Being Gay in Professional Soccer: A Toxic Environment
“We've got mountains to do” - the athlete on homophobia in football
“You shouldn't exist” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”
Since revealing he was gay in 2021, footballer the athlete has received daily death threats and abusive messages on online platforms.
“When I first saw these messages, I was devastated,” Cavallo explains. “Nobody should have to endure such words.
“I'm trying to get better as a player and be the best I can be during matches, and then face criticism due to my identity. It's disgusting.”
Midfielder the sportsman 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 National League North, the sixth tier of English football.
This young athlete balances his sports career for the semi-professional team by speaking up on inclusion matters and leveraging his platform - he has more than one million followers on Instagram - to promote fairness and inclusion.
“Definitely, we've got mountains to do,” Cavallo comments when asked if football still has a problem with homophobia.
“Rarely a week passes without hearing about an issue.”
‘Individuals wish to hurt me’
The player was raised in Melbourne
Several years passed for Cavallo to build up the bravery to say “I am homosexual” before coming out on 27 October 2021.
“All I want to do is compete in soccer and be treated equally,” he said in an accompanying video.
Cavallo was twenty-one and making a name for himself 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 didn't know what to expect,” he says. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I needed to move forward.”
The heartfelt revelation clip, entitled ‘Josh's Truth’, went viral on social media.
“My phone was flooded with messages of support. The response was incredible.”
A prominent club were one of many high-profile clubs 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 “the world of football is far behind and your actions drive progress”, while his former club released a comment supporting their “remarkable” and “brave” player.
Some people, however, were less welcoming.
Cavallo soon turned into a target of homophobic abuse by rival supporters.
During early 2022 Melbourne Victory were penalized five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from spectators aimed toward Cavallo during a match.
“The comments I encountered were painful and disparaging towards LGBTQ people,” he says.
“I remained calm because I knew that would only feed the haters.”
There was a frightening incident at a gas station in Australia, where Cavallo was assaulted by someone who recognised him from the media attention.
“That was a scary moment,” he recalls. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is real - individuals intend to hurt me’.
“Is it acceptable? Definitely not. But by coming out, these are the consequences.
“I hope that the next person who comes out while competing in soccer at a professional standard won't face the journey I have endured.”
The player says the daily death threats and abusive messages have affected his mental health.
“It's disappointing because I must justify why I deserve a place on the soccer pitch for my identity,” he says.
“Heterosexual players aren't questioned and ask ‘what gives you the right in football?’.
“A lot of people see me as a smiling, optimistic person. But sometimes when I rely on my partner, Leighton, and he gets to see a lot that happens privately.”
‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’
Cavallo's decision to reveal his sexuality helped inspire teenage attacking player Jake Daniels to announce he was gay as the Britain's sole publicly out active male professional footballer in May 2022.
However, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the top English division.
“It would move mountains,” says the footballer on the effect a Premier League player coming out would have.
“But I must be honest. There are a lot of scary things that would come this person's way. In the world of football, identifying as LGBTQ is a very toxic place.”
Over two decades after a pioneering player - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - died by suicide in 1998, Cavallo has spoken about the “toxic masculinity” that persists in professional soccer.
“You just need to go to a game and observe the unfriendly atmosphere and masculinity that the crowd brings,” he says.
“There is still a lot of work to make sure there is a safe space in football for people like myself and Jake.
“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 taking out the toxic masculinity in soccer locker rooms and creating a safe space.”
‘I'm here to create change’
The athlete was awarded an honorary degree from Flinders University in his former city in 2022, recognising his contributions as a inspirational figure in sport and a champion for equality
The player says football has enabled discussions inside dressing rooms about coming out.
Yet, he is critical of Fifa, after Qatar, where same-sex relationships are against the law, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.
Future World Cup is scheduled in another Gulf state, where homosexuality is also illegal.
“Am I impressed that the global championship is in countries that criminalise same-sex marriages, where individuals like myself will be put in prison for just existing on that land? It's frightening,” says the athlete.
“I get messages [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I face imprisonment for my identity - can you help me?’.
“It's devastating that people are getting locked up for being who they are.
“Certain nations that are huge in terms of football and they reject LGBTQ+ people. These places that tend to target me.”
Nevertheless, Cavallo says he won't cease advocating.
“Football has enabled dialogue in the locker room. It lets me communicate and educate people who want to learn more.
“Not everyone is going to like you for your identity. But I've discovered support. I have found my community.
“My mission is to create change. That's what I'm here for.”