Being Gay in Men's Football: An Unwelcoming Atmosphere
“We've got mountains to do” - Cavallo on anti-gay prejudice in football
“You shouldn't exist” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Stop breathing.”
Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, player Josh Cavallo has received daily death threats and abusive messages on social media.
“Upon reading those comments, I was devastated,” the player explains. “Nobody should have to endure such words.
“I'm working to improve my skills and be the best I can be during matches, and then get put down because of who I am. It's appalling.”
Player Cavallo was at 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 sign with non-league Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in National League North, one level below of English football.
The 25-year-old combines playing for the semi-professional team by speaking up on inclusion matters and using his profile - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and acceptance.
“Absolutely, there's enormous work ahead,” Cavallo says when asked if football still has a problem with homophobia.
“I don't go more than a week without hearing about an issue.”
‘Individuals wish to hurt me’
The player was raised in Melbourne
It took years for the athlete to work up the courage to say “I am homosexual” 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.
The player was 21 and making a name for himself at his Australian club in Australia's top flight when, with the support of his team-mates, he publicly came out.
“The future was uncertain. I had no expectations,” he recalls. “It felt like the right time in my life. I needed to move forward.”
His emotional coming out video, titled ‘His Personal Story’, gained massive attention on social media.
“My phone was flooded with encouraging words. The response was incredible.”
A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to show solidarity with the player, with the coach at the time the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he took this step because it sparks conversation.”
Barcelona defender the athlete also offered support, writing on social media that “soccer culture is far behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United issued a statement backing their “extraordinary” and “courageous” player.
Others, however, were less welcoming.
The footballer soon turned into a subject to homophobic abuse by opposition fans.
During early 2022 a competing team were penalized five thousand dollars over anti-gay abuse from spectators aimed toward the player during a game.
“The comments I encountered were hurtful and derogatory towards LGBTQ people,” he explains.
“I didn't react because I knew that would only feed the haters.”
A scary event occurred at a gas station in Australia, where the athlete was physically attacked by someone who recognised him from the media attention.
“It was terrifying,” he remembers. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is real - people want to harm me’.
“Is it acceptable? Definitely not. But through my disclosure, these are the consequences.
“I hope that the next person who reveals their orientation while playing football at a high level doesn't have to experience the path I have endured.”
The player says the constant menacing messages and abusive messages have taken a toll on his psychological well-being.
“It's disappointing because I must justify why I deserve a place on the soccer pitch for being who I am,” 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, positive person. But sometimes when I rely on my partner, Leighton, and he witnesses 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 Jake Daniels to announce he was gay 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,” says the footballer on the effect a Premier League player revealing their orientation would make.
“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. Numerous frightening aspects that would come this person's way. Within soccer culture, identifying as LGBTQ is a very toxic place.”
Twenty-seven years after Justin Fashanu - the UK's initial out soccer professional - died by suicide in 1998, the current athlete has discussed the “harmful male culture” that persists in men's football.
“You just need to go to a match and observe the unfriendly atmosphere and masculinity that the crowd brings,” he explains.
“Much remains to be done to ensure there is a secure environment in football for individuals like me and Jake.
“We haven't seen it (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as much as we would like.
“I can only keep pushing for what I think is right, and strive for eliminating the toxic masculinity in football changing rooms and establishing secure environments.”
‘I'm here to create change’
The athlete was awarded an honorary degree from an academic institution in Adelaide in 2022, recognising his contributions as a inspirational figure in athletics and a advocate for fairness
The player says soccer has enabled discussions within team environments about coming out.
Yet, he is critical of Fifa, after Qatar, where homosexual partnerships are illegal, staged the global tournament in 2022.
The 2034 tournament is scheduled in another Gulf state, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.
“Do I approve that the World Cup is in countries that ban gay unions, where people like me will be imprisoned for merely living on that land? It's scary,” states the athlete.
“I get messages [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I face imprisonment for my identity - can you help me?’.
“It breaks my heart that individuals are incarcerated for being who they are.
“Certain nations that are significant soccer markets and they don't accept the queer community. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”
Despite this, Cavallo says he won't cease advocating.
“Soccer 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 who you are. But I've discovered support. I've connected with similar people.
“My mission is to create change. That's my objective.”