He wants his testimony to be news “puzzle piece” in the fight against homophobia in sport. Facing the cameras of One News television on Monday, former All Blacks mainstay Campbell Johnstone became the first member of the New Zealand rugby team to publicly reveal his homosexuality. “If I can be the first All Black to come out as gay and help prevent the stigma around these issues, it can help other people.says Johnstone. Everyone will know that there is one among the All Blacks.
At the age of 43, the former rugby player – passed by the Biarritz Olympique between 2008 and 2012 – confided to having suffered at the idea of living a «double vie» et “a lie” during all these years. He recounted at length how much he had “buried this part of [lui] deeper and deeper.” A speech hailed by the triple world champion team, where he has three selections: “Lots of love and support for the All Black #1056 @campbelljohnstone.nz for having the courage to share his story and help create a more inclusive game.”
Much love and support for All Black #1056 Campbell Johnstone for having the courage to share his story and helping create a more inclusive game. ???? pic.twitter.com/z9rjOKl1rn
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) January 30, 2023
Culture viriliste
Campbell Johnstone thus joins other athletes who have spoken publicly about their homosexuality. In rugby, the gay coming out of Gareth Thomas, the former captain of the Wales team, had made an impression. During an interview with the Daily Mail in 2009, the retired athlete, then 35, spoke publicly about his homosexuality for the first time. Supported by his team, Gareth Thomas was at the time one of the very first European rugby players to come out as gay.
Homophobia in sport is well documented. LGBT + associations have been denouncing for years the discrimination suffered by their community, in a universe that is often borrowed from a virile culture. The international study Out on The Fields, conducted in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and Canada thoroughly reported on this in 2015. The figures then revealed that 80% of respondents had already experienced or witnessed homophobia on sports field.