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| U.S. Soccer Player Reveals He Is Gay | U.S. Soccer Player Reveals He Is Gay |
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| Robbie Rogers, a former midfielder for the United States national team, revealed Friday that he is gay and is leaving the sport to “discover myself away from football.” | Robbie Rogers, a former midfielder for the United States national team, revealed Friday that he is gay and is leaving the sport to “discover myself away from football.” |
| Rogers, 25, posted a message to Twitter that included a link to his Web site where he wrote that for the past 25 years: “I have been afraid, afraid to show whom I really was because of fear. Fear that judgement and rejection would hold me back from my dreams and aspirations. Fear that my loved ones would be farthest from me if they knew my secret. Fear that my secret would get in the way of my dreams.” | Rogers, 25, posted a message to Twitter that included a link to his Web site where he wrote that for the past 25 years: “I have been afraid, afraid to show whom I really was because of fear. Fear that judgement and rejection would hold me back from my dreams and aspirations. Fear that my loved ones would be farthest from me if they knew my secret. Fear that my secret would get in the way of my dreams.” |
| Rogers played in Major League Soccer for five seasons and made 18 appearances for the United States, scoring the first goal of Coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s tenure in 2011. But Rogers did not play for the national team since the end of 2011, and until last month had been playing for Stevanage, a third division English team, after being loaned from second-division Leeds United. | Rogers played in Major League Soccer for five seasons and made 18 appearances for the United States, scoring the first goal of Coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s tenure in 2011. But Rogers did not play for the national team since the end of 2011, and until last month had been playing for Stevanage, a third division English team, after being loaned from second-division Leeds United. |
| It was unclear whether Rogers was planning to retire from soccer or simply take a break from playing, though the emotional toll of his decision to come out was evident. | It was unclear whether Rogers was planning to retire from soccer or simply take a break from playing, though the emotional toll of his decision to come out was evident. |
| “Secrets can cause so much internal damage,” Rogers wrote. “People love to preach about honesty, how honesty is so plain and simple. Try explaining to your loved ones after 25 years you are gay. Try convincing yourself that your creator has the most wonderful purpose for you even though you were taught differently.” | “Secrets can cause so much internal damage,” Rogers wrote. “People love to preach about honesty, how honesty is so plain and simple. Try explaining to your loved ones after 25 years you are gay. Try convincing yourself that your creator has the most wonderful purpose for you even though you were taught differently.” |
| Later, he wrote, “My secret is gone, I am a free man, I can move on and live my life as my creator intended.” | Later, he wrote, “My secret is gone, I am a free man, I can move on and live my life as my creator intended.” |
| Rogers received abundant support from fans and friends across social media, and Sacha Kljestan, another midfielder for the United States team, wrote on Twitter that he felt “100 percent love and support for one of my best friends Robbie Rogers. You will be missed on the pitch. Amazing talent, amazing person.” | Rogers received abundant support from fans and friends across social media, and Sacha Kljestan, another midfielder for the United States team, wrote on Twitter that he felt “100 percent love and support for one of my best friends Robbie Rogers. You will be missed on the pitch. Amazing talent, amazing person.” |
| If Rogers were to return to professional soccer, he would be a rare example of an openly gay male athlete active in a major team sport. David Testo, another former Major League Soccer player, came out in 2011, but did so after his career was over. | If Rogers were to return to professional soccer, he would be a rare example of an openly gay male athlete active in a major team sport. David Testo, another former Major League Soccer player, came out in 2011, but did so after his career was over. |
| Jim Buzinski, the co-founder of OutSports.com, said in an interview that the emotions Rogers appeared to be enduring were, sadly, standard for gay athletes. “He talks about the pain and the secrets,” Buzinski said. “I think that is such a common thing that we hear from gay athletes. All the psychic and mental energy you have to put into keeping this a secret, it really takes a toll on people.” | Jim Buzinski, the co-founder of OutSports.com, said in an interview that the emotions Rogers appeared to be enduring were, sadly, standard for gay athletes. “He talks about the pain and the secrets,” Buzinski said. “I think that is such a common thing that we hear from gay athletes. All the psychic and mental energy you have to put into keeping this a secret, it really takes a toll on people.” |
| Buzinski added that, like many fans, he was saddened that those emotions might have played a role in Rogers no longer wanting to play a game in which he clearly was talented. | Buzinski added that, like many fans, he was saddened that those emotions might have played a role in Rogers no longer wanting to play a game in which he clearly was talented. |
| “It’s absolutely depressing,” he said. “It just shows that sports is the final closet in society. We’ve made huge strides in terms of support of gay athletes and homophobia is no longer cool in sports. But the closet is very much in existence.” |