Jennie Gordon (centre) delivered a reflection before the Gay Pride match in Yarra Glen last month.
Yarra Ranges Uniting Church minister Jennie Gordon led a special pre-match minute’s silence before Australia’s first Aussie-rules gay pride game. Rev Gordon encouraged those attending to remember same-sex attracted young people who had taken their own lives because they did not feel loved or accepted and to ask for, and accept, forgiveness from same-sex attracted young people they may have hurt through ignorance.
She also asked the crowd to commit to moving forward in love, acknowledging that there was a rainbow of expressions of gender and equality.
The Pride Cup game between traditional Yarra Valley Mountain District Football Netball League rivals Yarra Glen and Yarra Junction was organised by the Yarra Glen club, which includes in its playing ranks Australia’s first openly gay footballer Jason Ball, who came out on the eve of the 2012 finals. It was held on 3 May with Yarra Glen winning by 91 points.
Ms Gordon said it was pleasing that two country clubs – rather than much bigger city-based clubs – had decided to unite to support the cause of inclusiveness.
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