Being Gay in Professional Soccer: A Toxic Environment
“We've got mountains to do” - the athlete on anti-gay prejudice in football
“You don't belong on this earth” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”
After announcing his homosexuality in 2021, footballer the athlete has faced constant threats and hateful comments on online platforms.
“Upon reading those comments, I was devastated,” the player states. “Nobody should have to endure such words.
“I'm trying to get better as a player and reach my full potential 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 emerged as the sole publicly out top-flight male professional footballer in the world.
This summer he departed from Australia to sign with lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in the sixth division, the sixth tier of English football.
The 25-year-old combines playing for the semi-professional team by speaking up on inclusion matters and leveraging his platform - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and acceptance.
“Definitely, there's enormous work ahead,” the footballer says when questioned about ongoing issues with discrimination.
“I don't go more than a week without encountering problems.”
‘Individuals wish to hurt me’
Josh Cavallo grew up in Melbourne
It took years for Cavallo to work up the courage to say “I'm gay” before coming out on October 27th, 2021.
“All I want to do is compete in soccer and receive fair treatment,” he stated in an accompanying video.
Cavallo 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.
“The future was uncertain. I had no expectations,” he recalls. “It felt like the right time in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”
His emotional coming out video, entitled ‘Josh's Truth’, went viral on social media.
“My mobile phone exploded with messages of support. It was overwhelming.”
A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to express support for Cavallo, with the coach at the time Jurgen Klopp saying: “I appreciate that he did it because it sparks conversation.”
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique also offered support, posting online that “soccer culture is lagging behind and you are helping us move forward”, while Adelaide United released a comment backing their “extraordinary” and “courageous” player.
Some people, however, were not so accepting.
The footballer soon turned into a subject to homophobic abuse by opposition fans.
During early 2022 Melbourne Victory were penalized five thousand dollars over anti-gay abuse from spectators aimed toward the player during a match.
“The things I'd hear were painful and disparaging towards my community,” he explains.
“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”
There was a frightening incident at a gas 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 remembers. “I remember thinking ‘this is happening - people want to harm me’.
“Should this be tolerated? Absolutely not. But by coming out, this is what it brings.
“I hope that the next person 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 psychological well-being.
“It's quite sad because I am having to explain why I deserve a place on the soccer pitch for my identity,” he states.
“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.
“A lot of people see me as a smiling, positive person. But there are days when I lean on my fiance, his name, and he witnesses a lot that happens privately.”
‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’
The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped prompt 17-year-old Blackpool forward another athlete to announce he was gay as the UK's only openly gay active male professional footballer in May 2022.
However, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the Premier League.
“It would move mountains,” says the footballer on the effect a Premier League player coming out would make.
“But I must be honest. There are a lot of scary things that would await this individual. Within soccer culture, identifying as LGBTQ is a highly hostile environment.”
Over two decades after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - died by suicide in 1998, Cavallo has spoken about the “toxic masculinity” that still exists in men's football.
“You just need to go to a match and observe the hostile environment and masculinity that the audience creates,” he says.
“Much remains to be done to ensure there is a secure environment in soccer for individuals like me 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 soccer locker rooms and establishing secure environments.”
‘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 champion for equality
Cavallo says soccer has enabled discussions inside dressing rooms about revealing one's orientation.
Yet, he is critical of Fifa, after the Middle Eastern nation, where homosexual partnerships are against the law, staged the global tournament in 2022.
The 2034 tournament is scheduled in another Gulf state, where same-sex attraction is also illegal.
“Do I approve that the global championship is in nations that criminalise same-sex marriages, where people like me will be imprisoned for merely living on that land? It's scary,” states the athlete.
“I receive communications [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for being who I am - can you help me?’.
“It breaks my heart that people are getting locked up for being who they are.
“There are countries that are huge in terms of football and they don't accept the queer community. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”
Nevertheless, Cavallo says he won't cease advocating.
“Soccer has allowed me to start conversations 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've connected with similar people.
“My mission is to drive progress. That's my objective.”
