Former Eagles Player Calls Coming Out as Bisexual ‘A Step Forward’ in His Journey
Mitch Brown, a former West Coast player, has publicly stated that he is bisexual, making him the first male AFL player to do so.
Brown has spoken publicly for the first time about his sexuality, nine years after retiring, in what has been dubbed "a step forward" for the AFL competition.
Brown played 94 games for the Eagles between 2007 and 2016, but his career was marred by many significant injuries.
He is the first Australian Football League player to officially admit to being gay or bisexual.
In an interview with The Daily Aus, Brown claims that he suffered homophobia while at the Eagles, which forced him to conceal his actual self.
"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," added the actor.
He felt his inability to be himself as an AFL player influenced his decision to retire at the age of 28.
"I was nearing the end of my career when I was requested to play for a few more years, and I was done. "I was done," he declared.
"The fear was overwhelming. Fear of becoming caught off guard. You are afraid of being outed or being labelled as gay. And then, since I wasn't ready, I wasn't confident in my identity or who I was, my natural instinct would be to conceal it in order to project my masculinity even more."
It comes less than a week after Adelaide's Izak Rankine was punished for a homophobic remark directed at an opponent.
In banning Rankine for four games last week, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon described the Crows player's insult as "offensive, hurtful, and highly inappropriate" and stated that one episode of homophobia was one too many, while admitting the harm it had caused to the LGBTQ+ community.
Dillon commended Brown on Wednesday, expressing optimism that it will allow other players to be themselves.
"Mitch has shown incredible courage today by sharing his tale and personal journey. This is a pivotal moment for him and for our entire team," Dillon added.
"Today is a step forward, and by expanding on Mitch's narrative, we hope that others will be inspired to be their real selves and share their own journeys, and that these stories will be received with support from teammates, clubs, and the larger football community.
"The AFL will continue to work with our clubs, our Pride and Allies groups, and the LGBTQI+ community to promote and celebrate inclusivity in both the AFL and AFLW championships.
"Together, our commitment is to keep making football an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone to thrive — and that work never stops."
Brown thinks that his tale may inspire other homosexual or bisexual players to be out about their sexuality.
"Hopefully this now provides [that space] for the second person," the man remarked.
"I won't get the reactions I want. They're the young men roaming throughout Australia; I feel noticed, I feel a little safer, and I now have a role model, albeit average old Mitch, to look to.
"I don't believe this is about me." The point is not that Mitch Brown was the first. It is important for me to share my experience so that others feel seen."
Brown has spoken publicly for the first time about his sexuality, nine years after retiring, in what has been dubbed "a step forward" for the AFL competition.
Brown played 94 games for the Eagles between 2007 and 2016, but his career was marred by many significant injuries.
He is the first Australian Football League player to officially admit to being gay or bisexual.
In an interview with The Daily Aus, Brown claims that he suffered homophobia while at the Eagles, which forced him to conceal his actual self.
"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," added the actor.
He felt his inability to be himself as an AFL player influenced his decision to retire at the age of 28.
"I was nearing the end of my career when I was requested to play for a few more years, and I was done. "I was done," he declared.
"The fear was overwhelming. Fear of becoming caught off guard. You are afraid of being outed or being labelled as gay. And then, since I wasn't ready, I wasn't confident in my identity or who I was, my natural instinct would be to conceal it in order to project my masculinity even more."
It comes less than a week after Adelaide's Izak Rankine was punished for a homophobic remark directed at an opponent.
In banning Rankine for four games last week, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon described the Crows player's insult as "offensive, hurtful, and highly inappropriate" and stated that one episode of homophobia was one too many, while admitting the harm it had caused to the LGBTQ+ community.
Dillon commended Brown on Wednesday, expressing optimism that it will allow other players to be themselves.
"Mitch has shown incredible courage today by sharing his tale and personal journey. This is a pivotal moment for him and for our entire team," Dillon added.
"Today is a step forward, and by expanding on Mitch's narrative, we hope that others will be inspired to be their real selves and share their own journeys, and that these stories will be received with support from teammates, clubs, and the larger football community.
"The AFL will continue to work with our clubs, our Pride and Allies groups, and the LGBTQI+ community to promote and celebrate inclusivity in both the AFL and AFLW championships.
"Together, our commitment is to keep making football an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone to thrive — and that work never stops."
Brown thinks that his tale may inspire other homosexual or bisexual players to be out about their sexuality.
"Hopefully this now provides [that space] for the second person," the man remarked.
"I won't get the reactions I want. They're the young men roaming throughout Australia; I feel noticed, I feel a little safer, and I now have a role model, albeit average old Mitch, to look to.
"I don't believe this is about me." The point is not that Mitch Brown was the first. It is important for me to share my experience so that others feel seen."