Being Gay in Men's Football: An Unwelcoming Atmosphere
“There's still so much to accomplish” - Cavallo on anti-gay prejudice in soccer
“You don't belong on this earth” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”
Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, player the athlete has received daily death threats and hateful comments on online platforms.
“When I first saw these messages, I was devastated,” Cavallo explains. “No-one wants to read things like that.
“I'm trying to get better as a player and be the best I can be on the pitch, and then face criticism due to my identity. It's disgusting.”
Midfielder the sportsman was at Adelaide United four years ago when he emerged as the sole publicly out elite soccer player in the world.
Recently he left Australia to join lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in National League North, one level below of English football.
This young athlete balances his sports career for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by speaking up on inclusion matters and using his profile - he has more than one million followers on Instagram - to promote fairness and inclusion.
“Absolutely, there's enormous work ahead,” Cavallo comments when questioned about ongoing issues with homophobia.
“Rarely a week passes without encountering problems.”
‘People want to harm me’
Josh Cavallo grew up in Melbourne
It took years for Cavallo to work up the courage to say “I'm gay” before coming out on 27 October 2021.
“All I want to do is play football and be treated equally,” he stated in an related clip.
Cavallo was 21 and making a name for himself at Adelaide United in Australia's top flight when, backed by his colleagues, he announced his orientation publicly.
“I didn't know what was ahead. I didn't know what to expect,” he says. “It felt like the right time in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”
The heartfelt revelation clip, titled ‘His Personal Story’, gained massive attention on social media.
“My phone was flooded with messages of support. The response was incredible.”
A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to express support for Cavallo, with then manager the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he did it because now we talk again.”
Barcelona defender the athlete also offered support, posting online that “the world of football is lagging behind and your actions drive progress”, while his former club released a comment supporting their “extraordinary” and “courageous” player.
Others, however, were less welcoming.
The footballer soon turned into a subject to homophobic abuse by rival supporters.
During early 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined five thousand dollars over anti-gay abuse from spectators aimed toward the player during a match.
“The comments I encountered were hurtful and derogatory towards my community,” he explains.
“I remained calm because I knew that would only feed the haters.”
A scary event occurred at a gas station in Australia, where the athlete was assaulted by someone who recognised him from the media attention.
“That was a scary moment,” he recalls. “I remember thinking ‘this is happening - individuals intend to hurt me’.
“Should this be tolerated? Definitely not. But by coming out, these are the consequences.
“I hope that future individuals who reveals their orientation while playing football at a professional standard doesn't have to experience the journey I have experienced.”
The player says the constant menacing messages and hostile communications have taken a toll on his mental health.
“It's disappointing because I must justify why I belong on the soccer pitch for my identity,” he states.
“Heterosexual players aren't questioned and ask ‘what gives you the right in football?’.
“A lot of people see me as a cheerful, optimistic person. But sometimes when I lean on my fiance, his name, and he gets to see much of what occurs privately.”
‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’
Cavallo's decision to reveal his sexuality helped inspire teenage Blackpool forward Jake Daniels to come out as the UK's only openly gay active male professional footballer in spring 2022.
However, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the top English division.
“It would create massive change,” comments Cavallo on the impact a Premier League player coming out would make.
“But I must be honest. Numerous frightening aspects that would await this individual. Within soccer culture, identifying as LGBTQ is a highly hostile environment.”
Twenty-seven years after a pioneering player - the UK's initial out soccer professional - took his own life in 1998, Cavallo has spoken about the “harmful male culture” that still exists in professional soccer.
“Simply attend to a game and observe the hostile environment and masculinity that the crowd brings,” he says.
“There is still a lot of work to ensure there is a secure environment in football for individuals like me and Jake.
“We haven't seen it (more players coming out) as frequently as desired.
“I can only keep pushing for what I think is right, and strive for eliminating the harmful male norms in soccer locker rooms and creating a safe space.”
‘I'm here to create change’
The athlete was awarded an honorary degree from an academic institution in his former city in 2022, recognising his contributions as a inspirational figure in sport and a advocate for fairness
The player says football has enabled discussions inside dressing rooms about revealing one's orientation.
However, he is critical of soccer's global governing body, after Qatar, where homosexual partnerships are illegal, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.
The 2034 tournament will be held in another Gulf state, where homosexuality is also illegal.
“Do I approve that the global championship is in countries that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be put in prison for just existing on that land? It's frightening,” states Cavallo.
“I receive communications [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I face imprisonment for being who I am - can you help me?’.
“It's devastating that individuals are incarcerated for being who they are.
“There are countries that are huge in terms of football and they reject LGBTQ+ people. Those are the countries that tend to target me.”
Despite this, Cavallo says he won't cease advocating.
“Football has allowed me to start conversations in the changing room. It lets me communicate and inform individuals who seek understanding.
“Some will disapprove for who you are. But I have found my family. I've connected with similar people.
“My purpose is to drive progress. That's what I'm here for.”
