Being Gay in Professional Soccer: An Unwelcoming Atmosphere
“There's still so much to accomplish” - the athlete on homophobia in football
“You shouldn't exist” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Stop breathing.”
After announcing his homosexuality in 2021, player the athlete has received daily death threats and hateful comments on online platforms.
“Upon reading those comments, it broke my heart,” the player states. “Nobody should have to endure such words.
“I'm trying to get better as a player and reach my full potential on the pitch, and then face criticism because of who I am. It's appalling.”
Player Cavallo was playing for Adelaide United back in 2020 when he emerged as the sole publicly out top-flight male professional footballer in the world.
This summer he left Australia to join lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in the sixth division, one level below of the English soccer system.
The 25-year-old combines playing for the semi-professional team by speaking up on inclusion matters and using his profile - he has more than one million followers on social media - to champion equality and acceptance.
“Absolutely, there's enormous work ahead,” the footballer says when questioned about ongoing issues with discrimination.
“Rarely a week passes without hearing about an issue.”
‘Individuals wish to hurt me’
The player was raised in Melbourne
Several years passed for the athlete to build up the bravery to say “I am homosexual” before revealing his sexuality on 27 October 2021.
“All I want to do is play football and receive fair treatment,” he said in an accompanying video.
Cavallo was 21 and building his reputation at his Australian club in Australia's top flight when, backed by his colleagues, he publicly came out.
“The future was uncertain. I had no expectations,” he says. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I needed to move forward.”
His emotional coming out video, entitled ‘Josh's Truth’, gained massive attention on social media.
“My mobile phone exploded with messages of support. It was overwhelming.”
Liverpool were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to show solidarity with Cavallo, with the coach at the time Jurgen Klopp 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 far behind and you are helping us move forward”, while Adelaide United released a comment supporting their “remarkable” and “brave” player.
Some people, however, were less welcoming.
The footballer soon turned into a subject to homophobic abuse by opposition fans.
In January 2022 a competing team were fined A$5,000 over discriminatory chants from fans aimed toward the player during a game.
“The comments I encountered were hurtful and disparaging towards my community,” he explains.
“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”
A scary event occurred at a petrol station in Australia, where Cavallo was physically attacked by someone who recognised him from the coverage.
“It was terrifying,” he remembers. “I remember thinking ‘this is happening - individuals intend to hurt me’.
“Is it acceptable? Definitely not. But by coming out, this is what it brings.
“I hope that future individuals who reveals their orientation while playing football at a high level doesn't have to experience the path I have experienced.”
The player says the daily death threats and hostile communications have taken a toll on his mental health.
“It's quite sad because I must justify why I belong on the football field for my identity,” he states.
“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.
“Many individuals see me as a cheerful, positive person. But sometimes when I rely on my partner, Leighton, and he gets to see a lot that happens behind the scenes.”
‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’
Cavallo's decision to reveal his sexuality helped inspire 17-year-old Blackpool forward another athlete to announce he was gay as the UK's only openly gay active male professional footballer in May 2022.
Nevertheless, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the top English division.
“It would create massive change,” comments the footballer on the impact a Premier League player revealing their orientation would make.
“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. There are a lot of scary things that would come this person's way. Within soccer culture, being an openly gay player is a highly hostile environment.”
Twenty-seven years after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, the current athlete has spoken about the “harmful male culture” that persists in professional soccer.
“Simply attend to a game and observe the hostile environment and masculinity that the audience creates,” he says.
“There is still a lot of work to ensure there is a safe space in soccer for individuals like me and his colleague.
“We haven't seen it (more players coming out) as frequently as desired.
“My role is to continue advocating for what I think is right, and work towards eliminating the toxic masculinity in football changing rooms and creating a safe space.”
‘I'm here to create change’
The athlete was awarded an honorary degree from Flinders University in Adelaide in 2022, recognising his contributions as a role model in sport and a advocate for fairness
Cavallo says football has enabled discussions inside dressing rooms about coming out.
Yet, he is critical of Fifa, after the Middle Eastern nation, where homosexual partnerships are against the law, staged the global tournament in 2022.
The 2034 tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.
“Do I approve that the World Cup is in nations that criminalise same-sex marriages, where people like me will be put in prison for just existing on their territory? It's frightening,” states the athlete.
“I get messages [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I face imprisonment for being who I am - can you help me?’.
“It breaks my heart that individuals are incarcerated for their true selves.
“There are countries that are significant soccer markets and they don't accept the queer community. Those are the countries that tend to target me.”
Despite this, Cavallo says he will not stop speaking up.
“Football has enabled dialogue in the locker room. It lets me communicate and inform individuals who want to learn more.
“Not everyone is going to like you for your identity. But I have found my family. I have found my community.
“My purpose is to create change. That's my objective.”
