Identifying as LGBTQ+ in Men's Football: A Toxic Environment
“We've got mountains to do” - Cavallo on homophobia in football
“You don't belong on this earth” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”
Since revealing he was gay in 2021, footballer Josh Cavallo has received daily death threats and hateful comments on online platforms.
“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 due to my identity. It's appalling.”
Midfielder the sportsman was at Adelaide United back in 2020 when he became the only openly gay elite soccer player in the world.
Recently he left Australia to join non-league Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in the sixth division, one level below of English football.
This young athlete balances his sports career for the semi-professional team by advocating for LGBTQ+ issues and leveraging his platform - boasting over a million followers on social media - to champion equality and acceptance.
“Absolutely, 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’
Josh Cavallo grew up in Melbourne
Several years passed for Cavallo to work up the courage to say “I'm gay” before coming out on 27 October 2021.
“All I want to do is play football and be treated equally,” he said in an related clip.
The player was twenty-one and building his reputation at his Australian club in the premier division 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 needed to move forward.”
His emotional coming out video, titled ‘His Personal Story’, gained massive attention on social media.
“My phone was flooded with encouraging words. It was overwhelming.”
Liverpool were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to show solidarity with the player, with then manager the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he did it because it sparks conversation.”
Spanish player Gerard Pique also offered support, writing on social media 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 quickly became a target of homophobic abuse by opposition fans.
During early 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from spectators directed at the player during a match.
“The things I'd hear were painful and disparaging towards LGBTQ people,” he explains.
“I remained calm because I knew that would only feed the haters.”
There was a frightening incident at a gas station in Australia, where the athlete was physically attacked by someone who recognised him from the media attention.
“That was a scary moment,” he recalls. “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 competing in soccer at a professional standard doesn't have to experience the path I have endured.”
Cavallo says the daily death threats and hostile communications have affected his mental health.
“It's disappointing because I must justify why I belong on the football field for my identity,” he says.
“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.
“A lot of people see me as a cheerful, positive person. But there are days when I rely on my partner, his name, and he gets to see a lot that happens behind the scenes.”
‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’
The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped inspire 17-year-old attacking player another athlete to come out as the UK's only openly gay playing soccer professional in spring 2022.
However, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the top English division.
“It would move mountains,” comments the footballer on the impact a Premier League player revealing their orientation would make.
“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. 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.”
Over two decades after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, the current athlete has spoken about the “harmful male culture” that still exists in professional soccer.
“You just need to go to a game and observe the unfriendly atmosphere and masculinity that the audience creates,” he explains.
“Much remains to be done to make sure there is a safe space in soccer for individuals like me and Jake.
“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 work towards eliminating the toxic masculinity in football changing rooms and creating a safe space.”
‘My mission is to drive progress’
The athlete was awarded an honorary degree from an academic institution in his former city in 2022, honoring his efforts as a inspirational figure in sport and a advocate for fairness
Cavallo says soccer has enabled discussions inside dressing rooms about coming out.
However, he is critical of soccer's global governing body, after Qatar, where same-sex relationships are against the law, staged the global tournament in 2022.
The 2034 tournament 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,” states Cavallo.
“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 people are getting locked up for being who they are.
“Certain nations that are huge in terms of football and they don't accept the queer community. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”
Despite this, Cavallo says he will not stop speaking up.
“Soccer has allowed me to start conversations in the locker room. It lets me communicate and educate people 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 purpose is to drive progress. That's my objective.”
