Identifying as LGBTQ+ in Men's Football: An Unwelcoming Atmosphere

“You don't belong on this earth” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”

Since revealing he was gay in 2021, footballer the athlete has faced constant threats and abusive messages on online platforms.

“When I first saw these messages, it broke my heart,” the player explains. “No-one wants to read things like that.

“I'm trying to get better as a player and reach my full potential during matches, and then get put down due to my identity. It's disgusting.”

Player the sportsman 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 departed from Australia to sign with non-league Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in National League North, one level below of English football.

This young athlete balances his sports career for the Cambridgeshire part-timers 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, there's enormous work ahead,” the footballer says when questioned about ongoing issues with homophobia.

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

‘People want to harm me’

It took years for the athlete to work up the courage to say “I am homosexual” 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 the premier division when, backed by his colleagues, 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 wanted to take the next step.”

His emotional coming out video, entitled ‘Josh's Truth’, went viral on digital platforms.

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

Liverpool were among numerous famous teams around the world to show solidarity with the player, with the coach at the time the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he took this step because now we talk again.”

Barcelona defender the athlete also expressed backing, posting online that “the world of football is far behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United issued a statement supporting their “remarkable” and “brave” player.

Some people, however, were less welcoming.

The footballer quickly became a target of anti-gay remarks by rival supporters.

In January 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined A$5,000 over discriminatory chants from fans aimed toward the player during a game.

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

“I didn't react because I knew that would only feed the haters.”

There was a frightening incident at a gas station in Australia, where Cavallo was physically attacked by an individual who identified him from the coverage.

“That was a scary moment,” he recalls. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is real - individuals intend to hurt me’.

“Is it acceptable? Absolutely not. But through my disclosure, this is what it brings.

“I hope that future individuals who comes out while playing football at a professional standard won't face the journey I have experienced.”

Cavallo says the constant menacing messages and abusive messages have affected his mental health.

“It's quite sad because I am having to explain why I belong on the football field for being who I am,” he states.

“Heterosexual players aren't questioned and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.

“Many individuals see me as a cheerful, optimistic person. But there are days when I rely on my partner, Leighton, and he witnesses a lot that happens behind the scenes.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

Cavallo's decision to disclose his orientation helped inspire 17-year-old Blackpool forward another athlete to announce he was gay as the UK's only openly gay active male professional footballer in spring 2022.

Nevertheless, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the Premier League.

“It would create massive change,” says the footballer on the impact a elite athlete revealing their orientation would make.

“But I must be honest. There are a lot of scary things that would await this individual. Within soccer culture, identifying as LGBTQ is a highly hostile environment.”

Twenty-seven years after a pioneering player - the UK's initial out soccer professional - took his own life in 1998, the current athlete has discussed the “harmful male culture” that persists in professional soccer.

“Simply attend to a match and see the hostile environment and male-dominated culture that the audience creates,” he says.

“There is still a lot of work to make sure there is a secure environment in soccer for individuals like me and Jake.

“Progress has been limited (more players coming out) as much as we would like.

“My role is to continue advocating for what I think is right, and strive for taking out the harmful male norms in soccer locker rooms and creating a safe space.”

‘I'm here to create change’

Cavallo says football has allowed him to have conversations inside dressing rooms about revealing one's orientation.

Yet, he is critical of Fifa, after the Middle Eastern nation, where homosexual partnerships are against the law, 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 global championship is in countries that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for merely living on that land? It's scary,” states the athlete.

“I get messages [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for my identity - is assistance possible?’.

“It's devastating that people are getting locked up for being who they are.

“There are countries that are significant soccer markets and they reject the queer community. These places that often focus on me.”

Nevertheless, Cavallo says he won't cease advocating.

“Soccer has enabled dialogue in the locker room. It has allowed me to speak and inform individuals who seek understanding.

“Some will disapprove for your identity. But I have found my family. I've connected with similar people.

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