For the first time in the Australian Football League’s 129-year history, a former player has publicly come out as bisexual. Mitch Brown, who played 94 games for the West Coast Eagles between 2007 and 2016, has become the league’s first openly bisexual man.
Brown, 36, revealed his identity in a message sent to The Daily Aus on Tuesday, August 26, prompted by recent reports highlighting homophobia within the sport. Before Brown’s announcement, the AFL stood alone among major global men’s sports leagues in having no current or former players publicly identify as gay or bisexual.
"Hey Sam, I played in the AFL for 10 years for the West Coast Eagles, and I'm a bisexual man," read the DM from Brown to The Daily Aus via Instagram. Brown then went on to speak about the "hyper-masculinity" within the sport that made bringing up his identity feel impossible.
"When I was growing up at school, the word ‘gay’ was thrown around constantly… For a man in Australia, [it was seen as] probably the weakest thing you could be," he continued. "It was never once an opportunity to speak openly or explore your feelings or questions in a safe way. 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 concluded.
By 2016, hiding who he was became harder than staying in the sport. The former AFL player decided to retire, saying, "One of the biggest reasons I wanted to finish up playing AFL was to meet new people...I craved talking to someone and not being judged."
Brown then shared that his ex-wife, with whom he shares two young sons, texted him words of support upon hearing the news. He also revealed how his current partner feels, saying, "She goes, 'Hey Mitch, I'm so bloody proud of you.' This is my partner, who's a woman, holding my hand as we are walking to share my experience about being a bisexual man."
Brown hopes that by telling his story, he can help make the AFL a safer and more supportive place for others to be open about who they are. He believes there are still players in the league who haven’t come out, and he offers them a message of reassurance: “I see you, and you’re not alone.”