St. Kilda and Sydney agreed to have a Pride Game after the positive response in lower league games along similar lines. Look up Pride in Sport for a bit of background on these sort of moves. There are very high numbers of suicides and mental illnesses, especially in men, in the LGBTIQ+ community. Many people of all parts of the LGBTIQ+ community don't feel accepted or welcomed into sports, sometimes giving up sports rather than deal with the discrimination, bullying or pressure of remaining closeted.
The Sydney Convicts are a good example of a club taking the time to welcome, acknowledge and celebrate LGBTIQ+ sportspeople, and many other clubs are beginning to "extend the olive branch" and make the point that sexuality shouldn't be a barrier to playing sport. If you do some research on gay, lesbian and bisexual sportspeople (there is very little information on the more complex issue of gender identity), you will see why these small gestures go a long way.
On Multicultural Round, both the AFL and NRL are cottoning-on to the fact that targeting, celebrating and welcoming new Australians, as well as Australians with overseas heritage, is a lucrative market, as well as offering the opportunity to showcase the contributions of Australians who aren't "blonde hair blue eyes" or indigenous. Again, it's the AFL trying to establish itself as "Australia's Game" for all Australians. And being welcomed by the biggest sports league in Australia goes a long way to helping people "assimilate" into our culture (since every racist prick apparently wants that anyway).
