AFL's Groundbreaking Moment: Mitch Brown Comes Out as Bisexual

In a landmark announcement, former AFL player Mitch Brown has declared himself bisexual, making him the first openly bisexual player in the league's history.

Brown, who played 94 matches for the West Coast Eagles from 2007 to 2016, revealed that the pressure of concealing his sexuality significantly affected his career decisions.

The weight of hiding was a huge part of my retirement decision, Brown stated in an interview with The Daily Aus.

He expressed hope that his decision would create a safer space for others, stating, It's all about safety, comfort and creating space for healing and change.

This historic revelation marks a pivotal moment for the AFL, previously the only major professional men's sport worldwide without openly gay or bisexual players, even post-retirement.

Brown's announcement follows recent incidents of homophobia in the league, including a notable incident involving Adelaide Crows player Izak Rankine, who received a ban for using a homophobic slur during a match.

Diving into his experiences, Brown elaborated on the hyper-masculine environment of the sport, revealing conversations with teammates that expressed fear or discomfort about being in close proximity to a gay man, highlighting the cultural hurdles that still exist in sports.

As he continues to advocate for change, Brown encourages players to be true to themselves, affirmatively saying, I see you and you are not alone.