Being Gay in Men's Football: An Unwelcoming Atmosphere
“There's still so much to accomplish” - Cavallo on homophobia in football
“You don't belong on this earth” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Stop breathing.”
Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, player Josh Cavallo has received daily death threats and abusive messages on online platforms.
“When I first saw these messages, it broke my heart,” Cavallo states. “No-one wants to read things like that.
“I'm working to improve my skills and be the best I can be during matches, and then face criticism because of who I am. It's appalling.”
Player Cavallo was playing for Adelaide United back in 2020 when he became the only openly gay top-flight male professional footballer in the world.
Recently he left Australia to sign with lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in the sixth division, the sixth tier of English football.
The 25-year-old balances his sports career for the semi-professional team by advocating for inclusion matters and leveraging his platform - he has more than one million followers on social media - to champion equality and acceptance.
“Definitely, there's enormous work ahead,” the footballer comments when asked if football still has a problem with homophobia.
“I don't go more than a week without hearing about an issue.”
‘People want to harm me’
The player was raised in Melbourne
It took years for the athlete to work up the courage to say “I'm gay” before coming out on October 27th, 2021.
“My only desire is play football and receive fair treatment,” he stated in an accompanying video.
Cavallo was twenty-one and building his reputation at Adelaide United in the premier division when, backed by his colleagues, he announced his orientation publicly.
“I didn't know what was ahead. I had no expectations,” he recalls. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”
The heartfelt revelation clip, titled ‘Josh's Truth’, gained massive attention on digital platforms.
“My phone was flooded with encouraging words. It was overwhelming.”
A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to express support for the player, with the coach at the time the German manager saying: “I appreciate that he did it because now we talk again.”
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique also expressed backing, writing on social media that “soccer culture is lagging behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United issued a statement backing their “remarkable” and “courageous” player.
Others, however, were not so accepting.
The footballer soon turned into a subject to anti-gay remarks by opposition fans.
In January 2022 Melbourne Victory were penalized A$5,000 over anti-gay abuse from fans aimed toward the player during a match.
“The comments I encountered were hurtful and derogatory towards my community,” he says.
“I didn't react because I knew that would only feed the haters.”
A scary event occurred at a gas station in Australia, where Cavallo was physically attacked by an individual who identified him from the coverage.
“It was terrifying,” he remembers. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is real - individuals intend to hurt me’.
“Should this be tolerated? Definitely not. But through my disclosure, these are the consequences.
“My wish is that the next person who comes out while competing in soccer at a high level doesn't have to experience the path I have experienced.”
Cavallo says the constant menacing messages and abusive messages have affected his mental health.
“It's disappointing because I am having to explain why I belong on the football field for my identity,” he says.
“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘what gives you the right in football?’.
“Many individuals see me as a cheerful, optimistic person. But there are days when I lean on my fiance, Leighton, and he gets to see much of what occurs privately.”
‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’
The player's choice to disclose his orientation helped prompt 17-year-old Blackpool forward another athlete to come out as the Britain's sole publicly out active male professional footballer in May 2022.
However, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the Premier League.
“It would create massive change,” says the footballer on the impact a elite athlete 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. In the world of football, being an openly gay player is a highly hostile environment.”
Over two decades after a pioneering player - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - died by suicide in 1998, Cavallo has discussed the “toxic masculinity” that still exists in professional soccer.
“Simply attend to a match and see the hostile environment and male-dominated culture that the audience creates,” he says.
“Much remains to be done to ensure there is a secure environment in soccer for individuals like me and his colleague.
“Progress has been limited (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as much as we would like.
“My role is to continue advocating for principles I believe in, and work towards taking out the harmful male norms in soccer locker rooms and creating a safe space.”
‘I'm here to create change’
Cavallo received an honorary doctorate from an academic institution in his former city in 2022, honoring his efforts as a role model in sport and a champion for equality
Cavallo says soccer has allowed him to have conversations inside dressing rooms about revealing one's orientation.
Yet, he is disapproving toward Fifa, after the Middle Eastern nation, where homosexual partnerships are illegal, staged the global tournament in 2022.
Future World Cup will be held in another Gulf state, where same-sex attraction is similarly prohibited.
“Am I impressed that the global championship is in countries that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be put in prison for merely living on their territory? It's frightening,” states the athlete.
“I receive communications [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for being who I am - can you help me?’.
“It breaks my heart that people are getting locked up for their true selves.
“There are countries that are significant soccer markets and they reject LGBTQ+ people. Those are the countries that tend to target me.”
Nevertheless, Cavallo says he will not stop speaking up.
“Football has allowed me to start conversations in the locker room. It has allowed me to speak and educate people who seek understanding.
“Some will disapprove for your identity. But I have found my family. I've connected with similar people.
“My purpose is to create change. That's what I'm here for.”
