Outspoken AFL footballer Jason Akermanis, widely criticised and possibly facing a human rights complaint for urging gay players to stay in the closet, says his critics are twisting his words.
The day after suggesting the league wasn't ready for openly gay players and "straight" teammates could be uncomfortable around them, the Western Bulldogs forward says his critics have distorted his argument and are "missing the point".
"There's articles everywhere written from these guys and all of them, of course, are gay so they think they know everything and they know more," Akermanis told MTR Radio on Friday.
Kowalski says comments 'homophobic'
"They're making it personal about me, which is a very dumb thing to do because all I wanted to do was debate the facts."
Several gay rights supporters, including openly gay Olympic swimmer Daniel Kowalski, have dismissed his comments as homophobic.
Sydney gay rights activist Gary Burns said on Friday that Akermanis has been "encouraging homophobia" and he intended to lodge a complaint against him with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.
'Unsafe' for openly gay players
The storm erupted after Akermanis set out his views on gays in his weekly Herald Sun column on Thursday.
He further fuelled anger when he expanded on those comments during a Nine Network television interview, saying it would be unsafe for players to be openly gay.
"Some footballers think there's something wrong with people, they have some kind of disease," he said.
He added that being in the shower with an openly gay man could be quite uncomfortable for other players.
AFL distances itself from comments
Akermanis's own club and the AFL have distanced themselves from his comments, saying out-and-proud men would be welcome in footy changing rooms.
And his coach has conceded he may have breached the league's vilification rules.
But Akermanis maintains that his words have been twisted and he has no problem with gay men.
He said he intended to explain how former NBA star John Amaechi, the first professional basketball player to out himself, has expressed how difficult the process would be for a player while still in the league.
"The facts are that this particular gentlemen said 'Don't do it' and I said, 'OK, let's start with that'".
'Uncomfortable'
On Friday, however, he maintained that he would have a problem sharing a changing room with a man if he was openly gay.
"Maybe I've got a problem with it," Akermanis told MTR Radio.
"What am I supposed to do? Do you think I'm the only one?
"That is an uncomfortable situation to be in."
