Being Gay in Men's Football: An Unwelcoming Atmosphere

“You shouldn't exist” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”

After announcing he was gay in 2021, player the athlete has received daily death threats and abusive messages on online platforms.

“Upon reading those comments, I was devastated,” the player states. “No-one wants to read things like that.

“I'm working to improve my skills and be the best I can be on the pitch, and then face criticism due to my identity. It's disgusting.”

Player Cavallo was at Adelaide United back in 2020 when he emerged as the sole publicly out 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 the English soccer system.

The 25-year-old combines playing for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by advocating for LGBTQ+ issues and using his profile - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and acceptance.

“Definitely, there's enormous work ahead,” Cavallo comments when asked if football still has a problem with discrimination.

“Rarely a week passes without hearing about an issue.”

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

Several years passed for the athlete to work up the courage to say “I am homosexual” before revealing his sexuality on 27 October 2021.

“All I want to do is compete in soccer and be treated equally,” he said in an related clip.

The player was 21 and building his reputation at Adelaide United in Australia's top flight when, with the support of his team-mates, he announced his orientation publicly.

“I didn't know what was ahead. I had no expectations,” he says. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I needed to move forward.”

His emotional coming out video, titled ‘Josh's Truth’, gained massive attention on social media.

“My mobile phone exploded with encouraging words. The response was incredible.”

Liverpool 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 took this step because it sparks conversation.”

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique also offered support, posting online that “the world of football is lagging behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United issued a statement backing their “extraordinary” and “courageous” player.

Some people, however, were not so accepting.

Cavallo quickly became a target of homophobic abuse by rival supporters.

In January 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined A$5,000 over discriminatory chants from spectators aimed toward Cavallo during a match.

“The comments I encountered were painful and disparaging towards LGBTQ people,” he explains.

“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”

A scary event occurred 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. “I remember thinking ‘this is happening - individuals intend to hurt me’.

“Is it acceptable? Absolutely not. But through my disclosure, these are the consequences.

“My wish is that future individuals who comes out while playing football at a high level doesn't have to experience the journey I have endured.”

Cavallo says the daily death threats and hostile communications have affected his mental health.

“It's quite sad because I must justify why I belong on the football field for my identity,” he says.

“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘what gives you the right in football?’.

“A lot of people see me as a cheerful, optimistic person. But sometimes when I rely on my partner, Leighton, and he gets to see much of what occurs behind the scenes.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

The player's choice to disclose his orientation helped prompt 17-year-old Blackpool forward another athlete to announce he was gay as the UK's only openly gay active male professional footballer in May 2022.

Nevertheless, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the Premier League.

“It would move mountains,” says Cavallo on the effect a Premier League player coming out would have.

“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. There are a lot of scary things that would come this person's way. Within soccer culture, identifying as LGBTQ is a very toxic place.”

Twenty-seven years after a pioneering player - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - 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 male-dominated culture that the crowd brings,” he says.

“Much remains to be done to ensure there is a safe space in football for people like myself and Jake.

“We haven't seen it (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as frequently as desired.

“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’

Cavallo says football has allowed him to have conversations within team environments about revealing one's orientation.

However, he is disapproving toward Fifa, after Qatar, where same-sex relationships are against the law, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.

The 2034 tournament will be held in another Gulf state, where same-sex attraction is also illegal.

“Do I approve that the global championship is in countries that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for just existing on that land? It's frightening,” says Cavallo.

“I get messages [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I face imprisonment for my identity - is assistance possible?’.

“It's devastating that individuals are incarcerated for their true selves.

“There are countries that are significant soccer markets and they reject the queer community. Those are the countries that tend to target me.”

Nevertheless, the footballer says he won't cease advocating.

“Football has enabled dialogue in the locker room. It lets me communicate and inform individuals who seek understanding.

“Some will disapprove for who you are. But I've discovered support. I have found my community.

“My purpose is to drive progress. That's what I'm here for.”