Mitch Brown: “We See You, We Love You And We Accept You”
Former Australian Football League (AFL) defender Mitch Brown made history in August 2025 when he became the first male player, current or former, to publicly come out as bisexual in the league’s 129-year existence.
Brown played 94 games for the West Coast Eagles between 2007 and 2016 before retiring at 28. For years, he stayed quiet about his sexuality. The AFL locker room culture made it impossible to speak openly.
“I remember two people having a conversation around how they would feel having a shower next to a gay man,” Brown told The Daily Aus in his coming out interview. “One of the players said, ‘I’d rather be in a cage full of lions than have a shower next to a gay man.'”
That fear shaped him. He projected hyper-masculinity to survive. He became good at lying. But after leaving the sport, Brown found the space to explore who he really was.
Brown’s decision to come out happened in seconds. “It wasn’t so much hours of contemplation,” he explained. “I had this feeling of peace. But, more importantly, comfort and confidence.”
He reached out to journalist Sam Koslowski at The Daily Aus with a simple message: “I played in the AFL for 10 years for the West Coast Eagles, and I’m a bisexual man.”
The response was overwhelming. Messages poured in from athletes like Josh Cavallo (soccer), Isaac Humphries (basketball), Jason Ball (local level AFL), Ian Roberts (rugby league pioneer), and RK Russell (the first openly bisexual player in the American NFL). They all said the same thing: “I’m here if you need anything.”
Celebrating queer joy.
In the debut episode of the GayFL podcast on JOY 94.9, Brown joined hosts Brendan and Chris to talk about his year. He had no idea DNA had named him Man Of The Year until that moment.
“It was the best experience,” Brown said, describing it as “queer joy.”
He also opened up about the DNA photoshoot, thanking the team for creating such a positive experience.
Brown discussed the long road to coming out. At one point, he was even confronted at a Lady Gaga concert to prove his sexuality. It took years before he felt safe enough to be open.
When asked which AFL club would be most likely to support a current player coming out, Brown pointed to the new Tasmania Devils. He believes their fresh culture could make them leaders in inclusion.
He also had a message for anyone still figuring themselves out: “We see you, we love you, and we accept you.”
Brown has called on the AFL and its clubs to commit to real change. Not just in words, but in policies and everyday actions.
At 36, Brown is now a professional athlete turned advocate. He shares two sons with his ex-wife, former netball player Shae Bolton Brown. His current partner, Lou Keck, has been with him through the entire process. Both are bisexual, and Brown says their relationship has allowed him to explore his identity without shame.
His twin brother Nathan won a premiership with Collingwood in 2010. The Brown family has football in its blood. Now Mitch is writing a different kind of legacy.
Listen to Mitch on the GayFL podcast.
Catch the full conversation on the debut episode of GayFL: A Queer Footy Show on JOY 94.9. Listen HERE.
