Josh Cavallo of Adelaide United has come out as gay, making him the world’s only current football player who has openly come out to declare himself gay. Cavallo announced in a video and open letter on social media admitting that he is a guy and has been living a double life.
The A-League star said he was “finally comfortable” speaking out and hoping that opening up about his sexuality would inspire struggling others. The 21-year-old also said he had been “living a double life” and hiding who truly is.
Josh Cavallo Opens Up of Being a Gay
Josh Cavallo said: “There’s something personal that I need to share with everyone. I am a footballer, and I am gay.” The midfielder said that trying to perform to the best of his ability while living a “double life” was exhausting and that he had spent his life “hiding who I truly am” to pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer.
He also posted a personal message on his social media, saying it’s been a journey to get to this point in his life, but he can not be happier with his decision to come out. The football player said: “I have been fighting my sexuality for six years now, and I’m glad I can put that to rest.”
“Growing up, I always felt the need to hide because I was ashamed – ashamed I would never be able to do what I loved and be gay.” “Growing up being gay and playing football were just two worlds that hadn’t crossed paths before.”
In 2019, a Newcastle Jets player Andy Brennan an Australia born was the first professional male footballer to come out while still in the game. He now plays for semi-professional side Hume City. After years later, many top-flight footballers have also come out, but they have ended their careers.
Former Aston Villa, Stuttgart, West Ham and Everton player Thomas Hitzlsperger is among the most high-profile former players to be openly gay, having come out publicly the year after he retired. Former Leeds United player Robbie Rogers also announced he was gay when retiring in 2013, before returning to LA Galaxy and winning the MLS Cup.
Cavallo said he worried coming out might hurt his career and added that, as a gay footballer, he knew of “other players living in silence”. He said: “I want to help change this,” he said. “I want to show that everyone is welcome in the game of football and deserves the right to be their authentic self.”
“It is astonishing to know that there are currently no gay professional footballers who are out and actively playing, not only in Australia but around the world. Hopefully, this will change soon.” After the video was released, Josh Cavallo received an overwhelming response from the club Adelaide United as many people started praising him for his courage.
The head coach of the club Carl Veart and Nathan Kosimboth expressed their pride in the player’s announcement, with assistant coach Ross Aloisi adding that it was clear he was living with an “incredible burden”, and to see him come out made him “proud of how brave a man” he is.
