Josh Cavallo says closeted footballers are turning to him for support
May 20, 2026Australian footballer Josh Cavallo, widely recognised as the first active male professional player to come out as gay, has revealed that a growing number of closeted athletes are confiding in him privately about their sexuality.
Speaking on the It Started With A Kiss podcast, hosted by I Kissed a Boy and I Kissed a Girl alumni Gareth Valentino and Amy Spalding, the 26-year-old explained that both teammates and opponents have reached out behind the scenes.
“There’s opposition players I’ve played against, there’s teammates I’ve been in changing rooms with that message me privately and say, ‘Hey, this is what I identify as. I am in the LGBTQ+ space and thank you so much for being the representation,’” Cavallo said.
According to Cavallo, these players are at very different stages in their journeys. “Some people want to come out now, some people want to come out next week, or in a month’s time, in five years. Some people don’t want to come out at all,” he noted, stressing that each individual must decide what is safe and right for them.
Cavallo first came out publicly in 2021 while playing for Adelaide United, declaring on social media: “I’m a footballer and I’m gay.” His announcement marked a significant cultural step for men’s football and gave visibility to LGBTQ+ athletes in a sport that has historically been hostile to queer identities.
As reported by Attitude, Cavallo moved to the UK with his fiancé, Leighton Morrell, signing with Peterborough Sports, his first international club. Since then, he has continued to advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport and has spoken about informally mentoring closeted footballers seeking guidance on whether and how to come out publicly.
He has also highlighted the stark global inequalities faced by LGBTQ+ people in football. “The thing is, football is huge in countries where LGBTQ+ representation doesn’t exist and people are put in prison and face death penalties as well – not even almost, it is death penalties,” he said, pointing to the lethal consequences LGBTQ+ people can face in some jurisdictions.
Cavallo has previously alleged that homophobia influenced decisions at his former club, Adelaide United. Announcing his departure on social media earlier this year, he wrote: “Leaving the club had nothing to do with football. Decisions were made by people in power that blocked my opportunities, not because of my talent, but because of who I choose to love. Under the new management, it became clear that I wasn’t allowed on the pitch because of politics. It’s hard to swallow when I realised my own club was homophobic.”
Adelaide United strongly rejected those claims, responding in a public statement: “The club is extremely disappointed by the claims made and categorically rejects the allegations, including any suggestion that Adelaide United is homophobic. All on-field decisions relating to team selection are made solely on footballing grounds.”
Beyond the pitch, Cavallo is now using his experience to shape LGBTQ+ storytelling in sport. He has joined the production team of Armour, a forthcoming series starring Jordan Luke Gage that examines the fallout when a Premier League footballer comes out as gay.
Cavallo will advise Gage and the wider production team, offering insight from his own experience to help ground the series in the realities faced by LGBTQ+ players at elite level.
Stories like Cavallo’s highlight how vital visible role models and professional support networks are for LGBTQ+ people in sport and beyond. For queer professionals, allies, and inclusive employers seeking that kind of community, platforms such as myGwork provide a dedicated space to connect, share opportunities, and advance equality at work.