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The World of IanA tribute to Ian Roberts - Australia's First, Gay, Out Footballer |
Updates
15 Jul 2003
Ian to appear in an independent production of "The
Pitchfork Disney" by Philip
Ridley. The Parade Studio, NIDA. Wed 23 Jul-Sat 2 Aug. Bookings: +61
2 8230 0115. Flyer here.
3 Feb 2003
Added a link to an SMH
article about Ian's first film on the Links page.
7 Jul 2002
Added "A Manly Lifestyle",
"Howdy Cowboy!", "Tough
Gay", "A Question of
Heart", "Ian Roberts Kicks Off
Movie Career", "A New Wardrobe
in Ian's Closet " plus pics. Regorganised article chronology.
30 Jun 2002
Added "Local Hero", "Hard
Copy", "Ian Roberts Movie",
"Crazed Stalker Almost Broke Me"
plus pics
23 Jun 2002
Added "Stranger In Paradise",
"Roberts to visit top end" and "Two
of Us" plus pics.
10 Jun 2002
Added "What's A Bloke Supposed To Say?",
"League Star Off To Acting School"
and new pictures.
9 Jun 2002
Added intro, moved news to the articles page,
tidied up articles, reorganised articles page, added "Outed...
but Roberts won't be the last"
5 Mar 2002
Pics of Ian from Mardi Gras 2002.
Also: updated layout and links page.
Ian Roberts distinguished himself as one of Australia's great Rugby League players in the 1990s. In 1995 he made history by becoming the first Australian sportsman to openly declare himself gay. This courageous move surprised many, both because Ian did not fit many stereotypes of what a gay man acted like and because of the minimal repercussions that resulted. Ian's career continued until the end of the millenium.
Sadly, Ian remains the only professional Australian gay sportsmen (and one of very few globally) courageous enough to be open about himself while playing his sport. He remains an inspiration to young men all over the world who see in him a brave, tough role model who stands against the clichés of what gay men can be.
After retiring from Rugby League, Ian moved to Sydney and completed an acting degree at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and began a second career as an actor.
This page is no longer updated. I've left it up as documentation of the period between Ian's coming out and his retirement from Rugby League. And, of course, for the pictures ;-)
Interested in Ian's biography, Finding Out, but can't find a copy? You could...
- contact Random House, the book's Australian publisher (they released a paperback edition in 2004)
- contact Paul Freeman the book's author.
- try looking on Amazon or eBay for a second-hand copy