By Chris Lau, CNN
(CNN) — Josh Cavallo is the first top male professional football star to come out as gay, breaking new ground by proposing to his partner on the club pitch.
The Australian made history in 2021 by coming out and posting an emotional online video in which he vowed to change the sport's culture “to show everyone is welcome in the game of football.” Ta.
His announcement was hailed as a turning point in the sport, particularly the men's competition, which has a long and troubled history of deep homophobia.
Since then, Cavallo, 24, has become one of the most recognizable figures in the sport and an outspoken advocate for greater equality for the LGBTQ community.
On Thursday, he announced he had proposed to his fiancée at Coopers Stadium, home of Australian A-League team Adelaide United.
Alongside a photo of herself kneeling down and holding out a ring, Cavallo declared: In the post of X“I'm starting this year with my fiancé.”
Other photos showed the player smiling broadly while his partner covered his eyes, and close-ups of the pair holding hands.
Cavallo thanked the team for “helping prepare this surprise.”
“You have provided a safe space for football, something we never dreamed of,” he wrote in X, adding, “This special moment on the pitch where it all started… I want to share it,” he added.
Since coming out, Cavallo has attended A-League Pride games wearing a jersey with his name and number printed in rainbow colors to raise awareness and has consistently posted messages of encouragement on social media.
He was named 2022's “Man of the Year” at an awards ceremony organized by Attitude Magazine, Europe's largest LGBTQ magazine publication.
In an interview with CNN, Cavallo spoke out against FIFA's decision two years ago to ban players from wearing the “One Love” armband at the World Cup in Qatar, saying the move made him “excluded.” He said he felt it.
Although he was not selected in the Socceroos' final squad, he said at the time that he would like to see the Australian captain wear an armband in solidarity with the LGBTQ community.
“If I was there and I was a captain, yeah, I would wear the armband. I'm not ashamed to be who I am,” Cavallo told CNN in 2022.
“And that's why I came out and am the person I am today,” he added.
Professional football has made significant progress in recent years to tackle homophobia and racism, launching multiple campaigns, but prejudice remains strong among some fans, clubs and players.
According to the report for the 2022-23 season released by the English soccer anti-discrimination organization Kick It Out, there were 1,007 reports of discriminatory acts, an increase of 65.1% from the previous season.
Kick It Out noted that while racism is the most prevalent form of discrimination, a study conducted by Signify, which investigates online threats and disinformation, found that “several prominent WSL “A peak in homophobic and misogynistic abuse has been identified.” [Women’s Super League] This is despite gaming authorities continuing to push forward with a number of campaigns to tackle homophobia and increase LGBTQ+ participation.”
Even today, very few male professional soccer players come out as gay.
Earlier this week, the Austrian national team suspended three Rapid Vienna football players after footage emerged of the players taking part in post-match celebrations and shouting homophobic chants with selected spectators. announced that it was not selected.
But there were also high-profile comments and interventions by prominent footballers calling for more tolerance and diversity.
Last year, Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale said he could no longer remain silent about homophobic abuse in football out of love and respect for his gay brother.
“I want my brother, or anyone of any sexuality, race or religion, to come to a game without fear of abuse.”
CNN Wire
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