🔗 Share this article

“You shouldn't exist” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Stop breathing.”

After announcing he was gay in 2021, player Josh Cavallo has faced constant threats and hateful comments on social media.

“When I first saw these messages, it broke my heart,” the player states. “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 face criticism due to my identity. It's appalling.”

Player Cavallo was at Adelaide United back in 2020 when he emerged as the sole publicly out top-flight male professional footballer in the world.

Recently he left Australia to sign with non-league Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in the sixth division, one level below 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 champion equality and inclusion.

“Absolutely, there's enormous work ahead,” Cavallo comments when questioned about ongoing issues with discrimination.

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

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

It took years for Cavallo to build up the bravery to say “I'm gay” before coming out on October 27th, 2021.

“My only desire is play football and be treated equally,” he stated in an related clip.

The player 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 announced his orientation publicly.

“I didn't know what was ahead. I didn't know what to expect,” he recalls. “It felt like the right time in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”

His emotional coming out video, entitled ‘His Personal Story’, went viral on social media.

“My mobile phone exploded 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 Jurgen Klopp saying: “I appreciate that he took this step because it sparks conversation.”

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique also expressed backing, writing on social media that “soccer culture is far behind and you are helping us move forward”, while his former club released a comment supporting their “remarkable” and “brave” player.

Others, however, were less welcoming.

The footballer quickly became a target of anti-gay remarks by opposition fans.

During early 2022 a competing team were fined five thousand dollars over anti-gay abuse from fans aimed toward the player during a game.

“The things I'd hear were hurtful and disparaging towards my community,” he explains.

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

A scary event occurred at a gas station in Australia, where Cavallo was assaulted by someone who recognised him from the media attention.

“That was a scary moment,” he remembers. “I remember thinking ‘this is happening - people want to harm me’.

“Should this be tolerated? Definitely not. But by coming out, this is what it brings.

“I hope that the next person who comes out while playing football at a high level won't face the path I have endured.”

The player says the daily death threats and abusive messages 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 football field 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 sometimes when I rely on my partner, Leighton, and he gets to see a lot that happens privately.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

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

However, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the Premier League.

“It would move mountains,” comments the footballer on the effect a Premier League player revealing their orientation would have.

“But I must be honest. There are a lot of scary things that would come this person's way. In the world of football, identifying as LGBTQ is a very toxic place.”

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 game and observe the unfriendly atmosphere and masculinity that the crowd brings,” 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 (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as frequently as desired.

“My role is to continue advocating for what I think is right, and work towards taking out the toxic masculinity in football changing rooms and creating a safe space.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

The player says soccer has enabled discussions within team environments about revealing one's orientation.

However, he is disapproving toward Fifa, after the Middle Eastern nation, where same-sex relationships are against the law, staged the global tournament in 2022.

Future World Cup is scheduled in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is also illegal.

“Do I approve that the World Cup is in countries that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be put in prison for just existing on their territory? It's frightening,” states the athlete.

“I receive communications [from people living in these countries] 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 their true selves.

“Certain nations that are significant soccer markets and they don't accept the queer community. These places that tend to target me.”

Despite this, Cavallo says he won't cease advocating.

“Soccer has allowed me to start conversations in the locker room. It lets me communicate and educate people who seek understanding.

“Not everyone is going to like you 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.”