Australian Rules Football Star Brock McLean Joins Athlete Ally Ambassador Program

We're delighted to announce today that Brock McLean, Australian Rules Football midfielder for the Carlton Football Club, is the latest member to join our Athlete Ally Ambassador Program. 

With the addition of another international sports star to the Athlete Ally Ambassador Program, it’s clear that sporting culture is shifting, and moving towards a space that openly advocates for respect towards LGBT issues. David Pocock, the Australian rugby standout that also joined the Athlete Ally movement recently, helped connect Brock to the organization, after a story highlighting Brock’s support of gay rights ran in The Sunday Age newspaper.

McLean’s sister identifies as a lesbian, and as a standout player in Australia’s biggest sport, Brock is doing his part to quell discrimination and stigmas around being gay in athletics and beyond.

When asked about joining Athlete Ally McLean said, “After David joined the organization, I wanted to get involved with this cause as well, as it’s an issue that’s important to me. Being vocal about supporting the LGBT community helps so many people. I want to do my best to make gay fans, players and people all over the world feel confident enough to be who they are.”

Hudson Taylor, Executive Director of Athlete Ally says on the news, “As Brock comes on board as an Athlete Ally Ambassador, I’m reminded just how many athletes across the world support the LGBT community. As Athlete Ally continues to grow as an international movement, we hope to see even more men and women stand up and become Athlete Ally Ambassadors.  ”

Brian Ellner, who led the Campaign for New York Marriage and serves on the Athlete Ally Board of Directors, added: "There’s been so much progress toward equality in Australia, and as athletes like Brock McLean and David Pocock stand up to support the cause, it becomes more and more clear that we’re seeing a paradigm shift in the culture of sports.  This is yet another step Athlete Ally is taking to lead the way in the good fight.”

As an Athlete Ally Ambassador, McLean joins Brendon Ayanbadejo of Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens, Chris Kluwe of the Minnesota Vikings, Scott Fujita of the Cleveland Browns, Connor Barwin of the Houston Texans David Pocock and scores of college athletes who have already signed on. McLean will act as a liaison between the organization and Australian Rules Football to help promote Athlete Ally’s mission to end homophobia in sports by speaking out to his team, league and fan base, and encourage his colleagues to join in the effort.