Former West Coast player Mitch Brown has become the league's first openly bisexual man. His disclosure comes in the wake of a scandal surrounding Adelaide's Izak Rankine who has been suspended over a homophobic slur. As an RMIT restorative justice expert explains, the AFL has an obligation to implement better mechanisms to support marginalised communities.
Renee Handsaker, restorative justice expert, RMIT Centre for Innovative Justice
"Australian football culture is a powerful reflection of the homophobia, racism and sexism that exist in broader Australian society.
"But the AFL can drive much needed societal change. It has an opportunity, and perhaps an obligation, to introduce transformative and beneficial responses to the experience of oppression and violence faced by marginalised communities.
"Despite efforts to enforce codes of conduct, pride rounds, and match bans for homophobic slurs, the measures in place are not effectively fostering an environment where individuals feel safe to express their true selves.
"In my work as a restorative justice facilitator, I am always interested in the context and power relations that exist around an act of violence or vilification.
"An appropriate response by the AFL could centre on meaningful accountability for harmful actions, while also acknowledging systemic and individual experiences of oppression, can guide more compassionate - and more beneficial - outcomes."
Renee Handsaker is the manager of the RMIT Centre for Innovative Justice 'Open Circle' restorative justice service and specialises in restorative conferencing, conflict transformation and debriefing following traumatic incidents.
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