Mitch Brown Joins ABC Mardi Gras Coverage as Co-Host

Former AFL player Mitch Brown has been announced as a co-host for the ABC's coverage of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade. Brown, who played with the West Coast Eagles for 10 years, made headlines in August when he came out as bisexual, becoming the first AFL player (current or retired) to do so.

His participation in the broadcast, alongside figures like Courtney Act and ABC journalists Mon Schafter and Jeremy Fernandez, aims to provide a platform for important conversations within sports regarding sexuality.

Advocacy and Role Models

Brown expressed a desire to serve as a role model for other sportsmen who may be concealing their sexuality. He noted the absence of openly queer male role models in professional AFL during his upbringing.

He joins a list of Australian male athletes who have come out as queer, including NRL great Ian Roberts, NBL player Isaac Humphries, A-League star Josh Cavallo, and Olympians Ian Thorpe and Matthew Mitcham.

Mardi Gras Participation and Impact

Brown will march with the Sydney Swans, a club that has participated in the parade since 2018. He reflected on Mardi Gras as a celebration of pride, contrasting it with a past sense of shame regarding his bisexuality.

He also suggested that AFL clubs watch the series "Heated Rivalry," which focuses on the relationship between two gay ice hockey players, to facilitate discussions on such topics.

Broadcast Details

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is scheduled for live broadcast from 7:30 pm on Saturday, February 28, on ABC TV and ABC iview.