🔗 Share this article

“You don't belong on this earth” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Stop breathing.”

Since revealing he was gay in 2021, player the athlete has received daily death threats and hateful comments on online platforms.

“When I first saw these messages, it broke my heart,” the player states. “Nobody should have to endure such words.

“I'm trying to get better as a player and be the best I can be during matches, and then face criticism because of who I am. It's appalling.”

Player the sportsman was playing for Adelaide United back in 2020 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 play in front of crowds of about 400 in National League North, one level below of English football.

This young athlete combines playing for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by advocating for inclusion matters and using his profile - boasting over a million followers on social media - to champion equality and acceptance.

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

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

‘People want to harm me’

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 compete in soccer and receive fair treatment,” he stated in an related clip.

Cavallo was twenty-one and building his reputation at Adelaide United in the premier division when, backed by his colleagues, he publicly came out.

“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, titled ‘Josh's Truth’, went viral on social media.

“My mobile phone exploded with encouraging words. It was overwhelming.”

A prominent club were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to express support for Cavallo, with the coach at the time Jurgen Klopp saying: “I appreciate that he did it because it sparks conversation.”

Spanish player Gerard Pique also offered support, posting online that “the world of football is lagging behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United released a comment supporting their “extraordinary” and “courageous” player.

Others, however, were not so accepting.

Cavallo soon turned into a target of homophobic abuse by opposition fans.

In January 2022 Melbourne Victory were penalized A$5,000 over discriminatory chants from spectators aimed toward Cavallo during a game.

“The things I'd hear were painful and derogatory towards my community,” he says.

“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”

A scary event occurred at a gas station in Australia, where Cavallo was physically attacked by an individual who identified him from the coverage.

“That was a scary moment,” he remembers. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is happening - 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 won't face the journey I have experienced.”

Cavallo says the constant menacing messages and hostile communications have taken a toll on his mental health.

“It's disappointing because I am having to explain why I belong on the soccer pitch for being who I am,” he states.

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

“A lot of people see me as a smiling, positive person. But there are days when I lean on my fiance, Leighton, and he witnesses much of what occurs privately.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

The player's choice to disclose his orientation helped prompt 17-year-old attacking player another athlete to come out as the Britain's sole publicly out active male professional footballer in May 2022.

Nevertheless, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the top English division.

“It would move mountains,” comments the footballer on the effect a Premier League player coming out 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 Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, the current athlete has discussed the “toxic masculinity” that persists in professional soccer.

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

“There is still a lot of work to make sure there is a safe space in football for individuals like me and Jake.

“Progress has been limited (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as much as we would like.

“My role is to continue advocating for principles I believe in, and strive for taking out the harmful male norms in football changing rooms and creating a safe space.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

The player says football has allowed him to have conversations within team environments about coming out.

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

The 2034 tournament is scheduled in another Gulf state, where same-sex attraction is also illegal.

“Do I approve that the World Cup is in countries that criminalise same-sex marriages, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for just existing on that land? It's scary,” says Cavallo.

“I receive communications [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I face imprisonment for my identity - can you help me?’.

“It's devastating that individuals are incarcerated for being who they are.

“There are countries that are significant soccer markets and they don't accept LGBTQ+ people. These places that tend to target me.”

Despite this, the footballer says he won't cease advocating.

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

“Some will disapprove for your identity. But I've discovered support. I've connected with similar people.

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