Former West Coast Eagle Mitch Brown is the AFL's first openly bisexual player in the game's history.
In 129 years of AFL, no male player, past or present, has ever publicly identified as gay or bisexual.
Brown, who played 94 games for the Western Australian club between 2007 and 2016 after he was drafted with Pick 16, spoke to The Daily Aus.
Brown's announcement follows the four-game suspension handed to Adelaide forward Izak Rankine for his homophobic slur towards a Collingwood player in Round 23.
Rankine's incident was the sixth of its kind in the past two seasons.
Brown believes there are currently gay and bisexual players playing in the AFL, and he says his message to them is: "I see you and you are not alone".
"What matters to me most is a sense of change, a movement created where you can be anyone and feel like you can be anyone and be safe in any environment here in Australia," Brown said.
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"My advice to the AFL would be, let's celebrate the players who may not be the most successful, but they're the most important players in our community, the ones who are walking down the street and portraying positive male role models all the time."
Brown's announcement is a monumental landmark in Australia and the AFL.
"Today is a historic moment, not just for the AFL, but for our entire nation and for LGBTIQA+ people across Australia," said Health Equity Matters CEO Dash Heath-Paynter.
"Mitch Brown's story demonstrates strength and honesty. Speaking openly about his sexuality in the context of elite Australian sport is inspiring and will give confidence to many Australians confronting similar questions of identity.
"For over a century of AFL competition, no male player has identified as openly bisexual or gay. Mitch's announcement breaks through decades of silence and opens the door for others who may be on their own journey.
"This is a powerful statement about visibility and inclusion. For LGBTIQA+ young people watching today, Mitch is showing them that they belong in every space, including in the nation's most followed sporting code.
"Mitch's announcement reflects the contemporary reality of broader Australian society. However, it also reminds us there is still work to be done to ensure all sporting codes in Australia are inclusive and safe spaces for LGBTIQA+ people. As the AFL approaches its finals season, we would urge them to grasp the opportunity offered by Mitch's strength. The AFL must be do some deep thinking about the measures needed to make the code safe and inclusive for players, officials and volunteers.
"When public figures like Mitch share their stories, it smashes down barriers, builds confidence, and creates pathways for others to be the person they want to be.
"We commend Mitch for his strength and candour and thank him for using his platform to advance inclusion and diversity in Australia. His announcement today will resonate far beyond the sporting world and contribute to a more equitable Australia for all LGBTIQA+ people."
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon released this statement in support of Brown.
"Mitch has shown great courage today in sharing his story and personal journey. This is an important moment for him, and for our entire game.
"Today is a step forward, and building on Mitch's story, we hope that others feel encouraged to be their authentic selves and share their own journeys, and that these stories are met with support from teammates, clubs and the wider football community.
"The AFL will continue to partner with our clubs, our Pride and Allies groups and the LGBTQI+ community to drive and celebrate inclusion across both our AFL and AFLW competitions.
"Together, our commitment is to keep making football an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone to thrive — and that work never stops."
