Why is AFL the only pro sport to never have an openly gay male player?
Few people realise the mens AFL is the only major professional male sport in the world to never have had an openly gay or bisexual player, even after retirement. This is why the decision by the NFLs Carl Nassib to come out as gay this week while still playing American football pushes Australian football further off the crowded field of inclusion. Nassib may be the first active NFL player to come out, but hes actually the 16th gay NFL player since 1975  thats close to the same number of players on an AFL side. Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib came out this week. Credit:AP  The total invisibility of gay or bisexual AFL players becomes even more concerning when you consider the multiple gay and bisexual players in basketball, ice hockey, baseball, rugby union, rugby league, cricket, soccer, and smaller sports like curling, hurling and lacrosse. I have studied homophobia in sport for the past decade, including studies in the AFL and 42 other sports at Monash University. My international colleagues often ask me about the AFL aberration. Ill give you a hint: there is a delusion of inclusion in the sport sector.