Being Gay in Men's Football: A Toxic Environment
“There's still so much to accomplish” - the athlete on anti-gay prejudice in soccer
“You don't belong on this earth” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”
After announcing he was gay in 2021, footballer the athlete has received daily death threats and hateful comments on social media.
“Upon reading those comments, it broke my heart,” Cavallo explains. “No-one wants to read things like that.
“I'm working to improve my skills and be the best I can be during matches, and then face criticism because of who I am. It's disgusting.”
Midfielder Cavallo 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 lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in National League North, one level below of English football.
This young athlete balances his sports career for the semi-professional team by speaking up on inclusion matters and leveraging his platform - boasting over a million followers on social media - to champion equality and acceptance.
“Definitely, we've got mountains to do,” the footballer says when questioned about ongoing issues with discrimination.
“Rarely a week passes without encountering problems.”
‘Individuals wish to hurt me’
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 related clip.
Cavallo was 21 and building his reputation 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. “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 phone was flooded with messages of support. The response was incredible.”
Liverpool were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to express support for Cavallo, with then manager Jurgen Klopp saying: “I appreciate that he took this step because it sparks conversation.”
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique also expressed backing, posting online that “soccer culture is lagging behind and you are helping us move forward”, while his former club issued a statement supporting their “remarkable” and “courageous” player.
Some people, however, were less welcoming.
Cavallo soon turned into a target of homophobic abuse by rival supporters.
In January 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined five thousand dollars over anti-gay abuse from spectators directed at the player during a game.
“The comments I encountered were hurtful and derogatory towards my community,” 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 an individual who identified him from the coverage.
“It was terrifying,” he remembers. “I remember thinking ‘this is happening - people want to harm me’.
“Should this be tolerated? Absolutely not. But by coming out, this is what it brings.
“My wish is that future individuals who reveals their orientation while competing in soccer at a high level won't face the path I have endured.”
Cavallo says the constant menacing messages and abusive messages have taken a toll on his psychological well-being.
“It's quite sad because I must justify why I belong on the football field for my identity,” he states.
“Heterosexual players aren't questioned and ask ‘what gives you the right in football?’.
“Many individuals see me as a cheerful, optimistic person. But sometimes when I rely on my partner, his name, and he witnesses much of what occurs behind the scenes.”
‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’
The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped prompt 17-year-old attacking player Jake Daniels to come out as the Britain's sole publicly out playing soccer professional in May 2022.
However, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the Premier League.
“It would create massive change,” comments Cavallo 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 await this individual. Within soccer culture, identifying as LGBTQ is a highly hostile environment.”
Twenty-seven years after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, the current athlete has discussed the “toxic masculinity” that still exists in men's football.
“Simply attend to a match and see the hostile environment and masculinity that the audience creates,” he says.
“There is still a lot of work to ensure there is a safe space in soccer for individuals like me 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 eliminating the harmful male norms in football changing rooms and creating a safe space.”
‘I'm here to create change’
Cavallo received an honorary doctorate from an academic institution in his former city in 2022, recognising his contributions as a inspirational figure in athletics and a champion for equality
The player says football has enabled discussions within team environments about revealing one's orientation.
However, he is disapproving toward soccer's global governing body, after the Middle Eastern nation, where same-sex relationships are against the law, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.
Future World Cup is scheduled in another Gulf state, where homosexuality is also illegal.
“Am I impressed that the World Cup is in nations that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for just existing on their territory? It's scary,” says the athlete.
“I receive communications [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I face imprisonment for being who I am - is assistance possible?’.
“It breaks my heart that individuals are incarcerated for their true selves.
“There are countries that are significant soccer markets and they reject LGBTQ+ people. Those are the countries that tend to target me.”
Despite this, Cavallo says he won't cease advocating.
“Soccer has enabled dialogue in the locker room. It lets me communicate and inform individuals who seek understanding.
“Not everyone is going to like you for who you are. But I've discovered support. I have found my community.
“My purpose is to drive progress. That's what I'm here for.”
