() – Josh Cavallo, the first top-class male footballer to come out as gay, broke new ground by proposing to his partner on his club’s pitch.
The Australian player made history in 2021 when he posted an emotional video online in which he publicly announced that he is gay and pledged to change the culture of sport “to show that everyone is welcome in football.”
His announcement was hailed as a pivotal moment in a sport with a long and problematic history of entrenched homophobia, especially in men’s football.
Since then, Cavallo, 24, has become one of the most recognizable faces in the sport and a leading advocate for greater equality for the LGBTQ community.
This Thursday, he announced that he proposed to his fiancé at Coopers Stadium, the home field of his Australian A-League team, Adelaide United.
Alongside an image of him on his knees, holding a ring, Cavallo declared in a post on X: “Starting this year with my fiancé.”
Other photos showed the player smiling while his partner covered his eyes and a close-up of the two holding hands.
Cavallo thanked his team “for helping prepare this surprise.”
“They have provided a safe space in football, one that I never in my dreams thought could be possible,” he wrote on X, adding that he wanted to “share this special moment on the field, where it all began.”
He was named “Man of the Year” for 2022 at an awards ceremony organized by Attitude Magazine, Europe’s largest LGBTQ magazine.
Cavallo criticized FIFA’s decision two years ago to ban players from wearing “OneLove” armbands at the World Cup in Qatar during an interview with , saying the move made him feel “excluded.”
He was not selected for the final Socceroos squad, but at the time said he wanted to see the Australian captain wear the armband in solidarity with the LGBTQ community.
“If I had been there and been the captain, yes, I would have worn the armband. “I am not ashamed of being who I am,” Cavallo told in 2022.
“And it is exactly the reason why I have announced it and am the person I am today,” he added.
Fighting homophobia
Professional football has made significant progress in the fight against homophobia and racism in recent years and has launched multiple campaigns, but prejudice remains entrenched among some fans, clubs and players.
According to a report on the 2022-23 season published by Kick It Out, English football’s anti-discrimination group, it received 1,007 reports of discriminatory behavior, an increase of 65.1% compared to the previous season.
While racism was the most prevalent form of discrimination, Kick It Out said research by Signify, which investigates online threats and misinformation, had identified “spikes of homophobic and misogynistic abuse directed at several prominent female WSL players.” [Women’s Super League]”, even as gaming authorities continue to promote a series of campaigns to combat homophobia and promote LGBTQ+ inclusion.
To this day, there are still very few professional male footballers who have announced that they are gay.
Earlier this week, the Austrian national team announced it had not selected three Rapid Vienna players for duty after video emerged of the players taking part in post-match celebrations shouting homophobic chants with a selection of the crowd.
However, there have been high-profile comments and interventions from prominent footballers calling for more tolerance and diversity.
Last year, Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale said he could no longer remain silent in the face of homophobic abuse in football out of love and respect for his brother, who is gay.
“I want my brother… or anyone of any sexual orientation, race or religion — to come to games without having to fear abuse.”
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