“There's still so much to accomplish” - the athlete on homophobia in soccer
“You don't belong on this earth” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”
Since revealing he was gay in 2021, player Josh Cavallo has received daily death threats and hateful comments 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 reach my full potential on the pitch, and then face criticism because of who I am. It's disgusting.”
Midfielder Cavallo was playing for Adelaide United back in 2020 when he became the only openly gay elite soccer player in the world.
This summer he departed from Australia to sign with non-league Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in National League North, the sixth tier of the English soccer system.
This young athlete balances his sports career for the semi-professional team by advocating for LGBTQ+ issues and using his profile - he has more than one million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and acceptance.
“Absolutely, there's enormous work ahead,” Cavallo says when asked if football still has a problem with homophobia.
“I don't go more than a week without hearing about an issue.”
The player was raised in Melbourne
It took years for the athlete to build up the bravery to say “I am homosexual” before coming out on 27 October 2021.
“All I want to do is play football and receive fair treatment,” he said in an accompanying video.
Cavallo was 21 and making a name for himself at his Australian club in the premier division when, with the support of his team-mates, he announced his orientation publicly.
“The future was uncertain. I didn't know what to expect,” he says. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”
His emotional coming out video, titled ‘His Personal Story’, went viral on social media.
“My mobile phone exploded with messages of support. 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 did it because it sparks conversation.”
Spanish player the athlete also expressed backing, writing on social media that “the world of football is lagging behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United issued a statement supporting their “remarkable” and “courageous” player.
Some people, however, were not so accepting.
Cavallo quickly became a subject to homophobic abuse by rival supporters.
In January 2022 a competing team were penalized five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from spectators directed at Cavallo during a match.
“The things I'd hear were hurtful and derogatory towards my community,” he explains.
“I didn't react because responding would encourage detractors.”
There was a frightening incident at a petrol station in Australia, where Cavallo was assaulted by someone who recognised him from the coverage.
“It was terrifying,” he recalls. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is happening - people want to harm me’.
“Should this be tolerated? Absolutely not. But through my disclosure, this is what it brings.
“I hope that the next person who reveals their orientation while playing football at a professional standard doesn't have to experience the path I have experienced.”
The player says the daily death threats and hostile communications have taken a toll on his psychological well-being.
“It's disappointing because I must justify why I deserve a place on the soccer pitch for being who I am,” 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 there are days when I rely on my partner, his name, and he gets to see a lot that happens behind the scenes.”
The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped prompt teenage attacking player another athlete to announce he was gay as the Britain's sole publicly out active male professional footballer in spring 2022.
Nevertheless, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the top English division.
“It would move mountains,” says Cavallo on the effect a elite athlete coming out would have.
“But I must be honest. Numerous frightening aspects that would await this individual. Within soccer culture, identifying as LGBTQ is a very toxic place.”
Over two decades after Justin Fashanu - the UK's initial out soccer professional - died by suicide in 1998, Cavallo has spoken about the “toxic masculinity” that persists in men's football.
“You just need to go to a game and see the unfriendly atmosphere and masculinity that the audience creates,” he says.
“There is still a lot of work to make sure there is a secure environment in football for people like myself and Jake.
“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 eliminating the toxic masculinity in soccer locker rooms and establishing secure environments.”
The athlete was awarded an honorary degree from an academic institution in his former city in 2022, recognising his contributions as a inspirational figure in athletics and a advocate for fairness
Cavallo says soccer has enabled discussions within team environments about revealing one's orientation.
Yet, he is critical of Fifa, after Qatar, where same-sex relationships are illegal, staged the global tournament in 2022.
Future World Cup is scheduled in another Gulf state, where same-sex attraction is similarly prohibited.
“Am I impressed that the World Cup is in nations that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for merely living on their territory? It's frightening,” states Cavallo.
“I receive communications [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I face imprisonment for my identity - can you help me?’.
“It breaks my heart that people are getting locked up for being who they are.
“There are countries that are significant soccer markets and they reject LGBTQ+ people. 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 inform individuals who want to learn more.
“Some will disapprove for who you are. But I have found my family. I have found my community.
“My purpose is to drive progress. That's my objective.”
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