As far as corporate statements on marriage equality go, arguably none have been as baffling and befuddling as the one issued by the Carlton Football Club yesterday, and footy fans are intensely pissed off about it.
Early yesterday morning, the Blues’ AFLW superstar Darcy Vescio stood side-by-side with male playing colleagues and league officials as part of the AFL‘s official backing of the Yes campaign.
A few hours later, for reasons that are still completely unknown, Carlton issued an intensely curious official statement on the issue. It read, in full, as follows:
The Carlton Football Club prides itself on being inclusive, and a leader in engendering equality and a deep sense of belonging.
The issue of ‘same sex marriage’ is essentially one of equality; and so the Club encourages all of its people to have their say in this important national vote.
As a Club, we respect that this is about personal choice, and as such don’t intend to campaign on the issue, but we do strongly reinforce our Club’s absolute commitment to equality – and a community that is free from any form of discrimination.
Given one of their star players literally endorsed the league’s overarching seal of approval a few hours earlier, that statement is at best intensely weird, and at worst a weak-willed, moronic each-way bet that serves only to embolden No voters associated with the club (perhaps more specifically, No voters *with money* associated with the club).
Needless to say, fans – and more importantly members – of the club are beyond furious.
ive stood by this club for 23 yrs through thick + (a lot more) thin + you wont stand by Australians who are having their existence attacked?
— s (@SEZZZDREAMS) September 20, 2017
Never been so embarrassed to be a Carlton supporter. Why did you even bother to release this? #prdisaster
— Juliette Elfick (@SzelingGood) September 20, 2017
Really disappointed by this. pic.twitter.com/zXu6Q3QjjD
— Tegan Higginbotham (@TeganMH) September 20, 2017
Proud fan since 5, as place where “wogs” like me welcomed. It stood up a/g #VAW too. This however leaves me angry & ashamed of my club today https://t.co/vjBhlXFYZ8
— Kon Karapanagiotidis (@Kon__K) September 20, 2017
You don’t pick & choose when you stand up for equality, you either do or you don’t. #loveislove #VoteYes https://t.co/i7Rs3oSLaI
— Alison Smirnoff (@AlisonSmirnoff) September 20, 2017
Disappointing Carlton, if you want “equality” support the community that has been denied that right for so long. https://t.co/abEJ4v5hgl
— Ryan Fitzgerald (@FitzySA) September 20, 2017
Bit disappointed by my mob. If you strive for equality and inclusion you only have one option. https://t.co/LEKr38fYib
— Andy Maher (@AndyMaherDFA) September 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/JamColley/status/910382561313964033
https://twitter.com/wishart88/status/910366132628049921
Even former Carlton player Michael Jamison has slammed his old club for the extremely middling statement.
Fair enough too mate. You can fence sit when you are debating whether to have a twilight grand final not when it comes to equality.
— michael jamison (@mjamo40) September 20, 2017
Now, no one’s suggesting that any club who backs Yes is saying its members can’t vote the way they want to. But to not even have the spine to publicly back one of its star players mere hours after she is welcomed in by the league itself is unconscionable.
The only way to be truly “divisive” on this issue is to aim for right down the middle.
The Blues had a chance to back one of their own and embrace all their fans at the same time. On this, for lack of a better term, they fucked it.