Identifying as LGBTQ+ in Men's Football: A Toxic Environment
“There's still so much to accomplish” - Cavallo on homophobia in soccer
“You don't belong on this earth” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”
After announcing he was gay in 2021, player Josh Cavallo has received daily death threats and abusive messages on social media.
“Upon reading those comments, I was devastated,” Cavallo 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 face criticism because of who I am. It's appalling.”
Midfielder the sportsman 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 departed from Australia to join lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in the sixth division, the sixth tier of the English soccer system.
This young athlete 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 Instagram - to promote fairness and acceptance.
“Definitely, we've got mountains to do,” the footballer comments 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
It took years for Cavallo to work up the courage to say “I'm gay” before revealing his sexuality on 27 October 2021.
“All I want to do is compete in soccer and be treated equally,” he said in an related clip.
Cavallo was 21 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 says. “It felt like the right time in my life. I needed to move forward.”
His emotional coming out video, titled ‘Josh's Truth’, went viral on digital platforms.
“My mobile phone exploded with encouraging words. The response was incredible.”
A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to express support for the player, 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 “soccer culture is lagging behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United issued a statement supporting their “remarkable” and “brave” player.
Some people, however, were less welcoming.
Cavallo soon turned into a target of homophobic abuse by rival supporters.
In January 2022 a competing team were penalized A$5,000 over anti-gay abuse from fans aimed toward Cavallo during a game.
“The comments I encountered were hurtful and disparaging towards my community,” he says.
“I remained calm because I knew that would only feed the haters.”
There was a frightening incident at a petrol station in Australia, where Cavallo was physically attacked by someone who recognised him from the coverage.
“It was terrifying,” he remembers. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is happening - individuals intend to hurt me’.
“Should this be tolerated? Definitely not. But by coming out, these are the consequences.
“I hope that the next person who comes out while competing in soccer at a high level won't face the journey I have endured.”
Cavallo says the daily death threats and abusive messages have affected his mental health.
“It's disappointing because I am having to explain why I deserve a place on the soccer pitch 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 smiling, optimistic person. But sometimes when I lean on my fiance, his name, and he gets to see much of what occurs behind the scenes.”
‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’
Cavallo's decision to reveal his sexuality 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.
Nevertheless, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the Premier League.
“It would move mountains,” comments the footballer on the impact a elite athlete coming out would have.
“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. Numerous frightening aspects that would await this individual. In the world of football, being an openly gay player is a very toxic place.”
Twenty-seven years after a pioneering player - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - died by suicide in 1998, the current athlete has discussed the “harmful male culture” that still exists in men's football.
“Simply attend to a game and observe the hostile environment and male-dominated culture that the audience creates,” he explains.
“Much remains to be done to ensure there is a secure environment in soccer for individuals like me and his colleague.
“We haven't seen it (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as frequently as desired.
“I can only keep pushing for what I think is right, and work towards taking out the toxic masculinity in soccer locker 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 sport and a advocate for fairness
Cavallo says soccer has allowed him to have conversations within team environments about coming out.
However, he is critical of soccer's global governing body, after the Middle Eastern nation, where same-sex relationships are against the law, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.
The 2034 tournament is scheduled in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.
“Do I approve that the World Cup is in countries that criminalise same-sex marriages, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for just existing on that land? It's scary,” states the athlete.
“I receive communications [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for being who I am - 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 LGBTQ+ people. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”
Despite this, the footballer says he will not stop speaking up.
“Football has enabled dialogue in the locker room. It has allowed me to speak and inform individuals who want to learn more.
“Not everyone is going to like you for your identity. But I've discovered support. I have found my community.
“My mission is to create change. That's my objective.”
