Being Gay in Professional Soccer: 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” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Stop breathing.”
Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, player the athlete has faced constant 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 reach my full potential during matches, and then face criticism due to my identity. It's disgusting.”
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 lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in National League North, the sixth tier of English football.
This young athlete combines playing for the semi-professional team by speaking up on inclusion matters and using his profile - he has more than one million followers on social media - to promote fairness and inclusion.
“Definitely, there's enormous work ahead,” Cavallo says when asked if football still has a problem with discrimination.
“Rarely a week passes without hearing about an issue.”
‘People want to harm me’
The player was raised in Melbourne
Several years passed for Cavallo to build up the bravery to say “I am homosexual” before revealing his sexuality on 27 October 2021.
“My only desire is compete in soccer and be treated equally,” he said in an accompanying video.
Cavallo was 21 and making a name for himself at Adelaide United 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 had no expectations,” he recalls. “It felt like the right time in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”
The heartfelt revelation clip, titled ‘His Personal Story’, went viral on social media.
“My phone was flooded with encouraging words. The response was incredible.”
A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to show solidarity with the player, with the coach at the time Jurgen Klopp saying: “I'm really thankful that he took this step 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 his former club released a comment backing their “extraordinary” and “courageous” player.
Others, however, were not so accepting.
Cavallo soon turned into a subject to homophobic abuse by opposition fans.
In January 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined five thousand dollars over anti-gay abuse from spectators aimed toward Cavallo during a game.
“The things I'd hear were painful and disparaging towards my community,” he says.
“I didn't react because I knew that would only feed the haters.”
There was a frightening incident at a petrol station in Australia, where the athlete was assaulted by someone who recognised him from the media attention.
“That was a scary moment,” he recalls. “I remember thinking ‘this is real - people want to harm me’.
“Is it acceptable? Definitely not. But through my disclosure, these are the consequences.
“My wish is that the next person who comes out while playing football at a professional standard won't face the path I have experienced.”
Cavallo says the constant menacing messages and hostile communications have affected his mental health.
“It's disappointing because I must justify why I belong on the football field for being who I am,” he says.
“Heterosexual players aren't questioned and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.
“Many individuals see me as a cheerful, optimistic person. But sometimes when I lean on my fiance, his name, and he witnesses a lot that happens privately.”
‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’
The player's choice to disclose his orientation helped prompt teenage attacking player another athlete to announce he was gay as the UK's only openly gay active male professional footballer in May 2022.
Nevertheless, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the Premier League.
“It would create massive change,” comments Cavallo on the impact a elite athlete revealing their orientation would have.
“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. There are a lot of scary things that would await this individual. In the world of football, being an openly gay player is a very toxic place.”
Twenty-seven years after a pioneering player - the UK's initial out soccer professional - died by suicide in 1998, Cavallo has spoken about the “toxic masculinity” that still exists in professional soccer.
“You just need to go to a match and observe the hostile environment and male-dominated culture that the audience creates,” he says.
“Much remains to be done to make sure there is a safe space in soccer for people like myself and Jake.
“Progress has been limited (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as frequently as desired.
“My role is to continue advocating for principles I believe in, and work towards taking out the toxic masculinity in football changing rooms and establishing secure environments.”
‘My mission is to drive progress’
Cavallo received an honorary doctorate from an academic institution in his former city in 2022, honoring his efforts as a role model in athletics and a champion for equality
Cavallo says soccer 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 against the law, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.
Future World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.
“Am I impressed that the World Cup is in nations that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be put in prison for merely living on their territory? It's scary,” says the athlete.
“I get messages [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I face imprisonment for my identity - is assistance possible?’.
“It breaks my heart that people are getting locked up for being who they are.
“Certain nations that are significant soccer markets and they reject the queer community. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”
Despite this, Cavallo says he will not stop speaking up.
“Soccer has allowed me to start conversations in the locker room. It has allowed me to speak and educate people who want to learn more.
“Some will disapprove for your identity. But I've discovered support. I've connected with similar people.
“My mission is to create change. That's what I'm here for.”
