Former Australian Football League player Mitch Brown has made history by becoming the first openly gay or bisexual man in the competition's 129-year existence. Brown, who played 94 matches for the West Coast Eagles between 2007 and 2016, announced his bisexuality to The Daily Aus following recent homophobic incidents in the sport.
The 36-year-old described the weight of hiding his sexuality as playing a "huge" part in his decision to retire at age 28. Brown said: "I played in the AFL for 10 years for the West Coast Eagles, and I'm a bisexual man."
Breaking barriers in Australian sport
Brown's announcement marks a pivotal moment, as the AFL was previously the only major professional men's sport globally to never have had an openly gay or bisexual player. The decision came from a "feeling of peace... comfort and confidence" that he didn't have while hiding his sexuality during his playing career.
Brown described a culture of "hyper-masculinity" where he heard "countless" homophobic comments on the field. He recalled teammates discussing how they would feel showering next to a gay man, with one player saying: "I'd rather be in a cage full of lions than have a shower next to a gay man."
Family support and recent incidents
Brown is currently in a relationship with a female partner and was previously married to former netball player Shae Bolton, with whom he shares two sons. According to the Daily Mail, Bolton posted supportively on Instagram: "Our boys will be proud. I am."
The announcement follows Adelaide Crows player Izak Rankine receiving a four-week ban for using a homophobic slur during a game. The Independent reports that six AFL players have been suspended for homophobic slurs in the past 16 months alone.
Cultural analysis and call for change
Dr Erik Denison told The Independent that the AFL's conformity-focused culture stems from similar player builds and the sport's small global footprint compared to other football codes. This contrasts sharply with the AFL Women's competition, which The Guardian notes has numerous openly gay players.
Brown believes there are currently gay and bisexual players in the AFL who remain closeted. He called for "positive male role models" to be celebrated and sent a message to those still hiding their sexuality: "I see you and you are not alone."
Sources used: "The Daily Aus", "BBC", "Daily Mail", "Independent", "Guardian" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
