Former rugby player reveals experience of racism on gay scene

Australian hunk Casey Conway, a former National Rugby League player, has spoken for the first time about being gay.

In a chat with the Special Broadcasting Service, he said his experience of trying out the gay scene was what helped him come to terms with his sexuality – but he still was on the receiving end of some racist remarks.

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On the time he was leading a “double life” hiding his orientation from his teammates, he said: “I was out-and-about on the [gay] scene and meeting people.

“I was doing that undercover and it finally came to a point where I had to start accepting it. I wanted more than what I was having.”

However, he added: “There was a lot of casual racism. People would say things like, ‘You’re hot for an Aboriginal guy’ or ‘I’ve never been with a black guy’. I’d think, ‘You know that’s not a compliment?’.”

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Casey, now a swimwear model, said he is aware of the sorts of things young LGBT+ people have to hear on a daily basis, and he wants to be a role model for them.

“There are young people out there hearing comments like that and they’re questioning themselves,” he said.

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“I know what it was like to be in the country and think, ‘Oh shit, I think I’m gay’. At that time there wasn’t really a big push in the media for equality.

“I’ve worked with kids who are homeless because they’ve been kicked out of home when they came out [as gay]. They’re suffering not only because they don’t have a home, but because of their mental health and a raft of other issues.”