Former West Cost player Mitch Brown has become the first openly bisexual man in AFL history.
Speaking to the Daily Aus, the former Eagles defender said the AFL’s “hyper-masculine” culture made questioning his sexuality during his professional career impossible, and played a part in his decision to retire in 2016, age 28.
“I remember two people having a conversation around how they would feel having a shower next to a gay man, and one of the players said, ‘I’d rather be in a cage full of lions than have a shower next to a gay man’,” Brown said.
“There’s been so many times in my life that I’ve seen things or heard things and not said anything, in fear of people thinking that I was gay or bisexual.”
He said he hopes his story creates the “safety, comfort and space” for other players to come forward.
“The reactions that I hope for are the ones I won’t hear. They’re the ones of those young men around Australia going, ‘I feel seen, I feel a little bit safer, and I have a role model — albeit just ordinary old Mitch — a role model I can now look to’,” he said.
“I don’t believe that this is about me. It’s not about Mitch Brown being the first at all. For me, it’s about sharing my experience so others can feel seen.”
He added: “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.”
Brown’s story comes in the wake of six AFL players suspended over the past 18 months for using homophobic slurs, prompting a reckoning for the game in just how seriously it takes homophobic abuse. Most recently, Adelaide Crows player Izak Rankine was banned for four matches over his “highly offensive homophobic slur” towards a Collingwood player during last Saturday’s game.
“The language used was offensive, hurtful and highly inappropriate. Our players have a very clear understanding of what is acceptable on the football field. Importantly, in this instance it was called out by players and acknowledged by Izak himself as wrong — and that reflects the standards we expect and demand in our game,” AFL General Counsel Stephen Meade said in a statement.
“Izak has said he knew it was not acceptable. Adelaide have said they know it is not acceptable. In an AFL environment, this behaviour is not acceptable. Homophobia has no place in football. The suspension is significant, but stamping out vilification in our game is incredibly important. Everyone in football understands the rules, and there are consequences of breaching them.
However, Rankine was today named in the AFL’s 44-person All-Australian squad, with the final team of 22 to be named at the AFL Awards on Thursday night.
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