Leigh Ryswyk Advocates for LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in AFL After Coming Out

Leigh Ryswyk has never taken his partner to a footy presentation night.

He said players in heterosexual relationships might not give the action a second thought, but for athletes from the LGBTQIA+ community it could be a source of anxiety.

Ryswyk made history four months ago, when he became the first current or former AFL player to publicly come out as gay.

"It was really emotional, it really was … when I heard myself say 'I'm gay' on radio, I actually cried," Ryswyk said.

"It's been a whirlwind … a lot of fun, it's been great."

The former Brisbane Lions player said he had not been treated any differently since coming out and has called on fans to show respect during tonight's match between Adelaide and Collingwood.

The clash will be the first time Crows midfielder Izak Rankine faces the Pies since directing a homophobic slur at Isaac Quaynor in round 23 last year.

Rankine received a four-game ban and expressed remorse for his actions.

The last time Adelaide hosted Collingwood, sections of the crowd booed Quaynor, which the Crows later described as "disappointing and not appropriate".

Ryswyk said the booing was unfair because Quaynor had not done anything wrong.

Ryswyk said it was also important to move on when lessons had been learnt.

"I think Izak's done the work and his actions will show that," he said.

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks also urged fans to refrain from inappropriate conduct.

"We'll do what we can to entertain and put on a show that's what it's about, we ask our supporters to just enjoy that and then be respectful like we ask of all our players," Nicks said.

Step in the right direction

In 2024, the Free to Exist report found more than half of queer people have witnessed discrimination in sport.

Ryswyk, who now plays in SA for the Barossa Districts Football Club, said although there had been some incidents of homophobia in the VFL this year, he believed progress had been made across leagues.

The North Melbourne Football Club on Wednesday became the first AFL club to invite Ryswyk to host an education session about LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the game.

He said he would be more than happy to present at other clubs, should they reach out.

Ryswyk said his teammates had been "so supportive" and he had received messages and notes from people around the world who had since worked up the courage to come out.

"If there's a queer kid out there who goes 'I don't know if I can be in that footy world', because they don't see anyone like them … if I can help one kid, that's why I did it," he said.

"If [I] can help someone else be who they are, then it puts a smile on my face."

Ryswyk also designed pride jumpers for his local club's women's side, while the men's team wore rainbow arm bands to celebrate pride round for the first time this year.

"We're not trying to change football, we're just talking about inclusion and diversity and how that makes others feel," he said.

He said his partner attended the pride game and the club made him feel comfortable.

He plans to bring his partner to his end of year football presentations for the first time this year.