Being Gay in Men's Football: An Unwelcoming Atmosphere
“We've got mountains to do” - the athlete on anti-gay prejudice in soccer
“You don't belong on this earth” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Stop breathing.”
Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, footballer Josh Cavallo has received daily death threats and hateful comments on online platforms.
“Upon reading those comments, I was devastated,” Cavallo states. “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 appalling.”
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 left 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.
The 25-year-old balances his sports career for the semi-professional team by speaking up on LGBTQ+ issues and leveraging his platform - boasting over a million followers on social media - to promote fairness and inclusion.
“Absolutely, there's enormous work ahead,” Cavallo comments when questioned about ongoing issues with discrimination.
“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 work up the courage to say “I'm gay” before coming out on 27 October 2021.
“All I want to do is compete in soccer and be treated equally,” he stated in an accompanying video.
Cavallo was twenty-one and making a name for himself at his Australian club in the premier division when, with the support of his team-mates, he publicly came out.
“I didn't know what was ahead. I didn't know what to expect,” he recalls. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I needed to move forward.”
His emotional coming out video, titled ‘His Personal Story’, went viral on digital platforms.
“My mobile phone exploded with encouraging words. It was overwhelming.”
Liverpool were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to express support for the player, with then manager the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he took this step because it sparks conversation.”
Barcelona defender the athlete also offered support, posting online that “soccer culture is lagging behind and you are helping us move forward”, while Adelaide United issued a statement backing their “extraordinary” and “brave” player.
Some people, however, were less welcoming.
Cavallo soon turned into a target of homophobic abuse by rival supporters.
During early 2022 a competing team were fined five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from fans aimed toward the player during a game.
“The comments I encountered were painful and disparaging towards LGBTQ people,” he says.
“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”
There was a frightening incident at a petrol station in Australia, where the athlete was assaulted by an individual who identified him from the coverage.
“That was a scary moment,” he recalls. “I remember thinking ‘this is real - individuals intend to hurt me’.
“Is it acceptable? Absolutely not. But through my disclosure, this is what it brings.
“I hope that the next person who comes out while competing in soccer at a high level doesn't have to experience the path I have endured.”
Cavallo says the constant menacing messages and abusive messages have affected his mental health.
“It's quite sad because I must justify why I belong on the football field for my identity,” he states.
“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘why should you exist 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 a lot that happens privately.”
‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’
The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped prompt teenage Blackpool forward Jake Daniels to come out as the UK's only openly gay playing soccer professional in May 2022.
Nevertheless, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the Premier League.
“It would create massive change,” comments the footballer on the effect a elite athlete revealing their orientation would make.
“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. Numerous frightening aspects that would come this person's way. Within soccer culture, identifying as LGBTQ is a very toxic place.”
Twenty-seven years after Justin Fashanu - the UK's initial out soccer professional - died by suicide in 1998, the current athlete has discussed the “toxic masculinity” that persists in professional soccer.
“Simply attend to a match and observe the hostile environment and male-dominated culture that the crowd brings,” he says.
“There is still a lot of work to make sure there is a safe space in soccer for people like myself and his colleague.
“Progress has been limited (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as much as we would like.
“I can only keep pushing for what I think is right, and strive for eliminating the toxic masculinity in soccer locker rooms and establishing secure environments.”
‘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 role model in sport and a advocate for fairness
The player says soccer has enabled discussions inside dressing rooms about revealing one's orientation.
However, he is critical of Fifa, after the Middle Eastern nation, where homosexual partnerships are illegal, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.
Future World Cup is scheduled in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex attraction is also illegal.
“Am I impressed that the World Cup is in nations that ban gay unions, where people like me will be put in prison for just existing on their territory? It's frightening,” says the athlete.
“I receive communications [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I face imprisonment for being who I am - is assistance possible?’.
“It breaks my heart that individuals are incarcerated for their true selves.
“Certain nations that are significant soccer markets and they don't accept LGBTQ+ people. These places that often focus on me.”
Nevertheless, the footballer says he will not stop speaking up.
“Soccer has enabled dialogue in the changing room. It lets me communicate and inform individuals who seek understanding.
“Not everyone is going to like you for your identity. But I have found my family. I have found my community.
“My mission is to create change. That's my objective.”
