Aussie Rules Football's First Openly Gay Player

0:00On March 25th, a former Australian football league player has come out as gay marking the first time a man from the sport has done so. Lee Ricewick, now 41, played just one match for the Brisbane Lions back in 2005 before injuries ended his AFL stint. He then had a strong career with over 220 games for North Adelaide in South Australia. Earlier this week, Ricewike shared his story on a Melbourne radio show. He'd been open with friends for five years, and his parents offered full support when he told them. As a private guy, he hasn't blasted it across social media. This news follows seven months after Mitch Brown revealed he is bisexual. Brown played for the West Coast Eagles from 2007 to 2016. Before that, the AFL stood alone among major pro men's sports worldwide, with no openly gay or bisexual players even after retirement. Ricewike feels positive about the Lee's response to any current players coming out. He believes the AFL, fans, and queer community would rally around them with open arms.

1:05His journey highlights growing acceptance in Aussie Rules football from his AFL Queensland Hall of Fame nod to this personal milestone. That's the story for today, global news today, driven by AI.