Identifying as LGBTQ+ in Men's Football: A Toxic Environment

“You don't belong on this earth” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Stop breathing.”

Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, footballer the athlete has received daily death threats and hateful comments on online platforms.

“Upon reading those comments, it broke my heart,” Cavallo states. “No-one wants to read things like that.

“I'm trying to get better as a player and be the best I can be during matches, and then face criticism because of who I am. It's appalling.”

Player Cavallo was playing for Adelaide United four years ago when he emerged as the sole publicly out top-flight male professional footballer in the world.

This summer he left Australia to join lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in the sixth division, one level below of English football.

This young athlete combines playing for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by advocating for LGBTQ+ issues and using his profile - he has more than one million followers on social media - to promote fairness and acceptance.

“Definitely, we've got mountains to do,” the footballer comments 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’

It took years for Cavallo to work up the courage to say “I am homosexual” before coming out on October 27th, 2021.

“My only desire is play football and receive fair treatment,” he stated in an related clip.

Cavallo was twenty-one and making a name for himself at his Australian club in the premier division when, with the support of his team-mates, he publicly came out.

“I didn't know what was ahead. 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 ‘Josh's Truth’, gained massive attention on social media.

“My phone was flooded with encouraging words. It was overwhelming.”

A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to show solidarity with Cavallo, with then manager Jurgen Klopp saying: “I'm really thankful that he did it because now we talk again.”

Barcelona defender the athlete also expressed backing, writing on social media that “soccer culture is far behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United released a comment backing their “extraordinary” and “courageous” player.

Some people, however, were less welcoming.

Cavallo soon turned into a target of homophobic abuse by opposition fans.

During early 2022 Melbourne Victory were penalized five thousand dollars over anti-gay abuse from spectators aimed toward the player during a game.

“The comments I encountered were hurtful and derogatory 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 Cavallo was assaulted by someone who recognised him from the media attention.

“It was terrifying,” he remembers. “I remember thinking ‘this is happening - individuals intend to hurt me’.

“Should this be tolerated? Definitely not. But through my disclosure, this is what it brings.

“I hope that the next person who comes out while playing football at a professional standard doesn't have to experience the journey I have experienced.”

The player says the constant menacing messages and hostile communications have taken a toll on his psychological well-being.

“It's disappointing because I must justify why I belong 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?’.

“A lot of people see me as a smiling, optimistic person. But there are days when I lean on my fiance, Leighton, and he witnesses much of what occurs behind the scenes.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped prompt teenage attacking player Jake Daniels to announce he was gay as the Britain's sole publicly out active male professional footballer in May 2022.

Nevertheless, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the top English division.

“It would create massive change,” comments Cavallo on the effect a elite athlete coming out would make.

“But I must be honest. Numerous frightening aspects that would come this person's way. In the world of football, identifying as LGBTQ 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 spoken about the “harmful male culture” that still exists in men's football.

“Simply attend to a game and observe the hostile environment and masculinity that the audience creates,” he says.

“Much remains to be done to make sure there is a secure environment in football for individuals like me and his colleague.

“Progress has been limited (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 toxic masculinity in soccer locker rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘I'm here to create change’

Cavallo says soccer has allowed him to have conversations within team environments about coming out.

However, he is disapproving toward Fifa, after Qatar, where homosexual partnerships are illegal, 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.

“Am I impressed that the World Cup is in countries that ban gay unions, where people like me will be imprisoned for merely living on their territory? It's scary,” states Cavallo.

“I receive communications [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison 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 don't accept LGBTQ+ people. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”

Despite this, Cavallo says he will not stop speaking up.

“Soccer has enabled dialogue in the changing room. It lets me communicate and inform individuals who want to learn more.

“Some will disapprove for your identity. But I have found my family. I have found my community.

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