Identifying as LGBTQ+ in Professional Soccer: A Toxic Environment
“We've got mountains to do” - the athlete on anti-gay prejudice in football
“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 faced constant threats and hateful comments on online platforms.
“Upon reading those comments, it broke my heart,” Cavallo states. “Nobody should have to endure such words.
“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 appalling.”
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 lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in National League North, one level below of English football.
The 25-year-old combines playing for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by speaking up on LGBTQ+ issues and leveraging his platform - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and acceptance.
“Definitely, we've got mountains to do,” Cavallo says when questioned about ongoing issues with discrimination.
“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 build up the bravery to say “I am homosexual” before revealing his sexuality on 27 October 2021.
“All I want to do is compete in soccer and receive fair treatment,” he stated in an accompanying video.
Cavallo was 21 and making a name for himself at Adelaide United in Australia's top flight when, backed by his colleagues, he publicly came out.
“The future was uncertain. I didn't know what to expect,” he says. “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 messages of support. It was overwhelming.”
A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to express support for Cavallo, with the coach at the time the German manager saying: “I appreciate that he took this step because it sparks conversation.”
Spanish player the athlete also offered support, writing on social media that “soccer culture 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 quickly became a target of homophobic abuse by opposition fans.
During early 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from fans aimed toward the player during a match.
“The things I'd hear were painful and disparaging towards LGBTQ people,” he explains.
“I didn't react because I knew that would only feed the haters.”
A scary event occurred at a petrol station in Australia, where the athlete was assaulted by an individual who identified him from the media attention.
“It was terrifying,” he recalls. “I remember thinking ‘this is happening - people want to harm me’.
“Should this be tolerated? Absolutely not. But by coming out, this is what it brings.
“My wish is that future individuals who reveals their orientation while competing in soccer at a high level doesn't have to experience the journey I have endured.”
The player says the daily death threats and hostile communications have taken a toll on his mental health.
“It's disappointing because I must justify why I belong on the football field for my identity,” he states.
“Heterosexual players aren't questioned and ask ‘what gives you the right in football?’.
“A lot of people see me as a smiling, positive person. But sometimes when I rely on my partner, Leighton, and he gets to see much of what occurs privately.”
‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’
Cavallo's decision to reveal his sexuality helped prompt 17-year-old attacking player Jake Daniels to announce he was gay 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 Premier League.
“It would move mountains,” says the footballer on the impact a elite athlete revealing their orientation would have.
“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. There are a lot of scary things that would await this individual. Within soccer culture, being an openly gay player is a highly hostile environment.”
Twenty-seven years after Justin Fashanu - the UK's initial out soccer professional - died by suicide in 1998, the current athlete has discussed the “toxic masculinity” that persists in men's football.
“Simply attend to a match and observe the hostile environment and male-dominated culture that the audience creates,” he says.
“Much remains to be done to ensure there is a secure environment in football 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 taking out the harmful male norms in football changing rooms and establishing secure environments.”
‘I'm here to create change’
The athlete was awarded an honorary degree from an academic institution in his former city in 2022, recognising his contributions as a role model in sport and a advocate for fairness
Cavallo says soccer has allowed him to have conversations within team environments about coming out.
Yet, he is disapproving toward 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.
Future World Cup will be held in another Gulf state, where homosexuality is also illegal.
“Am I impressed that the World Cup is in countries that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for just existing on that land? It's scary,” says the athlete.
“I receive communications [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I face imprisonment for my identity - can you help me?’.
“It breaks my heart that individuals are incarcerated for their true selves.
“There are countries that are huge in terms of football and they don't accept LGBTQ+ people. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”
Nevertheless, Cavallo says he will not stop speaking up.
“Soccer has allowed me to start conversations in the changing 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've discovered support. I've connected with similar people.
“My purpose is to create change. That's my objective.”
