“Overwhelmingly Positive” – Mitch Brown On Life After Coming Out
Former West Coast Eagles defender Mitch Brown has become the first male Australian Football League player to come out as bisexual, and the response has been huge.
After sharing his story, Brown was met with widespread praise from fans and figures across the sporting world. Darcy Moore, president of the AFL Players’ Association, described Brown’s decision as “tremendously courageous.” He added, “It’s such an inspiring story for him to be so open and so brave… to share that is a real opportunity for us going forward to shift culture and see some change in the industry.”
For many, Brown’s honesty about the pressures within professional sports hit close to home. Before his public announcement, he spoke to the Daily Aus about the quiet anxiety many athletes face.
“I remember those comments, and the conversation in the locker room just exacerbated that fear even more if you’re a gay man or a bisexual man sitting in that locker room,” he said.
It takes a village, or at least a team.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Brown reflected on the days following his announcement. “Before it went live, there was a part of me that was worried about the homophobia or potential backlash I might receive,” he wrote. “What happened instead was that the story was met with an overwhelmingly positive response, for which I am so grateful.”
He gave special thanks to his partner, Lou, calling her his “anchor” for her “love, strength and resilience.” Brown also acknowledged the support of his ex-wife, Shae Bolton Brown, and their two sons, showing that the path to living openly is often built with the help of those closest to us. He also paid respect to the LGBTQIA+ athletes who came before him, including Ian Roberts, Josh Cavallo, and Danielle Laidley, noting, “Their courage is the reason doors are opening now.”
🏳️🌈❤
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 27, 2025
The footy community has shared the love after Mitch Brown became the first openly bisexual player in AFL history.
He firmly believes there are "currently gay and bisexual men playing in the AFL at the moment and in the past", adding "I see you and you are not alone".… pic.twitter.com/weUn6OqgCR
So, what happens now?
Brown isn’t just reflecting on the past, he’s looking toward the future. Praising the AFL Women’s league as a model for inclusivity, he used his platform to issue a direct challenge to the men’s league, which has recently been criticised for on-field homophobic slurs.
“It’s time for the AFL and the clubs to commit to genuine change, embedding inclusion not just in words, but in culture, policies and everyday actions,” Brown stated. It’s a powerful message, turning a personal story into a public challenge for one of the country’s biggest sporting codes.
