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A-League news: Adelaide United player Josh Cavallo announces he’s gay on social media

Sporting luminaries from Matildas superstar Sam Kerr to Spanish legend Gerard Pique and English pundit Gary Lineker have all applauded Adelaide star’s Josh Cavallo’s decision to come out as gay.

Emma Greenwood
6 min read
October 28, 2021 - 1:14PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
Adelaide United’s Josh Cavallo has publicly come out as gay

Sam Kerr, Antoine Griezmann and Gary Lineker were among the football superstars to send messages of support to young A-League player Josh Cavallo after he publicly announced his sexuality on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old Adelaide United midfielder became the first footballer in Australia to come out as gay while still playing professionally. He is also the only top-flight footballer anywhere in the world to make such a candid admission.

Matildas superstar Kerr and French international Griezeman both congratulated him via social media - and they weren’t the only ones.

Barcelona legend Gerard Pique, controversial English media personality Piers Morgan and a host of other football luminaries around the world also applauded his decision.

‘Way it should be’: Soccer star’s brave call will save lives

Rising A-League star Josh Cavallo’s decision to publicly announce his sexuality has been hailed as a life saver for other men and could lead the young Adelaide United player to a “pink pot of gold.”

Cavallo became the first soccer player in Australia, and first professional male footballer worldwide, to come out while still playing when he took to social media to “publicly announce that I am gay”.

His decision to come out has been almost universally hailed, with former sports stars including rugby league player Ian Roberts, A-League player Andy Brennan and Australian footballer and LGBTI campaigner Jason Ball among those to say it will change lives.

Adelaide United player Josh Cavallo has come out as gay. Picture: AUFC
Adelaide United player Josh Cavallo has come out as gay. Picture: AUFC

The 21-year-old said he had struggled to reconcile his sexuality with being a professional sportsman, believing that career would be closed to him if he revealed his true self.

“Being a gay closeted footballer, I’ve had to learn to mask my feelings in order to fit the mould of a professional footballer,” Cavallo said in a tweet.

“Growing up being gay and playing football were just two worlds that hadn’t crossed paths before.

“I’ve lived my life assuming that this was a topic never to be spoken about.”

Ball, a premiership player with Yarra Glen and the first openly gay Australian rules footballer at any level, applauded Cavallo’s announcement, saying it could save lives.

“I can say, from experience, that being in the closet and living a double life is not a pleasant experience,” Ball said.

“People who are in the closet are significantly worse off in terms of their mental health and their wellbeing and, no doubt, their performance on the field also suffers.

“And we know, from the research, that LGBTIQ young people are significantly more likely to experience mental health issues or contemplate suicide.

“So Josh’s visibility, to see someone in the macho world of sport being open about who they are, I think will save lives.

“If I had seen a player like Josh who was open and happy and that authentic self, that would have made such a big difference to me.”

Footballer and anti-homophobia campaigner Jason Ball says Cavallo’s brave move will save lives.
Footballer and anti-homophobia campaigner Jason Ball says Cavallo’s brave move will save lives.

Roberts, who revealed his sexuality in 1995 while still playing for Manly, said Cavallo’s announcement was “wonderful news” and could open doors with major international brands who may look to use his new-found status to attract the pink dollar.

“It’s going to be really interesting to see how the sponsors support him now,” Roberts said of major international corporations like Adidas, Nike and Puma.

“This could, quite literally, be the pink pot of gold, I think, for Josh.”

While social media is often pilloried for spreading hate, Roberts said Cavallo’s message and the overwhelmingly positive reaction to it would have incredible impact on young people struggling with their identity.

The 56-year-old said the only way he was able to keep in touch with news like Premier league soccer star Justin Fashanu coming out in 1990 was via the “gay rags”.

But Cavallo’s coming out was “a really nice story” that is able to be seen almost instantly worldwide due to social media.

NRL legend Ian Roberts believes Cavallo’s honesty will open doors. Picture: Richard Dobson
NRL legend Ian Roberts believes Cavallo’s honesty will open doors. Picture: Richard Dobson

“The way the club’s embraced him … the whole football community have really supported him and become allies (is great),” Roberts said.

