Being Gay in Men's Football: A Toxic Environment
“There's still so much to accomplish” - Cavallo on homophobia in football
“You don't belong on this earth” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”
After announcing he was gay in 2021, player the athlete has faced constant threats and hateful comments on social media.
“When I first saw these messages, it broke my heart,” the player states. “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 face criticism due to my identity. It's appalling.”
Midfielder the sportsman was at Adelaide United back in 2020 when he became the only openly gay top-flight male professional footballer in the world.
This summer 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 the English soccer system.
The 25-year-old combines playing for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by speaking up on LGBTQ+ issues and using his profile - he has more than one million followers on social media - to promote fairness and acceptance.
“Absolutely, there's enormous work ahead,” the footballer comments when asked if football still has a problem with discrimination.
“Rarely a week passes without encountering problems.”
‘Individuals wish to hurt me’
Josh Cavallo grew up in Melbourne
It took years for the athlete to build up the bravery to say “I'm gay” before coming out on 27 October 2021.
“My only desire is compete in soccer and be treated equally,” he said in an related clip.
Cavallo was twenty-one and making a name for himself at Adelaide United in the premier division when, with the support of his team-mates, he publicly came out.
“The future was uncertain. I had no expectations,” he recalls. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”
The heartfelt revelation clip, entitled ‘His Personal Story’, went viral on social media.
“My mobile phone exploded with encouraging words. The response was incredible.”
A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to show solidarity with Cavallo, 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 lagging behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United released a comment supporting their “extraordinary” and “courageous” player.
Some people, however, were not so accepting.
Cavallo soon turned into a subject to anti-gay remarks by opposition fans.
During early 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from fans aimed toward Cavallo during a match.
“The comments I encountered were painful and derogatory towards my community,” he explains.
“I didn't react because I knew that would only feed the haters.”
A scary event occurred at a petrol station in Australia, where Cavallo was physically attacked by an individual who identified him from the coverage.
“That was a scary moment,” he recalls. “I remember thinking ‘this is happening - individuals intend to hurt me’.
“Should this be tolerated? Absolutely not. But by coming out, this is what it brings.
“My wish is that the next person who comes out while competing in soccer at a professional standard won't face the journey I have experienced.”
Cavallo says the constant menacing messages and abusive messages have affected his psychological well-being.
“It's quite sad because I must justify why I belong on the football field for being who I am,” he says.
“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.
“Many individuals see me as a smiling, positive person. But there are days when I rely on my partner, Leighton, and he gets to see a lot that happens behind the scenes.”
‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’
The player's choice to disclose his orientation helped prompt teenage Blackpool forward Jake Daniels to announce he was gay as the Britain's sole publicly out active male professional footballer in May 2022.
However, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the Premier League.
“It would create massive change,” comments the footballer on the impact a elite athlete revealing their orientation would have.
“But I must be honest. There are a lot of scary things that would await this individual. Within soccer culture, identifying as LGBTQ is a very toxic place.”
Twenty-seven years after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, Cavallo has discussed the “toxic masculinity” that still exists in men's football.
“Simply attend to a game and observe the hostile environment and masculinity that the audience creates,” he says.
“Much remains to be done to make sure there is a secure environment in soccer for individuals like me and his colleague.
“Progress has been limited (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as frequently as desired.
“I can only keep pushing for principles I believe in, and strive for taking out the toxic masculinity in football changing rooms and establishing secure environments.”
‘My mission is to drive progress’
The athlete was awarded an honorary degree from Flinders University in Adelaide in 2022, honoring his efforts as a inspirational figure in sport and a advocate for fairness
Cavallo says soccer has enabled discussions within team environments about revealing one's orientation.
Yet, he is critical of Fifa, after Qatar, where same-sex relationships are illegal, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.
The 2034 tournament is scheduled in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is also illegal.
“Am I impressed that the global championship is in nations that criminalise same-sex marriages, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for just existing on their territory? It's scary,” states Cavallo.
“I receive communications [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for being who I am - is assistance possible?’.
“It's devastating that people are getting locked up for their true selves.
“There are countries that are huge in terms of football and they don't accept the queer community. Those are the countries that tend to target me.”
Nevertheless, the footballer says he won't cease advocating.
“Football has allowed me to start conversations in the locker room. It has allowed me to speak and educate people who seek understanding.
“Not everyone is going to like you for your identity. But I've discovered support. I have found my community.
“My purpose is to create change. That's my objective.”
