Being Gay in Men's Football: A Toxic Environment

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

After announcing his homosexuality in 2021, player the athlete has received daily death threats and hateful comments on social media.

“Upon reading those comments, it broke my heart,” Cavallo states. “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 get put down due to my identity. It's disgusting.”

Player the sportsman was at Adelaide United four years ago when he became the only openly gay top-flight male professional footballer in the world.

Recently he left 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 the English soccer system.

This young athlete combines playing for the semi-professional team by advocating for LGBTQ+ issues and using his profile - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to promote fairness and acceptance.

“Definitely, we've got mountains to do,” the footballer comments when asked if football still has a problem with homophobia.

“I don't go more than a week without encountering problems.”

‘People want to harm me’

Several years passed for Cavallo to work up the courage to say “I am homosexual” before coming out on 27 October 2021.

“My only desire is compete in soccer and receive fair treatment,” he said in an related clip.

The player was 21 and making a name for himself at his Australian club in Australia's top flight when, with the support of his team-mates, he publicly came out.

“The future was uncertain. I didn't know what to expect,” he recalls. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I needed to move forward.”

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

“My phone was flooded with encouraging words. It was overwhelming.”

A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to show solidarity with Cavallo, with then manager Jurgen Klopp saying: “I'm really thankful that he did it because now we talk again.”

Barcelona defender the athlete also expressed backing, writing on social media that “the world of football is lagging behind and your actions drive progress”, while his former club released a comment backing their “extraordinary” and “brave” player.

Others, however, were less welcoming.

The footballer soon turned into a target of anti-gay remarks by rival supporters.

During early 2022 Melbourne Victory were penalized A$5,000 over discriminatory chants from fans aimed toward Cavallo during a match.

“The comments I encountered were painful and derogatory towards my community,” he says.

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

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

“That was a scary moment,” he recalls. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is happening - people want to harm me’.

“Is it acceptable? Definitely not. But by coming out, these are the consequences.

“My wish is that the next person who comes out while competing in soccer at a professional standard doesn't have to experience the path I have experienced.”

Cavallo says the daily death threats 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 football field for being who I am,” he says.

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

“A lot of people see me as a cheerful, positive person. But sometimes when I lean on my fiance, Leighton, and he gets to see much of what occurs behind the scenes.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped prompt 17-year-old attacking player another athlete to announce he was gay as the UK's only openly gay playing soccer professional in spring 2022.

Nevertheless, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the Premier League.

“It would create massive change,” comments Cavallo on the effect a elite athlete revealing their orientation would make.

“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. Numerous frightening aspects that would await this individual. In the world of football, identifying as LGBTQ is a very toxic place.”

Twenty-seven years after a pioneering player - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - died by suicide in 1998, the current athlete has discussed the “toxic masculinity” that persists in men's football.

“You just need to go to a match and observe the unfriendly atmosphere and masculinity that the audience creates,” he says.

“Much remains to be done to make sure there is a secure environment in football for people like myself and Jake.

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

“My role is to continue advocating for principles I believe in, and strive for taking out the toxic masculinity in football changing rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘I'm here to create change’

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

Yet, he is disapproving toward Fifa, after the Middle Eastern nation, where homosexual partnerships are against the law, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.

Future World Cup is scheduled in another Gulf state, where same-sex attraction is similarly prohibited.

“Do I approve that the global championship is in countries that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for just existing on their territory? It's scary,” states Cavallo.

“I receive communications [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for my identity - can you help me?’.

“It's devastating that people are getting locked up for their true selves.

“Certain nations that are huge in terms of football and they reject LGBTQ+ people. Those are the countries that tend to target me.”

Nevertheless, Cavallo says he will not stop speaking up.

“Soccer has allowed me to start conversations in the locker room. It lets me communicate and inform individuals who want to learn more.

“Not everyone is going to like you for your identity. But I've discovered support. I have found my community.

“My purpose is to drive progress. That's my objective.”