First Man Standing

Adelaide United FC’s annual awards night last June should have been the best night of Josh Cavallo’s career, maybe even his life. Cavallo had won the A-League Rising Star award, given to the club’s most promising young player. It was the night his childhood dreams really started to take shape. The night all his hard work and dedication were validated. A milestone on his path to becoming an elite footballer.

But instead of feeling joy, Cavallo felt anguish. Instead of celebrating with his family and friends after the ceremony, he found himself alone in his apartment, crying himself to sleep. It was another night when instead of being himself he was forced to be someone else. Another night in which his life felt like a lie.

“That was an achievement all professional athletes want to accomplish, ” says the 22-year-old, who’s talking to me from his childhood bedroom in Melbourne’s Mordialloc. “Everyone was ecstatic that I got this award. I was happy on the outside, but on the inside, I was really sad, because I couldn’t show them the real Josh, who I truly am. That really hurt. And that was the moment where it sparked. I wanted to change. I wanted to be myself and let the world know who Josh Cavallo is.”

In October, four months after the awards night, Cavallo decided to announce his sexuality to the world via a moving, heartfelt Instagram video. In doing so he became the only top-flight player currently playing to come out as gay, following in the footsteps of Englishman Justin Fashanu, who came out in 1990. Sadly, Fashanu would commit suicide eight years later. Among the Australian codes, Cavallo joined former rugby league star Ian Roberts, who declared his sexual orientation in 1995, as the only players to come out while playing at the highest level.

Cavallo’s announcement made news around the world. He was inundated by messages of support from fans and fellow footballers, his post receiving over 700,000 comments in 30 minutes. The response overwhelmed him. More importantly, it inspired others. In May 17-year-old Blackburn FC player Jake Daniels came out, crediting Cavallo as his inspiration. More recently, two professional football referees