First out gay All Black and his new husband wowed by reaction to their quirky wedding
Former rugby player Campbell Johnstone married Ben Thomson in New Zealand. They talk to Outsports about their big day. The post First out gay All Black and his new husband wowed by reaction to their quirky wedding appeared first on Outsports.
Two years after making rugby history, Campbell Johnstone is headline news once again — only this time, he’s being pictured alongside his husband.
Johnstone is still the only current or former New Zealand international men’s rugby player to have ever come out publicly as gay. At the time he first shared his story, he had been dating Ben Thomson for a couple years.
Now, they are married.
They celebrated the occasion with family and friends in the town of Oxford, near Christchurch on New Zealand’s South Island, last month. But the beautiful wedding photos have only just now been released via a glossy magazine spread and social posts.
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“The response has meant all those cool feelings and excitement that we had on the day have come back again,” says Campbell, chatting to Outsports alongside Ben, who adds: “It was amazing, but it just went so fast!”
It’s common for husbands-to-be who are preparing for their big day together to do things a little differently, breaking not just with heteronormative traditions but also putting their own spin on proceedings.
Campbell and Ben announced their engagement in September 2023. Soon after, the planning began.
“It was such a massive year getting it all organized,” says the latter, who is also an ex-sportsman, having competed in dressage.
He now helps to run a beverage company in his day job, while Campbell works as a property valuer, having previously played and coached rugby at home and in Europe.
Unusual wedding details included the grooms’ arrival at the venue in a helicopter piloted by All Blacks legend and two-time Rugby World Cup winner Richie McCaw, who is a former teammate of Campbell.
Guests were also asked to cast ballots on which surname the newlyweds should choose going forward. The votes went the way of the former prop.
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“I’m pretty competitive, so I didn’t like losing, but I’m happy with the names!” concedes Ben, graciously.
Another talking point was his tuxedo jacket, which incorporated a revealing lacework design on the back. “It was an idea I got from Pinterest,” he adds. “I took my idea down to a local wedding dress designer and they brought it to life for me.”
They also had a giant mille-feuille dessert — a Napoleon pastry — instead of a wedding cake, and for a first dance guests helped to recreate the flashmob dance from last year’s hit Netflix drama “The Perfect Couple” starring Nicole Kidman.
But perhaps the biggest eyebrow-raiser was the revelation that Campbell and Ben had actually tied the knot in secret back in October.
A videographer had captured what was otherwise a private moment and their short film was screened at the wedding party.
‘Coming out was such a relief’
Campbell is not the type who seeks the spotlight and although he was out to family and friends before 2023, including in rugby circles, he hadn’t previously felt the need to tell the world about his sexuality.
One of the factors that changed his mind was knowing he and Ben wanted to spend the rest of their lives together.
“We’d said that as soon as we get engaged or married, then it becomes public knowledge anyway,” recalls Campbell. “So I thought, I may as well get ahead of it.”
Up until that point, New Zealand Rugby — the national governing body — had been supportive behind the scenes, knowing a media scrum would likely await any All Black coming out as gay.
But when that moment arrived, it was overwhelmingly positive for Campbell and his visibility continues to have great meaning today.
“There were parts of the whole experience I didn’t expect,” he says. “So many other gay people shared their stories of giving up on the sport they’d loved because they didn’t fit the mold.
“They said my story had given them the strength to reconnect with their sport so that was really humbling.
“Personally, it was such a weight taken off my shoulders. I had always been keeping my head down, to avoid the media — but when we decided to make it public, it was such a relief.
“I was happy I could be who I am and do day-to-day things completely, without the worry of the media picking it up or running some exaggerated headline.”
Ben is hugely proud of the role model that Campbell has become. “The amount of messages he still gets even now, two years later, with people thanking him and saying how they inspire him and how good it is for rugby… it still resonates with people, for sure.”
They hope that the photos of their wedding spread a little joy and imbue confidence among fellow LGBTQ people.
In addition, with rugby being a national obsession in New Zealand, it helps to let fans know that the sport was well-represented at the wedding. Guests included McCaw, another World Cup winner in Corey Flynn, more former All Blacks including Leon MacDonald and Dave Hewett, and current Crusaders head coach Rob Penney,
“Rugby always has this underlying theme of respect,” adds Campbell. “It’s the idea that when you enter the team, you’re a part of the family and we respect where you come from and who you are.
“And if you’re from a different culture or sexuality, they really embrace that and look after that person.”
He believes that message can provide encouragement for any gay man or boy in today’s New Zealand culture who might be struggling.
“Maybe we’ve taken the whole heat off the idea of the first gay All Black, and made it easier for someone to be out while playing, or coming through.
“Who really knows? Time will tell, I guess.”
He’ll certainly be on hand to offer advice. And for both Campbell and Ben, the sharing of their wedding photos shows a happy future is right there waiting for fellow gay sportsmen who fall in love.
“Be happy in your own skin and get ready for the next step you want to make,” says Campbell.
“And whether it’s getting married or coming out, just be sure it’s on your own terms.”
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The post First out gay All Black and his new husband wowed by reaction to their quirky wedding appeared first on Outsports.
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