Tag: Robbie Rogers

Posted on

Pro MLS Player Robbie Rogers Expected More Gay Athletes To Come Out

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/014312661X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=014312661X&linkCode=as2&tag=onlinestorelink-20&linkId=MSTAUKFQIPZUR33F

Pro soccer player Robbie Rogers recently shared that expected more professional athletes to follow him out of the closet once he came out.

With Jason Collins retiring from the NBA and Michael Sam currently without an NFL team, Rogers is the only out pro athlete at this time:

“To be honest, I thought when I came out and Jason and Michael, I thought there’d be a chain reaction,” Rogers told the AP.

“It’s been a lot slower. I guess that just reminds me how big a problem it is in sports culture with homophobia. They don’t feel comfortable.”

“There are a number of gay men playing professional sports, just not out,” he added. “In the end, it’s really about guys coming out and changing the atmosphere by being in it. You definitely need to create the environment first where guys feel comfortable.”

Rogers is currently promoting the release of his memoir, In Coming Out To Play, released by Penguin Books and co-written by Eric Marcus. Rogers shares his story as a “troubled isolated child” to becoming the first openly gay male professional athlete. You can check it out on Amazon.

Posted on

Out Pro-Soccer Player Robbie Rogers Signs Multi-Year Deal With LA Galaxy

Out pro-soccer player Robbie Rogers

Good news!

While Michael Sam may still be struggling with the NFL, and Jason Collins’ future with the NBA seems unclear, the LA Galaxy pro-soccer team is more than happy to keep out Robbie Rogers on the field.

Via press release:

The LA Galaxy announced today that the club has signed defender Robbie Rogers to a multi-year contract extension. Rogers, an MLS veteran and former U.S. Men’s National Team member, joined in Galaxy in May 2013 and has made 30 appearances and 22 starts as a member of the Galaxy.

“We are excited that Robbie will remain a part of our organization going forward,” LA Galaxy Head Coach and General Manager Bruce Arena said. “He has proven to be a dynamic player in our League and an integral part of our success this year. We look forward to his continued contributions in the years to come.”

It’s a good year for Rogers. Not only does he resign with the LA Galaxy, but a sitcom based on his life has gotten the green light from ABC.

Posted on

News Round-up: October 16, 2014

Billy Porter authors new off-Broadway play to strong reviews

Some stories you may have missed:

• Tony Award winner Billy Porter (Kinky Boots) debuts first play off-Broadway to strong reviews

• Shia LaBeouf says he was arrested at Broadway’s Cabaret because he couldn’t stop himself from grabbing star Alan Cumming’s ass saying “He’s the sexiest man I’ve ever seen”

• The Vatican calls for the Catholic Church to welcome and accept gays

• Stephen Sondheim says he’s working on a new musical based on two surrealist films by late Spanish director Luis Buñuel

• Out pro soccer player Robbie Rogers get sitcom based on his life green-lit by ABC

• HBO announced plans to allow streaming video subscriptions to the network in 2015 via internet without cable or satellite service

• New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner released the findings of it’s report concluding Joan Rivers died due to brain damage from to lack of oxygen.

• After going public with his Alzheimer’s diagnosis a few years ago, Glen Campbell has released his last single, “I’m Not Gonna Miss You”

Posted on

Soccer star Robbie Rogers writes a letter to his 14 year old self

In a letter to his 14-year-old self published in ESPN The Magazine, Robbie Rogers explains the journey he took to find himself, and offers advice to young people facing the battle he once fought both in sports and outside of them:

I’m not going to tell you to come out at 14 years old. I’m not going to tell you what’s going to happen in the future either because the journey is important. But I want you to realize that God made you this way for a reason. You’re not damned or going to hell. You didn’t have a choice in this. But you do have a purpose in life, just as everyone does.

When guys say things in the locker room, remind yourself that most of them don’t actually feel this way. They aren’t really homophobic. These are people trying to please others, or think that’s what they’re supposed to say. Everyone is dealing with something, whether they’re gay or straight.

You don’t have to feel like you’re alone.

Which brings me to this: If there’s any great advice I can give you, it’s to find someone you can speak to about what you’re feeling inside, someone you can trust who won’t judge or expose you. Because you can’t walk around with a burden like the one you’re carrying. You’ve got to share this with somebody.

Posted on

Robbie Rogers talks to MTV about coming out

Robbie Rogers recently visited the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, where he chatted with MTV Act  about his decision to come out publicly.

Hearing homophobic rantings when he was young, not directed towards him, made coming out seem like something he’d never do. However, after he told his family last October via Skype, he describes coming out as “the best feeling” he’s ever had.

“Now for the first time in my life, everything’s normal”

Rogers also talked about activism, saying that everyone has reached out to him to tie his name to different charities. He said he “wanted to do something that is bigger than homophobia and bigger than sports.”

With his new motivational campaign, Beyond It, Rogers plans to move “beyond” stereotypes in homophobia, sexism, disabilities, and racism. Beyond It will launch at the end of July.

The athlete also shared that he thinks opponents of marriage equality and allowing openly gay men to serve as leaders in the Boy Scouts will soon be embarrassed about their opinions. Watch him discuss below.

Get More:
MTV Shows

(via Queerty)

Posted on

Robbie Rogers debuts with LA Galaxy as 1st openly gay athlete in major league sport

As I reported earlier, Robbie Rogers has returned to MLS with the LA Galaxy becoming the first openly gay male to play in a U.S. major league sport. Rogers entered in the 77th minute of the game to huge cheers from the stadium. At the end of the game, the LA Galaxy beat the Seattle Sounders 4-0. https://youtu.be/Jau29R53hig

Posted on

Is Robbie Rogers the 1st openly gay MLS player?

According to the AP, out gay footballer Robbie Rogers will be returning to professional soccer, joining the LA Galaxy and becoming the first openly gay athlete to play in the MLS:

“I don’t know what I was so afraid of,” Rogers said Friday. “It’s been such a positive experience for me. The one thing I’ve learned from all of this is being gay is not that big of a deal to people.”

“People are just really growing and accepting and loving,” he added. “Those other things are just not that important to them. I think as the younger get older and the generations come and go, I think times are just becoming more accepting.”

Rumors of Rogers return began when Robbie recently trained with the Galaxy.
Outstanding news.  Congrats to Robbie!