Gay rugby team’s media initiative garners support
SOUTH Africa’s first gay rugby team has launched a controversial campaign using homophobic slurs, and it is spreading like wildfire.
Last week, the 22-player Jozi Cats – the first gay rugby team on the continent – released a series of photos featuring the rugged players with the words “Flamer?”, “Pansy?”, “Pillow Biter?”, “Fudge Packer?”, “Queen?” and “Fairy?”.
The players act out the literal meaning of the derogatory terms by holding a blow torch, flowers, a pillow and a bag of fudge.
One dons a crown and another fairy wings to drive the pun home.
The team had hoped that through the campaign, gay people could reclaim the traditionally offensive terms and turn them on their heads.
Jozi Cats chairman and “Pillow Biter” Teveshan Kuni said the campaign has received “mostly amazing” responses.
The campaign’s primary goal was to recruit more members for the 8-month-old team, because they have been invited to compete in international tournaments.
Kuni said they had “tons of player enquiries” and were in conversation with three possible corporate sponsors.
The Facebook page jumped from a few hundred likes to more than 1 000 over the past week, and a behind-the-scenes video has been played in 126 countries.
“The guys keep asking if I expected it to blow up like this,” said club member and head of Havas PR South Africa, Chris Verrijdt, who conceptualised the campaign. “You always hope, but you can’t plan for this kind of thing. It was a really authentic campaign, I think that is why it worked. We realise that we are in a position now where people are looking to us as a safe haven where you can be gay and a rugby player.”
“Pansy” player and primary school sports co-ordinator Nathi Khoza considered the campaign “something that needed to be done”.
He hoped it would make people more aware of the offensive things they say.
“There are too many misconceptions about homosexuals in sports,” he said.
Kuni started the gay and inclusive club with a few friends last year as a place to play or learn to play, whether touch, tag or full contact rugby. “We have some really talented players who were uncomfortable approaching normal rugby teams,” Kuni said.
The team is open to all, regardless of sexual orientation. They now have their sights set on the International Gay Games, World Out Games and the Bingham Cup.