‘Makes you a loser’: Brown hits out at Cats players over Mad Monday post – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Incident Report: Social Media Conduct at Geelong Football Club Function

Event Summary

A social media post by Geelong player Bailey Smith during the club’s end-of-season “Mad Monday” celebrations has drawn criticism for being homophobic. The post, which made a pejorative reference to the film “Brokeback Mountain,” was publicly condemned by Mitch Brown, the first openly bisexual player in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Details of the Incident

1. Bailey Smith posted a photograph on Instagram featuring himself and team captain Patrick Dangerfield in costume.
2. The caption accompanying the photo stated, “Or brokeback mountain depends how ya look at it,” followed by the comment, “This is what losing a granny does to ya.”
3. In response, Mitch Brown posted, “In all seriousness though, guys do better. Last time I checked, losing a grand final doesn’t make you gay, but being homophobic definitely makes you a loser.”

Analysis in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This incident directly contravenes the principles of several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting a critical need for greater awareness and accountability regarding social responsibility in professional sports.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• The core issue aligns with SDG 10, which calls for the reduction of inequalities and an end to discriminatory practices.
• Using a same-sex relationship as a punchline to denote failure or weakness is a discriminatory act that perpetuates harmful stereotypes against the LGBTQ+ community.
• Such actions undermine the goal of ensuring equal opportunity and fostering the social inclusion of all people, irrespective of sexual orientation.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• The incident also relates to SDG 5, which advocates for gender equality and the elimination of all forms of discrimination.
• Homophobic language reinforces rigid and exclusionary gender norms, creating a hostile environment that impedes progress towards full equality and inclusion for people of all gender identities and sexual orientations.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

• SDG 16 aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies. Public displays of homophobia work against this objective by fostering division and intolerance.
• Sporting bodies like the AFL are influential institutions that have a responsibility to promote inclusivity and justice. This event indicates a failure within that institutional framework to uphold these values effectively.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The promotion of mental health and well-being is a crucial target of SDG 3.
• Homophobic rhetoric contributes to unsafe and exclusionary environments that can have a significant negative impact on the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals.

Additional Contextual Concerns

Other Player Conduct

Further actions during the event raised concerns regarding respect and social awareness, thereby conflicting with the overarching principles of the SDGs:

• Player Max Holmes attended dressed as female journalist Caroline Wilson, which, coupled with Smith’s commentary, was viewed as disrespectful.
• Mark Blicavs, Mark O’Connor, and Cillian Burke attended dressed as the controversial Irish band Kneecap, further demonstrating a lack of social sensitivity.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  This goal is relevant because it aims to end all forms of discrimination. While often focused on women and girls, its principles extend to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, which are central to the issue of homophobia discussed in the article. The comment made by Bailey Smith, labeled as “homophobic” by Mitch Brown, represents a form of discrimination that SDG 5 seeks to eliminate.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  This is the most directly relevant SDG. The article’s core theme is the homophobic nature of a social media post, which perpetuates negative stereotypes and contributes to the social exclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals. SDG 10 explicitly calls for the social inclusion of all, irrespective of “other status,” which includes sexual orientation, and aims to eliminate discriminatory practices. Mitch Brown’s response, “being homophobic definitely makes you a loser,” directly confronts the inequality and discrimination highlighted in the article.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is connected as it aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies. The incident occurs within the context of the Australian Football League (AFL), a major social institution. Fostering an inclusive environment free from discrimination is crucial for the health of such institutions and society at large. The controversy shows a failure to uphold inclusive values, which is a concern under SDG 16’s ambition to ensure responsive, inclusive, and representative decision-making at all levels.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.

   This target is applicable in its broader interpretation, which includes combating discrimination rooted in gender stereotypes and sexual orientation. The homophobic comment in the article is a form of discrimination that this target aims to eradicate from public and private spheres.

2. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

   The article directly relates to this target. Mitch Brown, identified as “the first AFL player to publicly reveal he is bisexual,” represents a minority group whose social inclusion is challenged by the homophobic comment. His public condemnation of the post is an act of empowerment and a call for greater social inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals within the sport.

3. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.

   The “practice” of making homophobic jokes, as exemplified by Bailey Smith’s post, is a discriminatory practice that this target seeks to eliminate. Mitch Brown’s call for players to “do better” is a demand for “action” to counter such practices and ensure a more equal and respectful environment for all players, regardless of their sexual orientation.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicator: Prevalence of discriminatory incidents.

  The article reports on a specific incident of alleged homophobia. The frequency of such public incidents and the subsequent reactions can serve as an informal indicator of the prevalence of discriminatory attitudes and practices within a community or institution like the AFL. A reduction in such controversies would indicate progress.

• Implied Indicator: Proportion of individuals who feel safe to be open about their sexual orientation.

  The article highlights that Mitch Brown is “the first AFL player to publicly reveal he is bisexual.” This fact itself serves as an indicator. An increase in the number of openly LGBTQ+ individuals in high-profile fields like professional sports would suggest a more inclusive and accepting society, signaling progress towards Target 10.2.

• Implied Indicator: Public response to discrimination.

  Mitch Brown’s public statement (“In all seriousness though, guys do better… being homophobic definitely makes you a loser”) is a direct response to the perceived discrimination. The nature and volume of public and institutional responses to such incidents can be used as an indicator to measure societal willingness to challenge and eliminate discriminatory practices, in line with Target 10.3.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: abc.net.au