Mitch Brown played 94 AFL games across ten seasons from 2007 to 2016 and was de-listed at age 28. Brown publicly identified as bisexual and said the pressure of concealing his sexuality contributed to his decision to leave the sport. Brown described a hyper-masculine locker-room culture and recalled specific homophobic comments that intensified fear for closeted players. Brown stated a desire to meet diverse people and have unjudged conversations after leaving the AFL. Brown also expressed a belief that closeted players likely still exist within the league today.
One of the biggest reasons I wanted to finish up playing AFL was to meet new people, to meet a diverse range of people, men and women, different cultural backgrounds, and I craved new conversations. I craved talking to someone and not being judged. I craved the ability to choose who I wanted to be around rather than to fit into a team.
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'. 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.
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