Mitch Brown, a former West Coast Eagles player, has become the first male AFL player, past or present, to come out as gay or bisexual. The 36-year-old, who played 94 games between 2007 and 2016, identifies as bisexual and is in a long-term relationship with a woman.
Brown said he hoped his announcement would help others feel seen and encourage a cultural shift within the sport. 'Maybe a second person [comes out], and then the third… You may be playing with someone who’s in the queer community. Empathy is powerful,' he told The Daily Aus.
The news was widely welcomed, with the AFL Players’ Association calling it 'powerful' and Pride Cup CEO Hayley Conway describing it as 'an incredibly significant moment for LGBTIQ+ communities and for AFL'. Former player Kate McCarthy said she had not expected to see an AFL men’s player come out, calling it 'extremely courageous'.
Brown spoke about the 'hyper-masculine' environment in the AFL, saying he had 'buried' questions about his sexuality and that homophobic slurs were so constant they 'just became part of the normal conversation'. He added that it was easier for him as a past player to speak up, as he no longer fears on-field abuse.
Dr Erik Denison, a behavioural scientist at Monash University, said Brown’s direct criticism of the homophobic environment could be a watershed moment. 'We haven’t heard that kind of direct criticism before from other players who have come out… He’s one of the boys, which means his words will have an impact on those within the game.'
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon acknowledged Brown’s courage, saying the moment was a step forward for the game and encouraging others to share their own journeys.
