Mitch Brown laments AFL clubs, players' lack of support for queer community

When Mitch Brown revealed to the world he was bisexual two weeks ago, making AFL history, he did not know what to expect.

But despite having "no regrets" and being overwhelmed by love and support, he said he cannot escape a strange feeling of guilt.

"It's a bit of an extreme sort of way to explain it, but it honestly feels like that," he told triple j hack.

"I have a beautiful partner who is a woman, and I can walk down the street and not have that casting eye or that sense of homophobic behaviour.

"Am I worthy of this and is this my place to be able to hold this position that I've had over the last two weeks?"

The former defender played 94 games for the West Coast Eagles, revealing in an interview with The Daily Aus last month that the weight of hiding his sexuality contributed to his decision to retire at 28.

Brown, now 36, said he was not prepared for the immense response to his revelation, saying he had received thousands of messages of support.

"It's certainly been a whirlwind, and overwhelmingly, I can say it's so positive," he said.

"I didn't have a role model, so if I can be that role model for young people, it just warms my heart."

'A little bit frustrated'

Despite saying he had found Australia's reaction "amazing" and thanking his support network, Brown said he had received "a small amount of hate".

He said it escalated when he called out AFL clubs, including Collingwood, Geelong, Adelaide and Brisbane, for being slow to make public statements in the wake of his announcement.

"As soon as I called out those clubs … that's when I started to get the hate," he said.

"People who were maybe uncomfortable with me in the first place … they saw an opportunity there to hate on me for another reason, not just my sexuality."

'Visibility does matter'

Brown insists the motivation behind his call-out was not self-promotion.

"[I had] frustrations around clubs staying silent and not acknowledging an inclusive environment," he told hack.

"Visibility does matter."

While the former footballer thanked the past and current players who have publicly supported inclusion within the AFL, he also acknowledged there were many who have not felt comfortable.

"Is it a fear of being associated with a queer person or a bisexual man?" he asked.

"Or is it a fear of people thinking that you are gay or bisexual yourself?"

"It is fear … of what that might mean for your community that you're selling videos to or marketing a football shoe to."

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But Brown said that after 129 years of silence, progress takes time.

"I would be a hypocrite if I didn't allow people to take time for this to sink in.

"For me, to connect with my own identity and sense of self, it's taken years."

'You're not alone'

While Brown said he was relieved to have finally found a safe environment to embrace his identity, he was concerned about the potential fixation on who "the next player" will be.

"It has played in my mind, simply because I've been asked a lot," he said.

"I know they are out there.

"For that person, you're not alone.

"I'll stand with you, I'll walk with you, if that's what it takes."

Creating change

Brown said he knew "being the first" would make a difference, even if it may not be fully visible yet.

"That next player may not even be born yet; they may be just out of primary school or so young that they haven't even kicked a football yet," he said.

"But the environment that we can help to role model will ensure that they can be themselves from a young age, well before they even get drafted or recruited into the AFL.

"There won't be any coming out, there won't be a huge reaction."

Until then, he has committed to making sport a safer place for everyone.

"I don't have the answers yet, but I won't stop."

And asked whether he would be at Sydney's Mardi Gras parade next year, Brown laughed.

"I'm ready."

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