Every year, on the last Friday in August, Australians unite in purple, not for fashion, but for a cause. Wear It Purple Day is all about fostering safe, supportive, and inclusive environments for LGBTQIA+ young people. It’s a visual and vocal reminder that they are seen, valued, and not alone.

AFL and a Hyper-Masculine Hangover

Growing up, football was everything. The players were gods. Strong, confident, untouchable. And to me? That meant there was no space for anything but the “straight male hero.” The game was a mirror showing what I was not allowed to be.

Which is why today means so much.

Mitch Brown: Making History with Honesty

Former West Coast Eagle Mitch Brown came out as bisexual, the first male AFL player to do so publicly. He spoke candidly about how the sport’s hyper-masculine culture and homophobia weighed on him during his career, enough to drive him into early retirement.

His honesty isn’t just brave, it’s powerful. In a traditionally conservative sport, he proved that being true to yourself isn’t a weakness. It’s strength. As AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said, this is a major step forward for the game’s culture and inclusivity, and god knows they’ve got a long way to go.

Why This Matters for Young Queer Kids

To boys in school, football players shine like towering icons. But when someone like Mitch (Brown) comes out and stays respected, it changes everything. It says:

You don’t have to hide who you are to fit. You can love this game and be loved back.

Wear It Purple Day and Mitch Brown’s story connect across generations. One gives queer youth a beacon of belonging. The other gives them a role model who defied a lifetime of silence, not just on the field, but with community-wide impact.

Holding Both Truths at Once

So here’s where I land today: Wear It Purple is vital. And Brown’s coming out is extraordinary.

Wear it Purple fights for safety and visibility.

Brown shows that visibility can hopefully change the game literally and culturally.

Together, they offer hope. Hope that one day soon, hearing “I’m gay” or “I’m bisexual” won’t feel like something shock-absorbing. It’ll feel like just another announcement, heard, accepted, and celebrated.

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If you’re celebrating Wear It Purple Day, wear your purple knowing you’re lighting a path for the next kid watching their heroes and asking “Could I be like them?” Let’s make sure their answer is a loud, proud yes.