Being Gay in Men's Football: An Unwelcoming Atmosphere
“We've got mountains to do” - the athlete on homophobia in football
“You don't belong on this earth” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Stop breathing.”
Since revealing he was gay in 2021, footballer Josh Cavallo has faced constant threats and abusive messages 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 reach my full potential on the pitch, and then get put down due to my identity. It's appalling.”
Midfielder Cavallo was at Adelaide United four years ago when he emerged as the sole publicly out top-flight male professional footballer in the world.
Recently he left Australia to join lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in National League North, one level below of English football.
This young athlete balances his sports career for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by advocating for inclusion matters and using his profile - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and acceptance.
“Absolutely, there's enormous work ahead,” Cavallo says when questioned about ongoing issues with homophobia.
“Rarely a week passes without encountering problems.”
‘People want to harm me’
The player was raised in Melbourne
Several years passed for Cavallo to build up the bravery to say “I'm gay” before coming out on October 27th, 2021.
“My only desire is play football and be treated equally,” he stated in an accompanying video.
The player was 21 and building his reputation at Adelaide United in the premier division when, backed by his colleagues, he publicly came out.
“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 wanted to take the next step.”
His emotional coming out video, entitled ‘His Personal Story’, went viral on social media.
“My mobile phone exploded with encouraging words. It was overwhelming.”
Liverpool were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to show solidarity with Cavallo, with then manager the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he did it because now we talk again.”
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique also offered support, writing on social media that “the world of football is lagging behind and you are helping us move forward”, while Adelaide United issued a statement supporting their “remarkable” and “brave” player.
Some people, however, were not so accepting.
Cavallo soon turned into a subject to anti-gay remarks by rival supporters.
In January 2022 a competing team were fined five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from fans directed at Cavallo during a match.
“The things I'd hear were painful and derogatory towards my community,” he says.
“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”
A scary event occurred at a gas station in Australia, where Cavallo was assaulted by someone who recognised him from the coverage.
“That was a scary moment,” he remembers. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is real - individuals intend to hurt me’.
“Should this be tolerated? Definitely not. But through my disclosure, these are the consequences.
“I hope that the next person who comes out while playing football at a high level won't face the journey I have endured.”
Cavallo says the constant menacing messages and abusive messages have taken a toll on his psychological well-being.
“It's disappointing because I am having to explain why I belong on the football field for being who I am,” he says.
“Heterosexual players aren't questioned and ask ‘what gives you the right in football?’.
“Many individuals see me as a cheerful, optimistic person. But sometimes when I lean on my fiance, his name, and he gets to see a lot that happens privately.”
‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’
The player's choice to disclose his orientation helped prompt teenage attacking player Jake Daniels to announce he was gay as the UK's only openly gay playing soccer professional in spring 2022.
Nevertheless, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the top English division.
“It would create massive change,” says Cavallo on the impact a Premier League player revealing their orientation would make.
“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. Numerous frightening aspects that would await this individual. In the world of football, identifying as LGBTQ is a very toxic place.”
Over two decades after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, Cavallo has discussed the “toxic masculinity” that still exists in men's football.
“You just need to go to a game and observe the hostile environment and masculinity that the audience creates,” he explains.
“Much remains to be done to ensure there is a secure environment in soccer for people like myself and his colleague.
“Progress has been limited (more players coming out) as much as we would like.
“I can only keep pushing for principles I believe in, and strive for eliminating the harmful male norms in football changing rooms and establishing secure environments.”
‘My mission is to drive progress’
Cavallo received an honorary doctorate from Flinders University in Adelaide in 2022, honoring his efforts as a inspirational figure in sport and a advocate for fairness
Cavallo says soccer has allowed him to have conversations inside dressing rooms about revealing one's orientation.
However, he is critical of Fifa, after Qatar, where homosexual partnerships are against the law, staged the global tournament in 2022.
Future World Cup will be held in another Gulf state, where same-sex attraction is also illegal.
“Do I approve that the World Cup is in countries that criminalise same-sex marriages, where people like me will be imprisoned for merely living on their territory? It's scary,” says the athlete.
“I receive communications [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I face imprisonment for my identity - is assistance possible?’.
“It's devastating that individuals are incarcerated for being who they are.
“There are countries that are significant soccer markets and they reject the queer community. These places that often focus on me.”
Nevertheless, the footballer says he will not stop speaking up.
“Soccer has enabled dialogue in the locker room. It has allowed me to speak 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.”
