Mitch Brown, who played 94 games for West Coast between 2007 and 2016, has become the first male AFL player, past or present, to come out as gay or bisexual. The 36-year-old, who identifies as bisexual and is in a long-term relationship with a woman, said he hoped his announcement would help others in the sport feel seen.
Brown told The Daily Aus that speaking publicly during his playing career would have been difficult, but he was motivated to help change the culture 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 said.
The announcement comes after Adelaide player Izak Rankine was suspended for using homophobic slurs last week. Brown said he had 'buried' questions about his own sexuality due to the 'hyper-masculine' environment, and that slurs were so constant they 'just became part of the normal conversation'. He added: 'There have been so many times in my life I’ve seen things or heard things and not said anything … in fear of people thinking I was gay or bisexual.'
The news was widely welcomed, with the AFL Players’ Association describing the post as 'powerful' and Pride Cup CEO Hayley Conway calling it 'an incredibly significant moment for LGBTIQ+ communities and for AFL'. Former player Kate McCarthy said: 'To be honest, I did not think I would ever see the day when either an ex or current AFL men’s player would come out.'
Dr Erik Denison, a behavioural scientist at Monash University, said Brown's direct criticism of the homophobic environment could be a watershed moment. 'He’s talking openly about the homophobic environment being a factor in him deciding to retire from the game. We haven’t heard that kind of direct criticism before,' Denison said. AFL CEO Andrew Dillon acknowledged Brown's courage and said the moment was important for the game.
