Identifying as LGBTQ+ in Professional Soccer: An Unwelcoming Atmosphere
“There's still so much to accomplish” - Cavallo on anti-gay prejudice in soccer
“You shouldn't exist” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Stop breathing.”
After announcing he was gay in 2021, footballer Josh Cavallo has faced constant threats and hateful comments on social media.
“Upon reading those comments, I was devastated,” the player states. “No-one wants to read things like that.
“I'm trying to get better as a player and be the best I can be during matches, and then get put down because of who I am. It's appalling.”
Midfielder Cavallo was playing for Adelaide United back in 2020 when he emerged as the sole publicly out elite soccer player in the world.
Recently he left Australia to join lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in the sixth division, the sixth tier of English football.
This young athlete balances his sports career for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by advocating for inclusion matters and using his profile - he has more than one million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and acceptance.
“Definitely, we've got mountains to do,” Cavallo says when questioned about ongoing issues with homophobia.
“Rarely a week passes without hearing about an issue.”
‘Individuals wish to hurt me’
The player was raised in Melbourne
Several years passed for the athlete to work up the courage to say “I'm gay” before coming out on 27 October 2021.
“My only desire is compete in soccer and receive fair treatment,” he stated in an accompanying video.
The player was 21 and making a name for himself at Adelaide United in the premier division when, backed by his colleagues, he publicly came out.
“The future was uncertain. I didn't know what to expect,” he says. “It felt like the right time in my life. I needed to move forward.”
His emotional coming out video, entitled ‘Josh's Truth’, went viral on social media.
“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 Cavallo, with the coach at the time the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he did it because now we talk again.”
Barcelona defender the athlete also offered support, writing on social media that “the world of football is far behind and you are helping us move forward”, while Adelaide United issued a statement supporting their “extraordinary” and “courageous” player.
Others, however, were not so accepting.
Cavallo quickly became a subject to homophobic abuse by opposition fans.
In January 2022 Melbourne Victory were penalized A$5,000 over anti-gay abuse from fans aimed toward the player during a match.
“The things I'd hear were painful and disparaging towards my community,” he explains.
“I didn't react because responding would encourage detractors.”
A scary event occurred at a petrol station in Australia, where the athlete was physically attacked by an individual who identified him from the media attention.
“That was a scary moment,” he recalls. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is happening - people want to harm me’.
“Should this be tolerated? Definitely not. But by coming out, this is what it brings.
“My wish is that future individuals who comes out while playing football at a professional standard doesn't have to experience the journey I have endured.”
Cavallo says the daily death threats and abusive messages have affected his psychological well-being.
“It's disappointing because I must justify why I deserve a place on the soccer pitch for being who I am,” he states.
“Heterosexual players aren't questioned and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.
“Many individuals see me as a cheerful, optimistic person. But sometimes when I rely on my partner, Leighton, and he gets to see a lot that happens behind the scenes.”
‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’
The player's choice to disclose his orientation helped inspire 17-year-old attacking player another athlete 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 top English division.
“It would move mountains,” comments the footballer on the impact a Premier League player coming out would make.
“But I must be honest. Numerous frightening aspects that would await this individual. In the world of football, being an openly gay player is a highly hostile environment.”
Over two decades after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, Cavallo has discussed the “harmful male culture” that still exists in professional soccer.
“Simply attend to a match and see the hostile environment and male-dominated culture that the audience creates,” he explains.
“Much remains to be done to make sure 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 football changing rooms and creating a safe space.”
‘My mission is to drive progress’
The athlete was awarded an honorary degree from Flinders University in his former city in 2022, recognising his contributions as a inspirational figure in athletics and a advocate for fairness
The player says soccer has enabled discussions within team environments about revealing one's orientation.
Yet, he is critical of soccer's global governing body, after Qatar, where homosexual partnerships are illegal, staged the global tournament in 2022.
Future World Cup is scheduled in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is also illegal.
“Am I impressed that the global championship is in countries that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for just existing on that land? It's frightening,” 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 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 will not stop speaking up.
“Soccer has allowed me to start conversations in the changing room. It has allowed me to speak and inform individuals who want to learn more.
“Some will disapprove for your identity. But I've discovered support. I've connected with similar people.
“My purpose is to drive progress. That's my objective.”
