Being Gay in Men's Football: An Unwelcoming Atmosphere
“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.”
Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, player the athlete has faced constant threats and abusive messages on online platforms.
“When I first saw these messages, it broke my heart,” Cavallo explains. “Nobody should have to endure such words.
“I'm trying to get better as a player and be the best I can be on the pitch, and then get put down due to my identity. It's appalling.”
Midfielder Cavallo was playing for Adelaide United back in 2020 when he emerged as the sole publicly out top-flight male professional footballer in the world.
Recently he departed from Australia to join non-league Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in the sixth division, the sixth tier of the English soccer system.
This young athlete balances his sports career for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by speaking up on inclusion matters and using his profile - 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.”
‘Individuals wish to hurt me’
The player was raised in Melbourne
It took years for the athlete to build up the bravery to say “I am homosexual” before coming out on October 27th, 2021.
“All I want to do is compete in soccer and receive fair treatment,” he said in an accompanying video.
The player was 21 and building his reputation at his Australian club in Australia's top flight when, with the support of his team-mates, 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.”
His emotional coming out video, 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 show solidarity with the player, with the coach at the time the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he did it because it sparks conversation.”
Spanish player the athlete also expressed backing, posting online that “the world of football is lagging behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United issued a statement backing their “extraordinary” and “brave” player.
Others, however, were not so accepting.
Cavallo soon turned into a subject to homophobic abuse by opposition fans.
In January 2022 a competing team were fined five thousand dollars over anti-gay abuse from spectators directed at Cavallo during a match.
“The things I'd hear were hurtful and derogatory towards LGBTQ people,” he explains.
“I remained calm because I knew that would only feed the haters.”
A scary event occurred at a petrol station in Australia, where the athlete was physically attacked by someone who recognised him from the coverage.
“It was terrifying,” he remembers. “I remember thinking ‘this is happening - individuals intend to hurt me’.
“Should this be tolerated? Absolutely not. But by coming out, these are the consequences.
“My wish is that the next person who reveals their orientation while playing football at a high level won't face the journey I have endured.”
Cavallo 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 football field for being who I am,” he states.
“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘what gives you the right in football?’.
“A lot of people see me as a cheerful, positive person. But there are days 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’
The player's choice to disclose his orientation helped prompt 17-year-old Blackpool forward another athlete to come out as the UK's only openly gay active male professional footballer in spring 2022.
Nevertheless, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the top English division.
“It would move mountains,” comments Cavallo on the impact a elite athlete coming out would have.
“But I must be honest. There are a lot of scary things that would await this individual. In the world of football, being an openly gay player is a very toxic place.”
Twenty-seven years after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, the current athlete has discussed the “harmful male culture” that still exists in men's football.
“Simply attend to a match and observe the unfriendly atmosphere and male-dominated culture that the audience creates,” he says.
“There is still a lot of work to make sure there is a secure environment in soccer for people like myself and Jake.
“We haven't seen it (more players coming out) as much as we would like.
“My role is to continue advocating for principles I believe in, and strive for taking out the toxic masculinity 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 Adelaide in 2022, recognising his contributions as a role model in athletics and a champion for equality
The player says football has enabled discussions within team environments about coming out.
However, he is critical of soccer's global governing body, after Qatar, where homosexual partnerships are against the law, hosted the men's World Cup 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 criminalise same-sex marriages, where people like me will be put in prison for merely living on their territory? It's scary,” states the athlete.
“I get messages [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I face imprisonment for my identity - can you help me?’.
“It breaks my heart that people are getting locked up for being who they are.
“There are countries that are significant soccer markets and they reject the queer community. These places that often focus on me.”
Nevertheless, the footballer says he will not stop speaking up.
“Football has allowed me to start conversations in the changing room. It lets me communicate and educate people who want to learn more.
“Some will disapprove for your identity. But I have found my family. I've connected with similar people.
“My mission is to create change. That's what I'm here for.”
