In a groundbreaking move for both sports and media, former AFL player Mitch Brown will co-host the ABC’s live coverage of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on February 28, 2026. This announcement marks another significant milestone in Brown’s journey, having come out as bisexual just last August, making him the first AFL player, current or retired, to do so.
Brown expressed his excitement and gratitude for being selected to participate in the broadcast. “I just felt honoured, grateful, really excited,” he stated. “This is another platform to continue a really important conversation, especially in my world – in hypermasculine sports around the country – on a national platform. I’m just so bloody grateful.”
Breaking Barriers in Sports
Brown’s decision to come out last year was a landmark moment in Australian sports, joining the ranks of other notable athletes like NRL’s Ian Roberts, NBL’s Isaac Humphries, and Olympians Ian Thorpe and Matthew Mitcham. His participation in the Mardi Gras broadcast aims to inspire other sportsmen who may be hiding their sexuality.
“For me, growing up, there’s been no male role models that are queer in the professional AFL,” Brown explained. “But people like Ian Roberts, I remember when he came out in the ’90s, and now I’ve got these amazing role models around me.”
Role Models and Representation
Brown’s involvement in the Mardi Gras is not just about celebration, but about representation. He will be joined by notable figures such as drag queen Courtney Act, ABC journalists Mon Schafter and Jeremy Fernandez, and others. Brown hopes his visibility will encourage more open conversations about sexuality in sports.
“When I came out in August last year, it wasn’t for me. It was about changing those rigid stereotypes in Aussie rules football,” he said.
The Importance of Visibility
On the night of the parade, Brown will march with the Sydney Swans, who have been part of the event since 2018. The Swans were the first professional sporting club to join the parade, highlighting the growing acceptance and celebration of diversity in sports. Brown’s previous experiences at events like Melbourne’s Midsumma Festival were under the shadow of secrecy, but this Mardi Gras will be his first as an openly bisexual man.
“I love this time and these type of spaces and events, because for me, and for many people out there, once upon a time, my bisexuality embarrassed me. It was shame. It was the very thing I hated most about myself. And the opposite to that is pride and being proud of yourself,” Brown shared.
Encouraging Open Dialogue
Beyond the parade, Brown is advocating for the AFL to engage in more inclusive discussions, suggesting that clubs watch the series “Heated Rivalry,” which explores the relationship between two gay ice hockey players. “We can have some great discussions, especially within AFL professional clubs, about that TV series and how it makes them feel,” Brown suggested.
“More people have asked me, ‘Should we do an AFL version of Heated Rivalry?’ Definitely, I think 100 per cent, there’s some really cool storylines there,” he added.
As for his attire for the Mardi Gras, Brown humorously noted that the standard Aussie rules uniform might just suffice. “The AFL is so queer-coded anyway, with the short shorts and tight singlet. I mean, that’s all you need,” he laughed.
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade will be broadcast live from 7.30pm on Saturday, February 28 on ABC TV and ABC iview, marking a historic moment for both Brown and the broader sports community.
