It would be lovely if Josh Cavallo hadn’t become internationally famous on Wednesday morning; Cavallo probably agrees. He would have come out to his teammates and his coaches, just like he came out to his family. They would have offered their love and support and then Adelaide United would have got back to preseason training, ready to face Perth Glory in three weeks’ time. The world would not read about Cavallo because Cavallo would not be deemed a special case.
But Cavallo is a news story because he now exists in a group of one. He is the only current top-flight male professional footballer to come out as gay. His courage is to be applauded, because he was clearly aware of the impact that his announcement would have. Adelaide United are to be applauded too because they had evidently created an environment in which Cavallo was comfortable to be himself.
The inevitable reply from some on social media – those who are being deliberately snide or snide through ignorance – is “so what?”. To that, the answer is exactly the same: he is the only one.
If Cavallo can discuss his experiences with the same maturity – he is a 21-year-old kid, remember – as he discussed his sexuality, he will make a difference. He will make life a little easier, make the journey to understanding and having pride in their sexuality, for someone (and probably many more than someone). Cavallo’s route to this point may have been easier (in his statement he used the word “fighting”) if there had been shoulders of giants to stand upon. Others can now stand upon his shoulders.
But then “so what?” is both a deeply cynical response and the ultimate aim. Why would a player’s sexuality make any difference to their ability to fulfill their potential as a footballer or be an excellent teammate or employee? There are no reasons. This is a news story because Josh Cavallo is an exception. He is an exception because football – and culture – has not yet created a climate in which others like him feel comfortable revealing all of themselves.
Players may worry about media intrusion – with good reason. They may worry about banter that quickly veers into discrimination – with good reason. They may worry about treatment from opposition supporters and players and social media users – with good reason. In that environment, not coming out becomes an easier choice than coming out, even if it is one that disallows a player from being their true self.
Over the last few years, there has been an urge for English football to have an openly gay player, a counter-productive clamour. Forgive the cynicism, but it’s hard not to interpret that as desirable simply because it allows people to pat themselves on the back that they have done their bit. As former NBA star (and openly gay) John Amaechi says, it is easy for governing bodies, journalists, writers and supporters to imagine that some magical person will come out and everything will magically change.
But that’s surely all wrong: it places the onus on the person and not the system. Urging someone to make public something they do not wish to is not a campaign of support; it’s a witch-hunt. Change comes through marginalised people having confidence that their welfare and their mental well-being has been adequately protected. And, as the shoulder of giants metaphor dictates, that is harder for the first person than the second and harder for the second than everyone else who follows them.
Josh Cavallo is an incredibly courageous young man, one who understands the power of what he is doing and someone who is supported by the network around him. He deserves our celebration, our love and our respect. But there are others who have less faith in that support network and less faith that the culture in which they exist protects them. That alone is a damning indictment.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3GrKiHy
Post a Comment