‘Sad’ truth as Australia’s first openly gay active football Josh Cavallo spoke on The Project

Reaction over Socceroo Josh Cavallo revealing himself as the only openly gay male A-League player has exposed a tragic secret.

Adelaide United football Josh Cavallo has become the first Australian footballer to come out as gay while actively playing in the A-League.

The 21-year-old took to social media on Wednesday to “publicly announce I am gay”, joining a select group of high-level footballers across the world who have come out, almost all after their playing days.

But his brave announcement has exposed the dark secret of men’s football and sport in general when it comes to players being open about who they really are.

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Cavallo spoke to The Project’s Carrie Bickmore about his decision to come out so publicly.

He said that he had mixed feelings about revealing his sexuality, saying “I haven’t been my authentic self-for the last six years because I was scared what people would think of me.”

He admitted he kept the secret from family, friends and teammates and hoped his announcement would help future players.

Josh Cavallo spoke about his journey to coming out. Photo: Channel 10.

The moment that changed everything for Cavallo was when he won the A-League’s Rising Star award, which he said left him “numb”.

“I was sad, I was disappointed because it was such a great achievement to get,” he said. “Yeah football was amazing for me, but there was a whole other aspect no one knew about that was terrible. Something happened that night that it was time. I said to myself ‘I don’t want to live like this any more, I want to be myself, I want to be happy, just like everyone else.”

.@aleaguemen’s and @AdelaideUnited's @JoshuaCavallo has made history by becoming the world's only current male footballer to be openly gay. Josh spoke to @BickmoreCarrie about his decision to come out. pic.twitter.com/BRp9yuSSSf

— The Project (@theprojecttv) October 27, 2021

Other active and openly gay males playing professional football elsewhere in the world include Collin Martin, who plays for San Diego Loyal in the second tier of football in the USA, as well as Phuti Lekoloane, who plays in South Africa’s third tier.

Cavallo is not the only Aussie to have come out as former Newcastle Jets player Andy Brennan came out in May 2019 while playing for Green Gully in Victoria’s National Premier Leagues competition, having finished up with the Jets in 2017 after five A-League appearances.

Cavallo also praised the impact of former pro-football Thomas Beattie who came out last year after he retired.

“He’s been a phenomenal role model to myself,” Cavallo said.

“I reach reached out to Tommy and within minutes he got back. He was living the exact same life as mine. I didn’t need to explain myself to him because he understood. He understood what it was like, having to live a life of lies. That touched me a lot. He’s a brother to me and he will be a lifelong friend for me.”

Cavallo said that after he told Adelaide coach Carl Vaert: “I felt like I was so much lighter and on the pitch, I could think freely and it was just amazing, like, I’d never thought that this day would come.”

His teammates also embraced him after he revealed the news in the locker room.

After the interview, The Project’s co-host Rachel Corbett said it just showed how far we still have to go.

“It’s amazing to be the first but how sad,” Corbett said.

“How sad that it’s now the first current player and so many people who have gone before that have had to wait until their career was over because they’re worried about the risk or the backlash or the judgement. This is exactly what should be happening. We should be celebrating people to be exactly who they are. This is amazing, it’s so good.”

Rachel Corbett on Channel 10's The Project.

Peter Helliar added: “Josh looks like a smiley kind of guy but that glow is coming from somewhere different that it was probably two week ago.”

Carrie Bickmore, who did the interview said: “He said it’s his freedom day.”

Waleed Aly concluded the segment saying that he believes that the thing that will make the biggest difference is the reaction of his teammates to the news.

Not-for-profit sporting inclusion program Pride in Sport’s national program manager Beau Newell applauded Cavallo’s “courage and leadership” in a statement.

But he also echoed the sentiments of Corbett as it exposed the darker reality facing other sportspeople.

“His bravery is to be congratulated and his journey shows the unfortunate reality that many athletes face when they are not able to enjoy the sport they love as their true selves,” Newell said.

“Like Cavallo, many athletes self-edit their existence in sport and expend a good deal of their daily energy on hiding their true self from others. His story highlights the fear that many athletes have in coming out: that they will face potential discrimination, harassment and bullying from those within their sport.”

While several Australian women’s players including Sam Kerr, Michelle Heyman and Tameka Yallop are all openly gay, it is still rare in the men’s game.

Support flooded in for Cavallo after his announcement.

Aussie women’s captain Kerr tweeted: “Good for you @JoshuaCavallo”.

Openly gay Australian Senator Penny Wong praised Cavallo, saying: “Any young person who is struggling with their identity, or feeling excluded or judged, can look today to Josh Cavallo. Thank you for your courage Josh. For reminding all that we are strong and we are here. And we are United.”

Adelaide United player, Josh Cavallo. Picture: AUFC

Socceroos legend Craig Foster posted: “Great Josh. Good for you brother. No one should have to hide who they are and the ball doesn’t care about colour, race, religion, gender, sexuality. Just how you play. That should be life. all the best this season. From your new fan.”

Sydney FC veteran and Professional Footballers Australia president Alex Wilkinson said Cavallo should be “incredibly proud of the positive impact he will have on the sport”.

“It’s fantastic that Josh has found our sport and his club to be a safe place to share his sexuality,” Wilkinson said via a PFA statement.

“Despite progress made in sport and society, it takes a huge amount of courage to come out.”

Josh Cavallo on @theprojecttv right now melting my whole heart!!!! king!!!!

— nic kelly (@nicwkelly) October 27, 2021

It just scratches the surface on the support as Socceroos legends, fellow and former players, fans from around the world embraced the youngster.

Cavallo started his A-League career for Western United before signing a loan deal with Adelaide United.

He impressed and signed a new two-year deal with the Reds.

Originally published as ‘Sad’ truth as Australia’s first openly gay active football Josh Cavallo spoke on The Project