It’s not the players who objected that is the problem it’s the leaders of the evangelical churches which these guys attend and who are feeding them this bigotry. They are told to fear and to oppose any LGBT rights measures which sport and society tries to promote. It’s significant I think that all the names sound like Australian and NZ imports into the game from other Pacific island nations…where the Christian missionary zeal is still extremely influential in their particular brand of religious belief. It’s a problem we’re encountering at present with the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham …a large number of member countries - 35 out of a total 56, have draconian laws including life imprisonment for homosexuality…and yet the Games are trying to promote and highlight equality. Olympic and Commonwealth Diving Gold Medalist and openly gay activist Tom Daley has been leading protests….
[theguardian.com]