Adelaide United defender Josh Cavallo is the first openly gay professional soccer player. More than three years after coming out, he says he still receives death threats daily, highlighting the ongoing challenges he faces after publicly disclosing his sexual orientation. This underscores the persistent prejudice that exists despite increased visibility.
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03-30, 2025In a FIFPRO "Footballers Without Filter" podcast with former England footballer Joe Hart, Cavallo shared how his life was engulfed in negativity and malice after coming out at the age of 21. He publicly announced he was gay in October 2021, becoming the first active openly gay soccer player in the Australian A-League men's competition. This decision marked a significant moment for LGBTQ+ representation in sports.
Despite considering coming out as "the best move and decision" he's ever made, Cavallo stated that nearly four years later, the ensuing "huge negative impact" is unimaginable to many. "Why hasn't this happened in football? Why hasn't anyone come out and been successful and continued playing?" Cavallo said on the podcast. "Looking back now I understand, all the negativity, everything that comes at you, I still get a lot of death threats daily, which is very sad."
Cavallo said he initially didn't anticipate the extent of the malice on social media when he came out. "It's very difficult in the football world, being an openly gay player," he said. "Unfortunately, it's the norm for me – I step out onto the pitch, or I get injured, or something happens in my footballing career, it's all related to my sexuality. I think, unfortunately, we're a long way off from being truly accepted in this field."
Despite enduring much abuse, Cavallo told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that he has also had positive experiences, encountering people who have been inspired by his advocacy. "In my day-to-day life, I'm at a local shop or a cafe, and I have kids come up to me and recognize me and talk to me and tell me how I guided them, how I gave them courage to come out at school," he said. "But then on the other hand... opening my social media this morning, reading the comments that I get sent, it's very unsettling."
Cavallo recalled feeling isolated and alone before coming out, making up excuses and being afraid to be around his teammates for fear of "the lies being uncovered." "On top of trying to be the best footballer every single day, I was playing a character 24 hours a day," he said. Cavallo stated that telling his coach and assistant coach, and later his teammates, felt "like 15 kilos had been lifted off" him.
He said that a moving video released by Adelaide United in 2021 about his announcement "changed opinions around the world and undoubtedly gave the football world a shock." "It's obviously touched so many people and impacted so many people and it's made so many great strides in the game, I wouldn't trade it for anything," he said. In 2022, A-League club Melbourne Victory was fined AU$5,000 after fans directed homophobic abuse at Cavallo. At the time, Football Australia said Victory's swift condemnation of its fans' actions meant the AU$5,000 would be "further invested in LGBTQ+ awareness and education initiatives in football."
Cavallo stated that he is proud to be competing at the highest level of football as his "true self." "I think football is providing a space for people like me and I'm really proud to be carrying that flag and I'm proud to be representing the LGBTQ+ community," he said, emphasizing the importance of visibility and acceptance in sports. This highlights his commitment to fostering a more inclusive environment for all athletes.
