TL;DR
- Leigh Ryswyk is the first male AFL player to come out as gay.
- He shared his journey on the radio show GayFL.
- Ryswyk received strong support from his family.
- He believes the AFL community will embrace future LGBTQ+ players.
- Ryswyk has been out to close friends for five years.
In a groundbreaking moment for sports and LGBTQ+ representation, Leigh Ryswyk has made history as the first male player in the Australian Football League (AFL) to come out as gay. This revelation came during an emotional interview on the radio show GayFL, where he opened up about his journey and the support he has received from those closest to him.
“There will be people though, if they do listen to this, it will be the first time they know about this,” Ryswyk stated, emphasizing his private nature. He has been out to his close friends for the past five years, but this public acknowledgment marks a significant step in his life and in the world of sports.
Ryswyk revealed that coming out to his family was a major milestone. “When you come out to your family it’s always a massive experience, there’s a lot of things going on in your head,” he explained. His parents have been incredibly supportive, helping him navigate the complexities of his identity. “It took me a little while where I was comfortable enough to do this, probably a three-year period to be honest, so there was a lot of the mental side of things going through at the same time,” he added.
Although Ryswyk is now retired from professional play, having had a career that included time with the Brisbane Lions and the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), his impact on the game continues. He was inducted into the AFL Queensland Football Hall of Fame, a testament to his contributions to the sport.
Ryswyk’s coming out follows in the footsteps of Mitch Brown, who came out as bisexual after retiring from the AFL last year. While there has yet to be an active AFL player who has come out as LGBTQ+, Ryswyk believes that the community will rally around any player who chooses to take that brave step. “I think the AFL, and the community, will wrap their arms around that player,” he said confidently. “I think the community itself, obviously the queer community, the fan base, I think in the whole they will celebrate that when the time comes.”
This moment not only paves the way for future athletes but also sends a powerful message of acceptance and support within the sports community. Ryswyk’s courage to live authentically is an inspiration to many, proving that love and pride can indeed thrive on and off the field.
As the conversation around LGBTQ+ representation in sports continues to grow, Leigh Ryswyk’s story is a beacon of hope and a reminder that everyone deserves to be their true selves, no matter where they are or what they do.