Australian Footballers Tackle Homophobia

In marked contrast to the prevailing homophobia in many American professional sports associations, prominent athletes in the Australian Football League have launched a campaign to root out antigay sentiment from the group.

Australian football stars Jimmy Bartel (pictured) and Adam Goodes are among dozens of players who have signed onto an "inclusion and diversity" program and were recently photographed by the Australian press holding antihomophobia signs, some reading "We all have our differences -- let's celebrate them!" The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Ian Roberts, an Australian rugby player who came out in 1995, applauded the AFL Players' Association's efforts. ''Obviously they've recognized there's a massive problem and they're finally doing something about it ... Something's got to change, and this is a positive reaction by positive people.''

Read the full article here.