Identifying as LGBTQ+ in Men's Football: A Toxic Environment
“There's still so much to accomplish” - the athlete on homophobia in football
“You don't belong on this earth” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”
Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, footballer the athlete has received daily death 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 trying to get better as a player and be the best I can be on the pitch, and then get put down due to my identity. It's appalling.”
Player Cavallo was playing for Adelaide United back in 2020 when he became the only openly gay elite soccer player in the world.
This summer he left Australia to join non-league Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences 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 leveraging his platform - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to promote fairness and inclusion.
“Definitely, we've got mountains to do,” the footballer says when questioned about ongoing issues with homophobia.
“I don't go more than a week without hearing about an issue.”
‘Individuals wish to hurt me’
The player was raised in Melbourne
It took years for the athlete to work up the courage to say “I'm gay” before coming out on October 27th, 2021.
“All I want to do is play football and be treated equally,” he stated in an related clip.
The player was 21 and building his reputation at Adelaide United in the premier division when, with the support of his team-mates, he publicly came out.
“The future was uncertain. I didn't know what to expect,” he says. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I needed to move forward.”
The heartfelt revelation clip, titled ‘Josh's Truth’, gained massive attention on social media.
“My mobile phone exploded with encouraging words. It was overwhelming.”
Liverpool were among numerous famous teams around the world to express support for 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 Gerard Pique also expressed backing, writing on social media that “soccer culture is far behind and you are helping us move forward”, while Adelaide United issued a statement supporting their “extraordinary” and “brave” player.
Others, however, were less welcoming.
The footballer quickly became a subject to anti-gay remarks by opposition fans.
During early 2022 a competing team were fined five thousand dollars over anti-gay abuse from spectators aimed toward Cavallo during a match.
“The things I'd hear were painful and derogatory towards LGBTQ people,” he says.
“I remained calm 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 coverage.
“That was a scary moment,” he remembers. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is real - individuals intend to hurt me’.
“Is it acceptable? Definitely not. But by coming out, this is what it brings.
“My wish is that the next person who comes out while playing football at a professional standard won't face the path I have endured.”
The player says the daily death threats and hostile communications have affected his mental health.
“It's disappointing because I am having to explain 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 there are days when I lean on my fiance, his name, and he gets to see much of what occurs privately.”
‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’
Cavallo's decision to disclose his orientation helped inspire teenage attacking player another athlete to come out as the Britain's sole publicly out active male professional footballer in spring 2022.
However, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the top English division.
“It would create massive change,” says Cavallo on the effect a Premier League player revealing their orientation would make.
“But I must be honest. Numerous frightening aspects that would await this individual. In the world of football, identifying as LGBTQ is a highly hostile environment.”
Twenty-seven years after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - died by suicide in 1998, Cavallo has discussed the “toxic masculinity” that persists in men's football.
“You just need to go to a game and observe the unfriendly atmosphere and male-dominated culture that the audience creates,” he says.
“Much remains to be done to make sure there is a secure environment in football for people like myself and Jake.
“Progress has been limited (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as much as we would like.
“My role is to continue advocating for what I think is right, and work towards taking out the harmful male norms in soccer locker rooms and establishing secure environments.”
‘I'm here to create change’
The athlete was awarded an honorary degree from Flinders University 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 within team environments about coming out.
Yet, he is critical of soccer's global governing body, after the Middle Eastern nation, where homosexual partnerships are against the law, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.
The 2034 tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex attraction is similarly prohibited.
“Am I impressed that the global championship is in countries that criminalise same-sex marriages, where people like me will be imprisoned for merely living on their territory? It's frightening,” states Cavallo.
“I receive communications [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for my identity - is assistance possible?’.
“It breaks my heart that people are getting locked up for being who they are.
“Certain nations that are significant soccer markets and they reject LGBTQ+ people. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”
Nevertheless, Cavallo says he will not stop speaking up.
“Football has allowed me to start conversations in the changing room. It has allowed me to speak and educate people who want to learn more.
“Some will disapprove for your identity. But I have found my family. I have found my community.
“My mission is to create change. That's my objective.”
