Identifying as LGBTQ+ in Men's Football: A Toxic Environment
“We've got mountains to do” - Cavallo on anti-gay prejudice in soccer
“You shouldn't exist” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Stop breathing.”
Since revealing he was gay in 2021, footballer Josh Cavallo has faced constant threats and abusive messages on social media.
“When I first saw these messages, it broke my heart,” 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 because of who I am. It's appalling.”
Midfielder the sportsman was at Adelaide United four years ago when he became the only openly gay elite soccer player in the world.
This summer he departed from Australia to join non-league Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in the sixth division, one level below of the English soccer system.
This young athlete balances his sports career for the semi-professional team by speaking up on LGBTQ+ issues and leveraging his platform - he has more than one million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and acceptance.
“Absolutely, we've got mountains to do,” Cavallo says when questioned about ongoing issues with homophobia.
“I don't go more than a week without encountering problems.”
‘Individuals wish to hurt me’
The player was raised in Melbourne
It took years for Cavallo to work up the courage to say “I'm gay” before coming out on 27 October 2021.
“My only desire is compete in soccer and be treated equally,” he stated in an accompanying video.
Cavallo was 21 and making a name for himself at his Australian club in Australia's top flight when, backed by his colleagues, he publicly came out.
“I didn't know what was ahead. I had no expectations,” he recalls. “It felt like the right time in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”
The heartfelt revelation clip, entitled ‘Josh's Truth’, gained massive attention on social media.
“My phone was flooded with encouraging words. It was overwhelming.”
A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to express support for the player, with then manager the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he did it because it sparks conversation.”
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique also expressed backing, writing on social media that “soccer culture is lagging behind and you are helping us move forward”, while his former club issued a statement backing their “remarkable” and “courageous” player.
Others, however, were less welcoming.
Cavallo quickly became a target of anti-gay remarks by opposition fans.
In January 2022 a competing team were fined five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from fans directed at the player during a game.
“The comments I encountered were hurtful and disparaging towards LGBTQ people,” he explains.
“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”
A scary event occurred at a petrol station in Australia, where the athlete was assaulted by an individual who identified him from the coverage.
“That was a scary moment,” he recalls. “I remember thinking ‘this is happening - people want to harm me’.
“Should this be tolerated? Definitely not. But by coming out, these are the consequences.
“I hope that future individuals who comes out while playing football at a professional standard won't face the journey I have experienced.”
The player says the daily death threats and hostile communications have affected his psychological well-being.
“It's quite sad because I am having to explain why I belong 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, optimistic person. But sometimes when I lean on my fiance, Leighton, 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 disclose his orientation helped inspire 17-year-old attacking player another athlete to announce he was gay as the UK's only openly gay active male professional footballer in May 2022.
Nevertheless, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the Premier League.
“It would create massive change,” comments the footballer on the impact a Premier League player coming out would make.
“But I must be honest. There are a lot of scary things that would come this person's way. Within soccer culture, identifying as LGBTQ is a highly hostile environment.”
Over two decades after a pioneering player - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, Cavallo has spoken about the “toxic masculinity” that still exists in men's football.
“Simply attend to a game and see the hostile environment and male-dominated culture that the audience creates,” he explains.
“Much remains to be done to ensure there is a secure environment 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 what I think is right, and work towards taking out the harmful male norms in football changing rooms and establishing secure environments.”
‘My mission is to drive progress’
Cavallo received an honorary doctorate from an academic institution in Adelaide in 2022, recognising his contributions as a role model in sport and a advocate for fairness
Cavallo says football has allowed him to have conversations within team environments about coming out.
However, he is critical of soccer's global governing body, after Qatar, where same-sex relationships are illegal, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.
The 2034 tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is also illegal.
“Am I impressed that the World Cup is in nations that criminalise same-sex marriages, where individuals like myself will be put in prison for merely living on that land? It's frightening,” says Cavallo.
“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. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”
Nevertheless, the footballer says he won't cease advocating.
“Football has allowed me to start conversations in the changing room. It has allowed me to speak and educate people who seek understanding.
“Some will disapprove for your identity. But I've discovered support. I have found my community.
“My purpose is to create change. That's what I'm here for.”
