The Australian Football League playing collective "joined a formal movement" lobbying to legalize gay marriage, joining some 376 organizations nationally, according to Samantha Lane of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Dual Brownlow medalist Adam Goodes and St. Kilda's Sam Gilbert "are among the current and recently retired AFL footballers featuring in the Australian Marriage Equality campaign after being photographed making a heart gesture in front of their chests." Pushing for the same rights that became enshrined in U.S. law by the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Friday, the AME "has the support of Kylie Minogue, Senator Penny Wong, former Greens leader Bob Brown, and major corporations including Qantas, Seek and all of Australia's big banks." The AFL Players Association's board "approved joining the AME's campaign on behalf of the competition's 800-odd elite players at its last meeting." Football Federation Australia "led the way among the Australian sports to sign on to the campaign." The National Rugby League "has formally pledged its support to the campaign since the AFLPA became a signatory." An int'l homophobia study revealed that 87% of young gay athletes in Australia "felt compelled to hide their sexuality from teammates" (SMH, 6/30).
