He might not be a household name (yet) but gay Aussie Bobsledder, Simon Dunn, topped the list on Attitude’s Hot 100 last week. A quick browse through his Instagram and it’s easy to see why. Chris Godfrey caught up with him ahead of his coronation.
Hey Simon, congratulations on being ranked first in the Attitude Hot 100!
I’m still getting used to it! It’s a bit surreal; I still don’t believe it as I’m still convinced my mum was the only one that voted, like she’s finally learned how to use the internet and she’s become a hacker or something.
Who did you vote for?
I voted for Tom Daley. When Tom Daley came out it was just when I started doing bobsledding. Being a gay athlete you’re always worried about how people will perceive you and it’s an issue I had growing up playing rugby. I actually ended up leaving sport because I didn’t feel that a gay person could be part of the sporting community. So I give Tom Daley kudos for that.
So sport hindered rather than helped you coming out?
Hindered definitely. I delayed it a lot. I knew I was gay from a very young age and because I was doing very well at rugby league I was worried that if I were to advance in the sport my sexuality would be an issue. I ended up giving up sport for around six or seven years, and then I started playing for the Sydney City Convicts. So I got back into rugby. During that time I tried to fit in the scene but I wasn’t happy. It wasn’t until I started playing sport again that I found I was really happy.
Do you think it’s still important to have out sportsman?
That’s what I would’ve liked as a teenager: knowing that when I was a teenager knowing that I could continue doing what I love and that my sexuality shouldn’t hinder that.
Did you have anyone as a role model when you were growing up?
Just Ian Roberts!
What could be done to make sport a more helpful experience for young gay guys then?
Obviously a lot of role models helps. Having openly gay athletes in mainstream society’s eyes helps them to be aware that we are there and we are competitive and can do it as well.
And you’ve played in both gay and straight rugby teams as an out sportsman; what are the main differences you’ve found?
So when I was younger there was homophobia but I put that down to being young and stupid. The straight team I played for in Canada were fine with it and I don’t know if that’s because they’re older or because Canada is a lot more accepting than Australia. The gay teams are also a lot more social!
Do you feel it’s right for athletes to boycott events in countries like Russia, where homosexuality is criminalised?
There was a lot of talk about that during the Sochi games and I know personally that if I was to have competed at those games I would have gone. Because you spend so much time and you involve your life completely around the sport. You may only have one opportunity to go to the games. I don’t think people should boycott that.
So how else can out athletes help in the fight for LGBT rights?
I know in Sydney there was a recent study about homophobia in sports and those kind of things do help a lot in promoting gay sports stars and being public about it. Like David Pocock; he’s not gay but there was a game recently where somebody called him a faggot and he ended up making a complaint and the guy got fined.
And you’re living in Calgary at the moment, what’s the gay scene there like?
There is none! There’s one gay bar and it’s horrible. Everything closes at 2am too as well. It’s one of those things it’s kind of easier to just not go there. Most of the gay people I know in Calgary are lesbians because of sports.
What was it like growing up where you were?
Homophobia is definitely rife. I still don’t know if I feel comfortable in my hometown. I’m comfortable there, people are accepting but I think it’s nice living in Sydney where it’s a gay enclave. But you do become blind to the fact that homophobia is still an issue because it’s not an issue in the city. Though there are also some really poor suburbs in Sydney where you just wouldn’t be openly gay out there.
Do you miss the scene back in Australia then?
I miss having a social life, because obviously I had a close circle of friends in Sydney with the Convicts, and outside of the Convicts it was good to go outside and have a drink with them. Whereas in Calgary it’s just sport, sport, sport. They had a rugby club there before I took up bobsledding but it’s not the same. When you’re playing within the gay team everyone else is the same as you and they understand you.
It’s almost like you’re bringing bobsledding into the mainstream as well.
Hopefully! People are often surprised and they’re always referring us to the Jamaican team. But I just like to remind them that we beat the Jamaican team. We’re better than them. I came out when I was 17 so I like to say I didn’t come out as gay, I came out as a bobsledder!
And has your experience with bobsledding made you a better rugby player?
I assume it’s made me a better rugby player because I don’t like to run for more than 5 seconds at a time now! Rugby’s where my heart is and I will go back there eventually once I’ve finished this journey I’m strong I was when I played rugby because bobsleigh is about a lot of strength and I find out if I’m faster next month.
