9/11 Gay Hero and Rugby player’s life will be highlighted this week
The remarkable true story of gay rugby player Mark Bingham’s life and death is being told on ABC2 this Wednesday evening.
Bingham was a gregarious, happy-go-lucky player with gay rugby team the San Francisco Fog. He’s remembered as a rowdy and fun guy who loved making videos and playing his favourite ball game – he helped create the gay rugby movement.
But his life ended abruptly on board United Flight 93, which went down on September 11, 2001. Bingham is believed to be one of the group that wrestled control of the plane that landed in a field, presumably on its way to the White House.
Devastated by Mark’s death, his mother Alice Hoagland is a key driving force in The Rugby Player, the documentary film about his life.
Inspired by her son’s courage, we see how she herself begins to take on the fight for equal rights.
“It’s incredibly heartbreaking to watch this film, but at the same time I’m so proud that Mark’s life story challenges any notion that gay men are somehow weaker or morally unprepared to face a difficult physical task,” says Hoagland, who will be attending the Bingham Cup gay rugby tournament in Sydney next week, and staying with Mark’s Australian best friend, who also appears in the film.
Watch the trailer for The Rugby Player below. “The film shows a unique insight into the man who became a hero,” explains Sydney Convicts rugby club President Andrew Purchas. “In many ways he was just one of the blokes, although tougher than most and certainly a very good rugby player. He was a very tough competitor but incredibly fair and understanding.”
The Rugby Player plays on ABC2 this Wednesday 20 August at 8:30pm. It will also available to watch online via iview for few weeks afterwards.
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