6 hours ago
Mitch Brown Makes AFL History as First Male Player to Come Out as Bisexual
READ TIME: 17 MIN.
In an unprecedented move for Australian sport, former West Coast Eagles player Mitch Brown has publicly come out as bisexual, making history as the first male athlete in the Australian Football League (AFL) to openly identify as queer. Brown’s announcement, made through an interview with The Daily Aus, signals a milestone in the movement for greater LGBTQ+ visibility and acceptance within elite men’s sports in Australia.
Brown, who played 94 games for the Eagles between 2007 and 2016, shared that the decision to come out was not the product of prolonged contemplation, but rather a moment of clarity and peace. “It wasn't so much hours . It was a moment in time for me, and it was seconds,” Brown told The Daily Aus. “I had this feeling of peace. But, more importantly, comfort and confidence”.
Brown’s AFL career was marked not only by sporting achievement but also by the weight of having to suppress his true identity. He explained that the fear of being outed, coupled with a culture of homophobia, contributed to his decision to retire at the age of 28. “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,” Brown said. “The fear was so strong. The fear of being caught out. You don't dare, scared of being outed or someone calling you gay. And then because I wasn't ready, I wasn't confident in my identity and who I was, my natural reaction would be to suppress that to project my masculinity even more”.
Brown’s disclosure comes nearly a decade after his retirement, underscoring the persistent challenges faced by LGBTQ+ athletes in maintaining authenticity while navigating professional sport. He candidly described the “heavy burden” of having to conceal his identity, often at the expense of his own well-being.
While Brown’s announcement is a deeply personal milestone, he emphasizes the broader significance of his coming out for the AFL and the wider sporting community. “Hopefully this now provides for the second person,” he said, pointing to the hope that his story will help other queer athletes feel less alone. “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. 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”.
Commentators and LGBTQ+ advocates have noted that Brown’s openness could have a ripple effect, encouraging clubs, governing bodies, and fans to foster safer environments for athletes of all identities. While the AFL has made public commitments to diversity and inclusion, Brown’s account of homophobic culture within the league highlights the need for ongoing reform and education.
Historically, the AFL has lagged behind other codes in the visibility of openly LGBTQ+ male athletes. While women’s leagues have seen a positive shift, with numerous out players and coaches, the men’s competition has remained largely silent on the issue. Brown’s announcement stands in contrast to the few openly gay or bisexual male athletes in other major Australian sports, such as soccer and basketball, where individuals have also faced significant barriers to coming out.
Brown’s story also resonates globally, as elite male athletes across sports have often described similar pressures to conform to heteronormative expectations. The fear of homophobia, both in the locker room and from fans, remains a powerful deterrent for many athletes considering coming out.
The significance of Brown’s coming out extends beyond the AFL; it challenges the broader sporting culture to move towards greater empathy and inclusion. For young LGBTQ+ Australians, seeing a former professional athlete share his story publicly offers a model of authenticity and resilience. Brown’s courage lays a foundation for future generations, reminding them that they are not alone and that visibility matters.
As the AFL community responds to Brown’s announcement, it faces a choice: to embrace diversity and foster genuine inclusion, or to continue wrestling with the legacy of homophobia in sport. For Brown himself, the moment of coming out has brought “peace, comfort and confidence,” and for countless others, it brings hope.
