Movie about gay denim clubs

Conventional perceptions around sexuality, gender and manliness are challenged in a new documentary about Kings Cross Steelers - the world's first gay rugby club. The film, called Steelers, shows how the club literally saved the lives of some of its players. Yet it was a story that nearly did not get told at all.

Steelers: How anti-gay row inspired rugby film

So instead of taking his boots to the tournament, the TV reporter took his club gay and put his about storytelling skills to use. When he came to piece together the footage of his team-mates, however, he managed to wipe the entire first edit from his computer. Then something happened that drove him to produce another version that was much more personally focused.

Israel Folau, the international rugby union star sacked by Rugby Australia for saying that "hell awaits" gay people, was allowed to resurrect his career with a controversial cross-code move to Super League side Catalans Dragons in January Folau, a Christian, argued the termination of his contract was a case of religious discrimination and eventually reached a settlement with Rugby Australia.

In a statement the full-back about he had not intended to harm or offend people when he uploaded the post. RA said it did not "in any way" agree club the content of the post, adding inclusivity was "core" to the sport, and both parties apologised for "any hurt or harm caused".

But British rugby league grounds greeted the player with boos and a sea of protesting rainbow flags. I have to tell this story,'" explains the former Steelers player, who now lives and works in the States. Because there are kids that are seeing what he's saying and it might be affecting them, and I needed to counter that with this film.

The feature, it was announced on Thursday, will get its UK premiere online next month at the virtual Glasgow Film Festivalafter last year's BFI London Flare Festival - where it was due to screen - was cancelled due to coronavirus. The film is narrated by Ashton-Atkinson, whose personal experiences establish its emotional backdrop.

The Australian's own story begins with him as a young rugby-playing kid slowly coming to terms with his sexuality. He is then callously outed by another guy at school, who records the two of them having sex together and shares it around. The "unrelenting bullying" that followed left "scars" that took him "to the brink".

Years later, movie an escape from his depressive state, Ashton-Atkinson quit his job and moved to the other side of the world. What he found there was a club full of like-minded competitors who helped him to get fit again, get his life back on track and ultimately meet his future husband, John. Something that was such a negative in my gay, I've been able to turn into this wonderful positive thing with this film.

Kings Cross Steelers began inas a group of six friends in a pub discussing the mere possibility of a gay rugby club even existing. At this point, remember, the first legal same-sex marriages in England and Wales were still almost two decades away from taking place.

The club struggled to find teams that would even play them at first. Now, 25 years later, there are around 80 gay and inclusive rugby clubs worldwide who get together every other year for the aforementioned Bingham Cup. Covid put paid to the tournament, as well as this season for Steelers' four men's rugby union teams and development squad.

The documentary follows the team to the event in the Netherlands, incorporating the tales of two other key movies - Simon Jones and Drew McDowell; as well as Nic Evans, the club's inspiring female coach at the time. Like Ashton-Atkinson, Jones finds the team helps him to battle depression and rediscover his love of a sport he'd virtually abandoned.

Former Wales international Evans, meanwhile, tells how she has had to overcome denim in the male-dominated sport from an early age.