Being Gay in Men's Football: An Unwelcoming Atmosphere
“We've got mountains to do” - the athlete on homophobia in football
“You don't belong on this earth” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”
After announcing his homosexuality in 2021, player the athlete has faced constant threats and hateful comments on online platforms.
“When I first saw these messages, I was devastated,” the player 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 get put down due to my identity. It's appalling.”
Player Cavallo was playing for Adelaide United four years ago when he emerged as the sole publicly out elite soccer player in the world.
This summer he departed from Australia to sign with lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds 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 promote fairness and inclusion.
“Definitely, we've got mountains to do,” the footballer comments when asked if football still has a problem with discrimination.
“I don't go more than a week without hearing about an issue.”
‘People want to harm me’
The player was raised in Melbourne
Several years passed for the athlete to build up the bravery 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 said in an related clip.
Cavallo was 21 and building his reputation at his Australian club in the premier division when, with the support of his team-mates, he publicly came out.
“I didn't know what was ahead. I didn't know what to expect,” he recalls. “It felt like the right time in my life. I needed to move forward.”
His emotional coming out video, titled ‘Josh's Truth’, gained massive attention on digital platforms.
“My mobile phone exploded with messages of support. The response was incredible.”
A prominent club were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to show solidarity with the player, with then manager Jurgen Klopp saying: “I'm really thankful that he took this step because now we talk again.”
Spanish player the athlete also offered support, writing on social media that “soccer culture is far behind and you are helping us move forward”, while Adelaide United issued a statement supporting their “remarkable” and “brave” player.
Others, however, were not so accepting.
The footballer quickly became a target of homophobic abuse by rival supporters.
In January 2022 Melbourne Victory 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 my community,” he says.
“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”
A scary event occurred at a petrol station in Australia, where the athlete was assaulted by someone who recognised him from the media attention.
“It was terrifying,” he recalls. “I remember thinking ‘this is real - people want to harm me’.
“Should this be tolerated? Definitely not. But through my disclosure, this is what it brings.
“I hope that future individuals who reveals their orientation while competing in soccer at a professional standard doesn't have to experience the journey I have endured.”
The player says the daily death threats and hostile communications have affected his psychological well-being.
“It's quite sad because I must justify why I belong on the soccer pitch 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, optimistic person. But there are days when I rely on my partner, his name, and he witnesses a lot that happens privately.”
‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’
The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped prompt 17-year-old Blackpool forward Jake Daniels 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 Premier League.
“It would move mountains,” comments Cavallo on the effect a Premier League player coming out would have.
“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. There are a lot of scary things that would await this individual. Within soccer culture, being an openly gay player is a very toxic place.”
Over two decades after a pioneering player - the UK's initial out soccer professional - died by suicide in 1998, the current athlete has spoken about the “harmful male culture” that persists in men's football.
“Simply attend to a match 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 secure environment in football for people like myself and his colleague.
“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.”
‘My mission is to drive progress’
Cavallo received an honorary doctorate from Flinders University in Adelaide in 2022, honoring his efforts as a inspirational figure in sport and a champion for equality
The player says football has allowed him to have conversations inside dressing rooms about revealing one's orientation.
However, he is critical of Fifa, after Qatar, where same-sex relationships are illegal, staged the global tournament in 2022.
Future World Cup is scheduled in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.
“Do I approve that the World Cup is in countries that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for merely living on that land? It's scary,” states Cavallo.
“I receive communications [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for being who I am - is assistance possible?’.
“It breaks my heart that people are getting locked up for their true selves.
“Certain nations that are significant soccer markets and they don't accept the queer community. These places that tend to target me.”
Nevertheless, the footballer says he won't cease advocating.
“Football has enabled dialogue in the changing room. It lets me communicate and inform individuals who seek understanding.
“Not everyone is going to like you for your identity. But I've discovered support. I've connected with similar people.
“My mission is to drive progress. That's my objective.”
