It has been a challenging few weeks for both the AFL and LGBTQIA communities, with a sixth incident of homophobia in the men’s competition since the league’s crackdown on this damaging language.

Read more: Australian sports media is compounding the AFL's homophobia problem

But in more positive news, former West Coast player Mitch Brown has come out as bisexual in a groundbreaking interview.

This announcement is a landmark moment for gay and bisexual men in one of Australia largest and oldest sporting codes.

For too long, debates around inclusivity and homophobia in the men’s AFL competition have failed to hear the actual voices of gay and bisexual men.

That changes with Brown’s announcement.

In Australia, we are starting to see more men come out at the highest level of sport, including Josh Cavallo (Adelaide United, A-League) and Issac Humphries (Adelaide 36ers, National Basketball League).

Yet the AFL has been one of the last sporting communities for a men’s player to come out. Why?

On one hand, societal attitudes globally, and in Australia, show

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