Being Gay 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” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”
After announcing his homosexuality in 2021, player Josh Cavallo has received daily death threats and hateful comments on social media.
“Upon reading those comments, it broke my heart,” Cavallo explains. “No-one wants to read things like that.
“I'm working to improve my skills and be the best I can be on the pitch, and then get put down because of who I am. It's disgusting.”
Player Cavallo was playing for Adelaide United back in 2020 when he became the only openly gay top-flight male professional footballer in the world.
This summer he departed from 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 the English soccer system.
This young athlete balances his sports career for the semi-professional team by advocating for LGBTQ+ issues and using his profile - boasting over a million followers on social media - to promote fairness and inclusion.
“Absolutely, we've got mountains to do,” Cavallo comments when asked if football still has a problem with homophobia.
“Rarely a week passes without encountering problems.”
‘Individuals wish to hurt me’
Josh Cavallo grew up in Melbourne
Several years passed for the athlete to build up the bravery to say “I am homosexual” before revealing his sexuality on October 27th, 2021.
“All I want to do is play football and be treated equally,” he said in an accompanying video.
The player was twenty-one and making a name for himself at Adelaide United in Australia's top flight when, backed by his colleagues, he announced his orientation publicly.
“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.”
The heartfelt revelation clip, entitled ‘Josh's Truth’, gained massive attention on digital platforms.
“My mobile phone exploded with messages of support. It was overwhelming.”
A prominent club were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to express support for the player, with then manager the German manager saying: “I appreciate that he did it because now we talk again.”
Spanish player Gerard Pique also expressed backing, posting online that “soccer culture is far behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United released a comment backing their “remarkable” and “brave” player.
Some people, however, were not so accepting.
Cavallo soon turned into a subject to homophobic abuse by rival supporters.
In January 2022 a competing team were penalized five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from spectators directed at Cavallo during a match.
“The comments I encountered were hurtful and derogatory towards my community,” he explains.
“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”
A scary event occurred at a gas station in Australia, where the athlete was physically attacked by someone who recognised him from the coverage.
“That was a scary moment,” he remembers. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is real - people want to harm me’.
“Is it acceptable? Absolutely not. But by coming out, these are the consequences.
“I hope that future individuals who comes out while playing football at a high level won't face the journey I have experienced.”
The player says the daily death threats and abusive messages have affected his mental health.
“It's quite sad because I am having to explain why I deserve a place on the football field for my identity,” 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 smiling, optimistic person. But there are days when I rely on my partner, his name, and he gets to see much of what occurs behind the scenes.”
‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’
Cavallo's decision to disclose his orientation helped inspire 17-year-old Blackpool forward another athlete to announce he was gay as the UK's only openly gay playing soccer professional in spring 2022.
However, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the Premier League.
“It would move mountains,” says the footballer on the effect a Premier League player revealing their orientation would make.
“But I must be honest. Numerous frightening aspects that would await this individual. In the world of football, identifying as LGBTQ is a highly hostile environment.”
Over two decades after Justin Fashanu - the UK's initial out soccer professional - took his own life in 1998, the current athlete has discussed the “toxic masculinity” that persists 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 safe space in football for people like myself and Jake.
“We haven't seen it (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as frequently as desired.
“I can only keep pushing for principles I believe in, and strive for eliminating the toxic masculinity in football changing rooms and creating a safe space.”
‘My mission is to drive progress’
Cavallo received an honorary doctorate from an academic institution in his former city in 2022, honoring his efforts as a inspirational figure in sport and a advocate for fairness
The player says soccer has allowed him to have conversations inside dressing rooms about coming out.
However, he is disapproving toward Fifa, 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.
“Am I impressed that the global championship is in countries that criminalise same-sex marriages, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for just existing on that land? It's scary,” says Cavallo.
“I get messages [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 individuals are incarcerated for their true selves.
“There are countries that are huge in terms of football and they don't accept LGBTQ+ people. These places that tend to target me.”
Despite this, the footballer says he will not stop speaking up.
“Soccer has enabled dialogue in the locker room. It lets me communicate and inform individuals who want to learn more.
“Some will disapprove for who you are. But I've discovered support. I have found my community.
“My mission is to create change. That's what I'm here for.”
