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

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

Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, player Josh Cavallo has received daily death threats and abusive messages on online platforms.

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

“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.”

Player Cavallo was playing for 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 sign with non-league Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in National League North, the sixth tier of English football.

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 social media - to promote fairness and acceptance.

“Absolutely, there's enormous work ahead,” 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’

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

“All I want to do is compete in soccer and receive fair treatment,” he stated in an accompanying video.

Cavallo was 21 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 had no expectations,” he says. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I needed to move forward.”

The heartfelt revelation clip, titled ‘His Personal Story’, went viral on social media.

“My phone was flooded with messages of support. The response was incredible.”

Liverpool were one of many high-profile clubs 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 did it because now we talk again.”

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique also expressed backing, writing on social media that “soccer culture is lagging behind and you are helping us move forward”, while Adelaide United released a comment backing their “extraordinary” and “brave” player.

Others, however, were less welcoming.

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

In January 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined A$5,000 over anti-gay abuse from fans 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 responding would encourage detractors.”

There was a frightening incident at a gas station in Australia, where Cavallo was assaulted by someone who recognised him from the coverage.

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

“Should this be tolerated? Absolutely not. But through my disclosure, these are the consequences.

“I hope that future individuals who comes out while playing football at a professional standard doesn't have to experience the path 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 deserve a place on the soccer pitch for being who I am,” he says.

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

“Many individuals see me as a smiling, positive person. But sometimes when I rely on my partner, his name, and he gets to see a lot that happens privately.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped inspire teenage Blackpool forward another athlete to come out as the UK's only openly gay active male professional footballer in spring 2022.

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

“It would create massive change,” 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. Within soccer culture, being an openly gay player 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, Cavallo has discussed the “harmful male culture” that persists in professional soccer.

“You just need to go to a match and observe the unfriendly atmosphere 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 people like myself and his colleague.

“We haven't seen it (more players coming out) as much as we would like.

“I can only keep pushing for what I think is right, and work towards eliminating the harmful male norms in soccer locker rooms and creating a safe space.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

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

Yet, he is disapproving toward soccer's global governing body, after the Middle Eastern nation, where same-sex relationships are against the law, staged the global tournament in 2022.

The 2034 tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex attraction is similarly prohibited.

“Am I impressed that the global championship is in nations that criminalise same-sex marriages, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for merely living 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.

“Certain nations that are significant soccer markets and they don't accept the queer community. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”

Despite this, the footballer says he will not stop speaking up.

“Soccer has enabled dialogue in the locker room. It lets me communicate and educate people who seek understanding.

“Not everyone is going to like you for who you are. But I have found my family. I've connected with similar people.

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