Josh Cavallo is the first active footballer to come out as gay: 'I've had enough of double life'
He revealed that he was worried because he thought that after the announcement, people would look at him differently and think badly of him.
Australian footballer Josh Cavallo is the only active and professional footballer who has come out as gay, reports the BBC. The young athlete shared details from his private life on social media, saying he was finally ready to talk about something so personal.
"All I want is to play football and be equal," Cavallo said, adding that he had had enough of double life because it was exhausting.
He also admitted that he had struggled with his own sexuality for the past six years and that he was glad that that period of life was over.
Josh's Truth pic.twitter.com/NKSEP2kVWV — Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) October 27, 2021
He revealed that he was worried because he thought that after announcing that he was gay people would look at him differently and think badly of him, but it turned out that his fear was unfounded.
Few professional footballers have publicly revealed their homosexuality and do so only when they have finished their professional careers to avoid homophobic attacks by fans. Englishman Justin Fashanu was the first to do so during the 1990s, but he committed suicide in 1998 after he stopped playing football.
pic.twitter.com/CwrfpeWRVL — Josh Cavallo (@JoshuaCavallo) October 27, 2021
Cavallo also said Fashanu's case was on his mind when he considered going public with his homosexuality.
"I remember reading that Justin Fashanu was the first professional footballer to come out in the 90s and that he committed suicide eight years later and that made me think," the young Australian said, noting that he got "huge" support from his club Adelaide United, teammates and Australian football officials.
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He added that he wants to become an example for other footballers who are still hiding their sexual orientation.
Former Newcastle Jets player Andy Brennan revealed in 2019 that he was gay and thus became the first active footballer to talk about his sexuality. Thomas Hitzlsperger, the man who wore the German national team jersey 52 times, became the first prominent footballer in history to publicly announce being gay.
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By: Helen B.
