Josh Cavallo of the Adelaide United A-League Men’s team poses during a portrait session on 29 October 29, 2021 in Adelaide, Australia. (Getty/ Sarah Reed)
Newly out gay footballer Josh Cavallo epically shut down anti-trans pressure group LGB Alliance, and the internet has crowned him “king”.
Cavallo, 21, who plays for Adelaide United in Australia, was praised for his courage and bravery after coming out last month, becoming the only active gay male top-tier professional football player in the world.
But when the anti-trans group LGB Alliance “applauded his courage”, Cavallo told them exactly where to go.
#lgbwiththet ❤️🦾
— Josh Cavallo (@JoshuaCavallo) November 7, 2021
He simply responded with the hashtag “LGB with the T”, showing his unequivocal support for his trans siblings.
Fans were delighted with the show of solidarity, with hundreds celebrating his response, and gay Labour MP Wes Streeting branding him a “hero”.
One Twitter user shared Cavallo’s reply, and wrote: “LGBA finally remember that gay people exist and congratulate Josh for coming out.
“Josh obviously doesn’t want anything to do with them so uses the hashtag #LGBWithTheT.
“Josh gets such a good response that it trends.
“Well done, LGB Alliance, you played yourselves.”
— Chris 🏳️🌈🇪🇺 (@strutcakes) November 7, 2021
We stan an ally 🦾🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ https://t.co/nen3PvwS4v
— Jon Holmes (@jonboy79) November 7, 2021
If you look at who he’s replying to, this is just *chef’s kiss* https://t.co/n5nMpkXDLu
— November Nikki 🎆 (@Nikki_jayne_) November 7, 2021
This 👏🏻 is 👏🏻 some 👏🏻 king 👏🏻 behaviour 👏🏻 https://t.co/T3qknLEYCf
— Jack (@JackaryWoo) November 7, 2021
We love a lad who doesn’t just come out but shows up 👏🏳️🌈 https://t.co/Jnbo3oEHmx
— Hazel Southwell (@HSouthwellFE) November 7, 2021
Did you know if was possible to love @JoshuaCavallo more? Because it is https://t.co/VwVn2qQY4j
— Saxon Mullins (@SaxonAdair) November 7, 2021
total king shit https://t.co/53xGMgtdmD
— JO MARTIN FOR 14th DOCTOR 2022 (@TotalElipse) November 7, 2021
Not all heroes wear capes… this one wears football boots https://t.co/WHqsxjTp3U
— Dave Cross 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ (@davecrossx) November 7, 2021
Another Twitter user pointed out: “Not all heroes wear capes… This one wears football boots.”
Support from another gay footballer helped Josh Cavallo come out
Josh Cavallo recently explained to the Herald Sun that his friendship with another gay footballer helped him find the courage to come out.
Thomas Beattie, a former English footballer who came out as gay after retirement, inspired him to come out and help other young queer people struggling, he said.
“He has worked closely with me, and he said to me: ‘Josh, you can have both, you can change the world, you can do this’ and he opened my eyes to doing this,” he explained.
He wanted to “help change or save someone’s life” because there could be “someone on the opposite side of the world dealing with the exact same pain as what me and Tommy went through”.
“It could lead to suicide or take them to dark places,” he added. “But I want to share the positive side of that and look at the reaction I’ve gotten and how happy everyone is from that.”