In 2021, Joshua Cavallo took a step forward and publicly confessed that he liked men. With this action, he became the first active footballer to recognize his homosexuality.
Throughout these last few years, the Australian midfielder has been happy and content for having given visibility to the LGTBIQ cause in sport, but he has pointed out in various interviews that both he and those around him have suffered a lot due to media harassment. The young man has received death threats: ”I hope that no son or daughter has to go through this experience.”
”It’s sad that there is no one to hold these people accountable. I invest a lot in preventing and educating against homophobia, so that my generation and those that follow do not excuse this behavior. These people must also be criminally punished,’ she explained in an interview.
Although he has suffered a lot since he publicly announced his homosexuality, the young athlete values ??his freedom above all else and encourages all those who are in a similar position to come forward to live happily and proudly: ”I will never doubt the person I have become and will continue to proudly carry who I am.”
Just a few hours ago, the 24-year-old shared some very important news for him on his social networks. Cavallo confessed to his followers that he had proposed to his boy on the soccer field of his team and that he had accepted: “Starting this year with my fiancé.”
The footballer, visibly moved, shared a series of images of the moment on Instagram and wanted to thank his team for the unconditional support he has received: ”Thank you Adelaide United Football Club for helping to prepare this surprise. Your endless support has meant a lot to me. You have provided me with a safe space in football, a space I never dreamed possible, and you have encouraged me to live every day of my life authentically. “It felt good to share this special moment on the pitch, where it all started.”
The footballer’s publication has been filled with thousands of comments from users around the world who have wanted to leave messages of support and affection for the beautiful couple: ”This is wonderful”, ”Congratulations, I wish you the best”, ”How beautiful”, etc.
It should be noted that the marriage proposal of an active gay soccer player on a soccer field (a space that has always been hostile to queer people) marks a before and after in the fight against LGTBIphobia in sports and makes it globally visible. that gay, trans, bisexual, non-binary athletes, etc., exist even though many do not want to see it.