With one Instagram put up, the whole panorama of the AFL modified.
Mitch Brown’s interview with the Each day Aus, through which he grew to become the primary overtly bisexual present or former males’s AFL participant in historical past, got here as the game has been reckoning with a slew of homophobic incidents throughout the league.
Brown’s articulate announcement got here lower than per week after Izak Rankine was suspended for an anti-gay slur throughout a recreation — the sixth such publicised incident up to now year-and-a-half.
Having retired in 2016, Brown spoke in regards to the “numerous” homophobic insults despatched his approach over 10 seasons with the West Coast Eagles, acknowledging it could have been tougher to come back out throughout his enjoying profession.
However now, with “superb assist round” him, Brown confidently made historical past, sparking a rush of assist from across the league.
Brown spoke of the assist from his present associate, Lou.
“She goes, ‘Hey Mitch, I am so bloody happy with you,'” he instructed the Each day Aus.
“That is my associate, who’s a girl, holding my hand as we’re strolling to share my expertise about being a bisexual man.”
Ex-wife and former Collingwood Tremendous Netball participant Shae Bolton-Brown additionally mentioned she was happy with him.
Shae Bolton-Brown (pictured with Brown in 2018) mentioned she and their two sons have been proud. (Getty Photos: Scott Barbour/File)
“Our boys can be proud,” she wrote on Instagram, referring to their two sons.
“I’m.”
The GWS Giants put any on-field rivalries apart and have been fast to indicate their love.
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On their put up, Pleasure Soccer Australia commented: “That is actually wonderful, GWS. Hopefully different golf equipment comply with your lead.”
The Western Bulldogs commented on the Each day Aus Instagram put up: “That is nice.”
And Carlton’s official Pleasure supporter group mentioned the announcement “goes to imply a lot to so many”.
“Historical past has been made in the present day,” the group posted on Instagram.
“An unimaginable present of braveness and vulnerability. We’re with you Mitch.“
Exterior the league, NBL participant Isaac Humphries mentioned the announcement marked “large steps ahead”.
Humphries, who now performs for the Adelaide 36ers, got here out publicly in 2022 in an emotional speech to his teammates at Melbourne United.
United’s official account was amongst these expressing assist for Brown on social media.
Extra proclamations got here from throughout the sporting spectrum, with former AFLW star Kate McCarthy and tennis legend Dylan Alcott reaching out.
