Sheedy, part of a discussion panel about the LGBTQ community and football on Wednesday night, praised the AFL for its progressive stance on social issues, but spoke about the conservatism of society at large inhibiting a change in attitudes.

"We are very slow in looking at different projects and the opportunity to actually look at life," he said. "Before Michael Long, 28 Aboriginals had played AFL football in the VFL. Since Michael Long, there's been 330. Why did it take that long? Because we're very careful and conservative.

"I have a nephew who's gay. He's a beautiful person. The great thing about gay people is they're beautiful human beings who don't do the crap that heterosexuals do. In the end, they're very caring people, and I think that's an important ingredient to have."

Sheedy was speaking at the "Red and Black Pride" night organised by Essendon coterie group the Purple Bombers, marking IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia).

He was on a panel alongside former Olympian and politician Nova Peris, Collingwood AFLW player Penny Cula-Reid and Matt Hall, football's first openly gay footballer, who in 1998 was refused registration in the Victorian Amateur Football Association because of his HIV-positive status, a ruling he fought and beat in the courts.

Sheedy said he believed the "Grim Reaper" advertising campaign of the late 1980s to raise public awareness about AIDS had had a negative impact on society's attitudes towards gay people. But he thinks football can play a leading role in promoting acceptance of sexual equality.

"The Grim Reaper did scare a lot of heterosexual people, and I think it did more harm than good," he said. "It's the way you do things which is so important. I think the AFL is learning all the time from Australia, and I think sport is learning all the time and teaching our nation how to look at life.

"I think in general we're just learning, and the more we keep learning and the more education we get for everybody about our existence in life and society, the better."

Peris, who won gold at the 1996 Olympic Games with the Hockeyroos, spoke about her frustrations being involved in the political debate about gay marriage. "I couldn't understand why we were even having this discussion about gay people having the same ability and freedom to live like everybody else," she said.

"My sister is openly gay. She served 10 years in the Australian army and she's in her 14th year of working for the United Nations. When I was in the hockey team which was crowned world champions in 1994, out of that team of 16, there were 10 gay women.

"As a society, we pick and choose who we want to allow in our lives. We're all human beings. People should be allowed to marry the people that they love."

Matt Hall talked about the discrimination gay people still faced even at the highest levels of sport, citing the example of 2008 Olympic Games diving gold medallist Matthew Mitcham.

"I'm pretty good friends with Matt and I know that when he came back after his gold medal, he was not offered sponsorship that some heterosexual athletes got and that he was told that was based on his sexuality," Hall said.

Hall said that were an AFL player to "come out" and reveal publicly his sexuality, it would be an example that would offer hope to others struggling with their sexuality as well as helping educate others who weren't.

"If I had to pass on any advice about coming out as gay, it's extremely important to give strength and hope and resilience to others who may be struggling with their sexuality, especially as teenagers, when they're probably most at risk of mental health problems," he said.

"It's actually empowering. I strongly believe it's the right thing to do, and lead the way for future generations to be a bit more compassionate and empathetic."