Being Gay in Professional Soccer: An Unwelcoming Atmosphere
“We've got mountains to do” - the athlete on anti-gay prejudice in soccer
“You don't belong on this earth” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”
After announcing he was gay in 2021, footballer Josh Cavallo has received daily death threats and hateful comments on social media.
“Upon reading those comments, it broke my heart,” Cavallo explains. “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 face criticism due to my identity. It's disgusting.”
Player the sportsman was playing for Adelaide United back in 2020 when he emerged as the sole publicly out elite soccer player in the world.
This summer he left Australia to join non-league Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in the sixth division, the sixth tier of English football.
The 25-year-old combines playing for the semi-professional team by speaking up on LGBTQ+ issues and using his profile - he has more than one million followers on Instagram - to promote fairness and inclusion.
“Absolutely, there's enormous work ahead,” the footballer comments when asked if football still has a problem with discrimination.
“Rarely a week passes without encountering problems.”
‘Individuals wish to hurt me’
The player was raised in Melbourne
It took years for Cavallo to build up the bravery 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 related clip.
Cavallo was 21 and building his reputation 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 had no expectations,” he says. “It felt like the right time in my life. I needed to move forward.”
His emotional coming out video, titled ‘Josh's Truth’, went viral on social media.
“My phone was flooded with encouraging words. The response was incredible.”
Liverpool were among numerous famous teams around the world to express support for the player, with the coach at the time Jurgen Klopp saying: “I appreciate that he took this step because it sparks conversation.”
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique also expressed backing, posting online that “the world of football is far behind and you are helping us move forward”, while Adelaide United released a comment backing their “extraordinary” and “brave” player.
Some people, however, were less welcoming.
Cavallo soon turned into a subject to homophobic abuse by rival supporters.
In January 2022 a competing team were fined five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from spectators aimed toward Cavallo during a match.
“The things I'd hear were hurtful 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 an individual who identified him from the media attention.
“It was terrifying,” he remembers. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is happening - individuals intend to hurt me’.
“Is it acceptable? Absolutely not. But through my disclosure, this is what it brings.
“My wish is that future individuals who reveals their orientation while competing in soccer at a high level won't face the journey I have endured.”
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 deserve a place on the soccer pitch 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 smiling, positive person. But sometimes 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’
The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped prompt teenage attacking player another athlete to come out as the Britain's sole publicly out active male professional footballer in spring 2022.
Nevertheless, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the top English division.
“It would move mountains,” says the footballer on the impact a elite athlete 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.”
Twenty-seven years after Justin Fashanu - the UK's initial out soccer professional - took his own life in 1998, Cavallo has discussed the “toxic masculinity” that still exists in professional soccer.
“You just need to go to a match and observe the unfriendly atmosphere and masculinity that the crowd brings,” he explains.
“There is still a lot of work to make sure there is a secure environment in football for individuals like me and his colleague.
“We haven't seen it (more players coming out) 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.”
‘My mission is to drive progress’
Cavallo received an honorary doctorate from an academic institution in his former city in 2022, recognising his contributions as a inspirational figure in sport and a advocate for fairness
The player says soccer has enabled discussions inside dressing rooms about revealing one's orientation.
However, he is disapproving toward Fifa, after Qatar, where same-sex relationships are illegal, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.
Future World Cup will be held in another Gulf state, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.
“Do I approve that the global championship is in countries that ban gay unions, where people like me will be put in prison for just existing on their territory? It's frightening,” states Cavallo.
“I get messages [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for being who I am - can you help me?’.
“It breaks my heart that individuals are incarcerated for their true selves.
“Certain nations that are significant soccer markets and they don't accept the queer community. These places that often focus on me.”
Despite this, the footballer says he won't cease advocating.
“Soccer has enabled dialogue in the locker room. It has allowed me to speak and educate people who want to learn more.
“Not everyone is going to like you for your identity. But I've discovered support. I've connected with similar people.
“My purpose is to drive progress. That's what I'm here for.”
