“We've got mountains to do” - the athlete on anti-gay prejudice in soccer
“You shouldn't exist” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”
Since revealing he was gay in 2021, player the athlete has faced constant threats and hateful comments on social media.
“Upon reading those comments, I was devastated,” Cavallo explains. “No-one wants to read things like that.
“I'm working to improve my skills and reach my full potential on the pitch, and then face criticism due to my identity. It's appalling.”
Player the sportsman was at Adelaide United four years ago when he emerged as the sole publicly out elite soccer player in the world.
Recently he departed from Australia to join non-league Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in the sixth division, the sixth tier of the English soccer system.
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 social media - to promote fairness and inclusion.
“Absolutely, we've got mountains to do,” Cavallo comments when asked if football still has a problem with homophobia.
“Rarely a week passes without hearing about an issue.”
‘People want to harm me’
Josh Cavallo grew up in Melbourne
It took years for Cavallo to build up the bravery to say “I'm gay” before revealing his sexuality on 27 October 2021.
“All I want to do is play football and receive fair treatment,” he said in an accompanying video.
Cavallo was twenty-one and building his reputation at his Australian club in the premier division when, backed by his colleagues, he publicly came out.
“The future was uncertain. I didn't know what to expect,” he says. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I needed to move forward.”
His emotional coming out video, titled ‘His Personal Story’, gained massive attention on social media.
“My phone was flooded with messages of support. It was overwhelming.”
Liverpool were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to express support for the player, with the coach at the time the German manager saying: “I appreciate that he did it because now we talk again.”
Spanish player Gerard Pique also offered support, writing on social media that “the world of football is far behind and you are helping us move forward”, while Adelaide United released a comment backing their “remarkable” and “brave” player.
Some people, however, were not so accepting.
The footballer quickly became a subject to homophobic abuse by opposition fans.
During early 2022 Melbourne Victory were penalized A$5,000 over discriminatory chants from spectators aimed toward the player during a match.
“The things I'd hear were painful and disparaging towards LGBTQ people,” he says.
“I remained calm because I knew that would only feed the haters.”
A scary event occurred at a gas station in Australia, where the athlete was physically attacked by an individual who identified him from the media attention.
“That was a scary moment,” he remembers. “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 future individuals who reveals their orientation while competing in soccer at a high level doesn't have to experience the journey I have endured.”
Cavallo says the constant menacing messages and hostile communications have taken a toll on his psychological well-being.
“It's disappointing because I am having to explain why I deserve a place on the soccer pitch for being who I am,” he says.
“Heterosexual players aren't questioned and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.
“A lot of people see me as a smiling, positive 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.”
‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’
Cavallo's decision to reveal his sexuality helped prompt teenage Blackpool forward Jake Daniels to announce he was gay as the Britain's sole publicly out playing soccer professional 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 Premier League player revealing their orientation would make.
“But I must be honest. There are a lot of scary things that would await this individual. In the world of football, identifying as LGBTQ is a very toxic place.”
Over two decades after Justin Fashanu - the UK's initial out soccer professional - took his own life in 1998, Cavallo has spoken about the “toxic masculinity” that still exists in professional soccer.
“Simply attend to a match and observe the hostile environment and male-dominated culture that the crowd brings,” he explains.
“There is still a lot of work to make sure 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 toxic masculinity in football changing rooms and creating a safe space.”
‘My mission is to drive progress’
The athlete was awarded an honorary degree from Flinders University in his former city in 2022, honoring his efforts as a inspirational figure in sport and a advocate for fairness
The player says football has allowed him to have conversations within team environments about revealing one's orientation.
However, he is critical of Fifa, after the Middle Eastern nation, where homosexual partnerships are illegal, staged the global tournament in 2022.
Future World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is also illegal.
“Am I impressed that the global championship is in nations that criminalise same-sex marriages, where people like me will be imprisoned for just existing on their territory? It's frightening,” states the athlete.
“I get messages [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 being who they are.
“There are countries that are significant soccer markets and they reject LGBTQ+ people. These places that tend to target me.”
Nevertheless, the footballer says he will not stop speaking up.
“Football has allowed me to start conversations in the locker room. It has allowed me to speak and educate people who seek understanding.
“Some will disapprove for who you are. But I have found my family. I've connected with similar people.
“My mission is to create change. That's what I'm here for.”
