I will always stand up and speak out when needed for my sport, for my community, and I’m disappointed for my LGBTQ+ family of athletes and coaches who live silently in the closet.
Melbourne United player Isaac Humphries.Credit:Getty Images
“If we are going to move forward with true equality, equity and inclusion in sport for LGBTQ+ athletes, we have to start by getting honest. We have to acknowledge there is a problem.
“The obligation is on all of us, no matter where in the sport power matrix we live. In the meantime, I will continue to encourage us all to come together, respect each other, lift each other up, and I will use my platform to give voice to the voiceless.
“Each of us needs to ask ourselves: what kind of courage did we display when our leadership moment arrived?”
Humphries’ emotional detailing of mental health struggles and decision to come out as gay last year was lauded worldwide in both basketball and wider circles, with the NBL’s first Pride Round following two months later.
Uniforms across the week have displayed a pride logo, as has each court being used throughout the round.
The Pride colours on show at the State Basketball Centre this week.Credit:Getty Images
The NBL said at the time of the round’s announcement that players and teams would be permitted to play in regular jerseys if they preferred, and supported the Taipans decision in a statement on Wednesday.
“The NBL fully respects and understands that there may be people in the community with different views to those being conveyed through the Champion Pride round,” league boss Larry Kestelman said.
“Hence we have not mandated that our players have to wear the Pride jersey and if any player or team elect not to wear the jersey, we will respect that decision.”
Cairns coach Adam Forde said after the Taipans chose not to wear the Pride jerseys in Wednesday’s game that he believed the players’ collective decision did not diminish the club’s support of the inclusive round.
“We’re doing this because we got around our brothers and we want to protect each other and rather than feel like we’re getting singled out for any particular reason, this is us, right, and I’m proud of them for it,” Forde said.
Humphries and United will wear their Pride-themed jerseys in Saturday’s game against the New Zealand Breakers.
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