Mitch Brown, a former West Coast defender, has made history by becoming the first openly bisexual man in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Brown played 94 games for the Eagles between 2007 and 2016 before retiring at 28.
In a recent interview, he revealed that the weight of hiding his sexuality contributed to his decision to retire.
Brown described the AFL’s culture as “hyper-masculine,” which made it difficult for him to question his sexuality.
He shared instances of homophobic conversations among players, including a comment about preferring to be in a cage with lions rather than showering with a gay man.
Brown believes that this culture has led to gay and bisexual players remaining closeted, and he hopes that his story will create a safer space for them to come forward.
A Message of Support and Inclusion
Brown’s announcement comes on the heels of Adelaide’s Izak Rankine being suspended for a homophobic slur.
Brown hopes that his story will help create a sense of change and promote a culture of inclusivity in the AFL.
He believes that the focus should be on systemic change rather than just punishing individual players for their actions.
Brown’s message of support and inclusion has been praised by Health Equity Matters, a national federation for Australia’s leading HIV and LGBTIQA+ organisations.
CEO Dash Heath-Paynter described Brown’s story as “inspiring” and “a powerful statement about visibility and inclusion.”
Pride Cup CEO Hayley Conway called the announcement “an incredible significant moment” for both the LGBTQIA+ and AFL communities.
Brown hopes that his story will help create a safer and more inclusive environment for all players, regardless of their sexuality.
He believes that this will ultimately lead to a better game, where everyone can thrive and feel like they belong.