“It’s so refreshing. This is the way it should be, this is such a positive story.

“You can live a full, healthy, and totally authentic life and be yourself from a young age.”

Former Newcastle Jets A-League player Andy Brennan became the first current or former A-League footballer to come out in an interview with the Herald Sun in 2019.

Brennan, who played for Hume City in the National Premier League Victoria competition last season, said he was thrilled to see another player come out.

“To see someone come out after me is really good,” he said.

“By speaking publicly, not only are you doing it for yourself because you want to be comfortable but you’re doing it for the other people who may be feeling the same way.”

Gay former A-League player Andy Brennan says Cavallo has sent the world a “positive, powerful message”. Picture: Jay Town
Gay former A-League player Andy Brennan says Cavallo has sent the world a “positive, powerful message”. Picture: Jay Town

Brennan said seeing high-profile players like former Socceroos striker Archie Thompson sharing Cavallo’s Twitter post was also a “positive, powerful message”.

“The most important thing is people come out because they want to be themselves and are sick of living a double life,” he said.

“But of course when you see other people do it and you can pave the way, which Josh will be doing for many people.

“People (will now) grow up looking at someone who is gay and playing football, which for me and a lot of other people, wasn’t the case.

“I think it will normalise something that is completely normal.

‘I know there are others’: A-League player comes out

Soccer player Josh Cavallo has become the first footballer in Australia to come out as gay while still playing professionally.

Cavallo, who plays for Adelaide United, made an announcement on Twitter on Wednesday, saying he was “finally comfortable” to come out publicly.

“Today I am ready to speak about something personal that I’m finally comfortable to talk about in my life,” Cavallo said on Twitter.

“I am proud to publicly announce that I am gay.

“It’s been a journey to get to this point in my life, but I couldn’t be happier with my decision to come out. I have been fighting my sexuality for over 6 years now, and I’m glad I can put that to rest.”

Adelaide United also shared an emotional video of the midfielder and left back at his home, where he shared his status.

“I’m a footballer and I’m gay,” he said.

Cavallo’s announcement has been met with universal congratulations and praise, with fellow athletes, his club and the A-League among those to welcome his brave declaration.

“We are so proud of you Josh! You will always have our support,” the A-League replied to his tweet.

Adelaide United director of football Bruce Djite said: “Today I am even prouder than when we signed you! @JoshuaCavallo #Bravo”.

The 21-year-old said he had “felt the need to hide myself” growing up because he was ashamed and believed there would not be a place in professional sport for him.

“Being a gay closeted footballer, I’ve had to learn to mask my feelings in order to fit the mould of a professional footballer. Growing up being gay and playing football were just two worlds that hadn’t crossed paths before. I’ve lived my life assuming that this was a topic never to be spoken about,” he said.

“In football, you only have a small window to achieve greatness, and coming out publicly may have a negative impact on a career. As a gay footballer, I know there are other players living in silence.

“I was to help change this, to show that everyone is welcome in the game of football, and deserves the right to be their authentic self.”

Cavallo said he found it “astonishing” to know there were currently no gay professional footballers out and actively playing, not only in Australia, but around the world.

While plenty of gay women in professional sport are out, happy to talk about themselves, as well as their marital status and having families with their partners, it has not been the same for me.

Former Wallabies prop Dan Palmer last year revealed the toll hiding his sexuality while playing football professionally took on him, telling the Sydney Morning Herald his own death felt preferable to telling people he was gay.

The 33-year-old was again embraced by the sport and this year returned to the Brumbies, where he worked as a scrum coach.

As a current player though, Cavallo is a rarity but said he hoped that would change in the near future.

“I hope that in sharing who I am, I can show others who identify as LGBTQ+ that they are welcome in the football community,” he said.

“As the fame of football keeps expanding, I want to help evolve the game even further, and let other players in my situation feel that they’re not alone.”

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/football/a-league/aleague-news-adelaide-united-player-josh-cavallo-announces-hes-gay-on-social-media/news-story/4d9359cc9277fd1b7d0ecf0d3c47a693