Mitch Brown: Players, LGBTQIA+ advocates and behavioural scientists call out past homophobia in AFL

It was 2007, and the West Coast Eagles were coming off the back of an incredible premiership while also navigating high profile off-field issues when a 19-year-old Mitch Brown made an impressive debut against Sydney. The boy from Ballarat had left everything familiar, including twin brother Nathan, a year earlier at just 18 when he was drafted at pick 16, entering the fray during a turbulent time for the club. Imagine what it must have taken for the first-year player to ask one of his teammates “How do you know if you’re gay, how do you know if you’re bisexual?” He was met with laughter, and the conversation moved on. Brown, humiliated and feeling certain as to what the reaction would be if he was to ever admit the growing questions he had around his sexuality, swore in that moment never to do so. That changed on Wednesday. After 17 years of initially suppressing, then coming to terms with, and now accepting, his identity, the 36-year-old father of two came out as a bisexual man. In doing so, he willingly shouldered the “burden” former AFL chief executive Gillon spoke of two years ago when he acknowledged the pressure and weight that would come with being the first AFL player, past or present, to come out as a gay or bisexual. “I’m in this position strong and comfortable to, as Gil McLachlan says, take the burden. And if someone needed to do it, I’m in the space to do it,” Brown told The Daily Aus. He did it so others could feel seen and to pave the way for the second, third and fourth footballers to feel comfortable in sharing their sexuality, and so on until Australia reaches the point where it is a non-event for a high profile sportsman to come out as LGBTQIA+. That point, if it ever comes, remains far away despite Brown’s momentous act of courage this week. His brave, emotional interview came days after Adelaide Crows star Izak Rankine received a discounted suspension of four matches for a homophobic slur. He is the sixth AFL-listed player to cop a ban for similar behaviour over the past 18 months But Brown feels encouraged that such behaviour, which he witnessed “countless” times during his AFL career, is now being called out. “What matters to me most is a sense of change, a movement created where you can be anyone and feel like you can be anyone and be safe in any environment here in Australia,” he told The Daily Aus this week. Before moving forward the AFL community needs to first look back, and much introspection was taking place this week as Brown revealed what it felt like to exist within the “hyper masculine” AFL culture. “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 recalled. Brown’s coach at the latter end of his career, Adam Simpson, was among those questioning the environment he presided over in light of the revelations. “You start to reflect — and we all should do this — what was my leadership platform back then, and how were we as a club with a player who was obviously going through certain things that were uncomfortable?” Simpson told SEN. “From a leadership point of view, was I doing the right things to create the environment where you could be yourself. That probably just shows you that you think you’re going OK, but there’s always improvement. “That’s why we’ve all evolved — it’s generational as much as it’s education.” Simpson predicted in ten years’ time, the AFL culture in 2025 will appear “old school.” Xavier Ellis, who played alongside Brown for three years, said he felt pride as he watched him exhale and speak his truth. But Ellis was also sad, learning Brown wasn’t comfortable to be himself during his playing years. “Growing up with a gay sibling, it is sad to think (Brown) didn’t feel he had the love and support of others in his life,” Ellis said. Ellis believes the “absolute majority” of players and coaches in the AFL would now feel comfortable and supportive towards any gay or bisexual players. “Browny’s announcement is a small step in the right direction where people can feel comfortable in all working environments,” he said. “AFL is no different to society when it comes to inclusivity, I believe they are moving in the right direction, which feels weird to say after the Izak Rankine debacle. “The AFL community is far bigger than a handful of individuals who have rightfully been suspended recently. Is there more work to do … of course.” LGBTQIA+ advocates hailed Brown’s bravery as an incredibly significant moment for their community, and the AFL. Pride Cup chief Hayley Conway said the harrowing experiences Brown recounted are still experienced in sports clubs across the country. “When clubs create safe and inclusive environments, everyone thrives. Every sports club, at every level, should be asking: ‘how are we creating a place where any player can be at their best and feel like they belong?’ “Education for players, administrators, coaching staff, broadcasters and commentators, should be compulsory so that we can build cultures that celebrate all of our identities and make sport a better place for everyone.” Monash University behavioural scientist Erik Denison has focused his career on investigating the drivers of sexist and homophobic language in traditionally male-dominated settings. His research includes the first international study on homophobia in sport and a review of evidence into discrimination and exclusion in sport. Dr Denison believes Brown could help drive significant change in the AFL, which he said had a “deeply rooted homophobic” and unhealthy masculine culture. “It’s great that AFL leaders, including the CEO, are publicly supporting and congratulating him for coming out,” Dr Denison said. “However, I would also expect them to apologise to Mitch for not creating a safe environment for him to play his sport, and for failing to fulfil public commitments made by the AFL to change the homophobic culture. “The AFL signed a commitment in 2014 to become a world leader in efforts to stop the pervasive homophobic language used at all levels of the game. “This is an opportunity for the AFL to work with Mitch and other LGBTQ+ people in the AFL community to fulfill this commitment and drive long-overdue change to culture and behaviour at all levels of the game.” As Dr Denison said, it has been encouraging this week to see the overwhelmingly positive sentiment Brown’s announcement received. Many words have been spoken, and written, including from those who possess the power to implement change and create the culture Brown and others so desperately seek, and so desperately deserve. Until then Brown has a message for the gay and bisexual players in the AFL, and the young men around Australia who suddenly feel a little bit safer. “I see you and you are not alone.”