“We've got mountains to do” - Cavallo on anti-gay prejudice in soccer
“You shouldn't exist” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Stop breathing.”
Since revealing he was gay in 2021, footballer the athlete has faced constant threats and hateful comments on online platforms.
“When I first saw these messages, it broke my heart,” the player explains. “No-one wants to read things like that.
“I'm trying to get better as a player and reach my full potential on the pitch, and then get put down because of who I am. It's disgusting.”
Midfielder the sportsman was at Adelaide United back in 2020 when he became the only openly gay top-flight male professional footballer in the world.
This summer he left Australia to sign with lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in National League North, one level below of English football.
The 25-year-old combines playing for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by advocating for inclusion matters and using his profile - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and acceptance.
“Definitely, there's enormous work ahead,” the footballer says when asked if football still has a problem with discrimination.
“I don't go more than a week without hearing about an issue.”
‘Individuals wish to hurt me’
The player was raised in Melbourne
It took years for Cavallo to work up the courage to say “I am homosexual” before revealing his sexuality on 27 October 2021.
“All I want to do is compete in soccer and be treated equally,” he said in an related clip.
Cavallo was twenty-one and building his reputation at Adelaide United in Australia's top flight when, backed by his colleagues, he announced his orientation publicly.
“The future was uncertain. I had no expectations,” he says. “It felt like the right time in my life. I needed to move forward.”
The heartfelt revelation clip, entitled ‘Josh's Truth’, went viral on digital platforms.
“My mobile phone exploded with encouraging words. The response was incredible.”
Liverpool were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to show solidarity with the player, with the coach at the time the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he took this step because now we talk again.”
Barcelona defender the athlete also offered support, posting online that “the world of football is lagging behind and your actions drive progress”, while his former club issued a statement backing their “remarkable” and “courageous” player.
Others, however, were less welcoming.
Cavallo quickly became a subject to anti-gay remarks by rival supporters.
In January 2022 Melbourne Victory were penalized A$5,000 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 remained calm because I knew that would only feed the haters.”
There was a frightening incident at a petrol station in Australia, where Cavallo was physically attacked by an individual who identified him from the coverage.
“That was a scary moment,” he recalls. “I remember thinking ‘this is real - people want to harm me’.
“Is it acceptable? Absolutely not. But by coming out, this is what it brings.
“I hope that future individuals who reveals their orientation 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 taken a toll on his psychological well-being.
“It's disappointing because I am having to explain why I deserve a place on the soccer pitch for my identity,” he states.
“Heterosexual players aren't questioned and ask ‘what gives you the right in football?’.
“A lot of people see me as a smiling, optimistic person. But there are days when I lean on my fiance, his name, and he gets to see much of what occurs privately.”
‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’
Cavallo's decision to disclose his orientation helped inspire teenage attacking player another athlete to announce he was gay as the UK's only openly gay active male professional footballer in spring 2022.
Nevertheless, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the Premier League.
“It would create massive change,” comments the footballer on the impact a Premier League player revealing their orientation would make.
“But I must be honest. There are a lot of scary things that would await this individual. In the world of football, being an openly gay player is a highly hostile environment.”
Twenty-seven years after a pioneering player - 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 professional soccer.
“Simply attend to a match and see the hostile environment and male-dominated culture that the crowd brings,” he says.
“Much remains to be done to ensure there is a secure environment in football for individuals like me and his colleague.
“Progress has been limited (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as much as we would like.
“I can only keep pushing for what I think is right, and work towards taking out the toxic masculinity in soccer locker rooms and establishing secure environments.”
‘My mission is to drive progress’
Cavallo received an honorary doctorate from Flinders University in his former city in 2022, recognising his contributions as a inspirational figure in sport and a champion for equality
The player says football has enabled discussions within team environments about revealing one's orientation.
However, he is critical of Fifa, after the Middle Eastern nation, where same-sex relationships are illegal, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.
Future World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex attraction is also illegal.
“Do I approve that the World Cup is in countries that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for merely living on their territory? It's frightening,” states the athlete.
“I get messages [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for being who I am - can you help me?’.
“It breaks my heart that people are getting locked up for their true selves.
“There are countries that are significant soccer markets and they don't accept the queer community. These places 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 seek understanding.
“Not everyone is going to like you for your identity. But I have found my family. I've connected with similar people.
“My mission is to create change. That's what I'm here for.”
