Adelaide United midfielder Josh Cavallo has made history today, becoming the first openly gay male footballer in the top division.
Cavallo announced this news on social media this afternoon.
“Today, I’m ready to speak about something personal that I’m finally comfortable to talk about in my life,” he wrote.
“I am proud to publicly announce that I’m gay.”
https://twitter.com/JoshuaCavallo/status/1453172151914168320
The 21-year-old previously played for Western United, before moving to the Reds at the start of last season, and joins just a handful of other male footballers around the world to come out publicly – and even fewer did so while still playing.
Former Newcastle Jets midfielder Andy Brennan came out in 2019, and still plays in the Victorian State League, but last played in the A-League two years’ prior to his announcement.
“Growing up, I always felt the need to hide myself because I was ashamed,” Cavallo wrote.
“Ashamed I would never be able to do what I loved and be gay. Hiding who I truly am, to pursue a dream I always wished for as a kid, to play football and be treated equally never felt like a reality.”
Across the globe, there are only a handful of openly gay male footballers, and none playing in any of their respective nations’ top leagues.
Thomas Hitzlsperger is probably the most high-profile male player to ever come out. The former Aston Villa, Stuttgart, Lazio, West Ham, Wolfsburg and Everton player retired in 2013 before announcing that he was gay the following year.
More to come