AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan says he understands why gay players in the men’s competition wouldn’t want to come out due to the “pressure and weight” of being the first to do so.
No current AFL men’s players have publicly come out as gay, whereas the AFLW has numerous players who’re openly gay.
Speaking at a Leadership Matters Lunch in Perth, McLachlan said players in the men’s code are not coming out — even if their teammates are aware of their sexuality — due to the public burden that would follow.
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“The first thing I’d say is, I am very comfortable there are gay male players and I am very comfortable (in saying) they are known to their teammates,” McLachlan said on Monday.
“What they are choosing is to not be the first person.
“The female cohort (in the AFLW) came out at once, they had safety in numbers, there was no first.
“So the pressure and the weight on that person being the first AFL player who comes out and plays as an out gay man … that weight, frankly I can understand why they would choose not to have to carry that burden around forever.
“And I don’t think they need to, and I think people should live their lives how they want to live (them).”
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The AFL remains one of the only sporting codes in Australia without an openly gay player.
Meanwhile former NRL player Ian Roberts, ex-rugby union player Dan Palmer as well as current NBL centre Isaac Humphries and A-League’s Andy Brennan and Josh Cavallo have all come out as being gay.
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The AFL — unlike the AFLW — doesn’t have a pride round, while Sydney and St Kilda’s men teams did play a pride game last year.
The AFL has said it’s “a proud ally to the LGBTQI+ community, and encourages everyone to be their authentic selves while participating, watching, and enjoying our great game.”
Swans AFLW general manager Kate Mahony recently said women’s and men’s programs at clubs were accepting environments.
“It’s just about having an environment where everyone feels really comfortable being themselves,” Mahony said.
“Where women’s football has come from, they already had that before the competition got brought into the semi-professional sphere. At the community level it was a very accepting place where people could come and be themselves. That history has allowed us to continue that.
“Not just in our women’s program but across our whole club, we try to make sure everyone can be their authentic selves. We’ve got a really diverse group of young women in our program and I’m really proud of that.”
