February 15, 2013

Robbie Rogers comes out as gay: US Soccer player Robbie Rogers has stated on his blog that he is gay and will be taking a break from soccer to concentrate on life.

posted by Ricardo to soccer at 02:53 PM - 9 comments

Here is a link to his website

posted by Ricardo at 02:55 PM on February 15, 2013

Hope he gets back in the game, probably with MLS, and soon.

posted by billsaysthis at 07:47 PM on February 15, 2013

He likely won't be hearing any words of support or encouragement from Tim Tebow, who appears to be heading in the other direction.

posted by beaverboard at 08:26 AM on February 16, 2013

I hope this is the first step in him realizing he doesn't have to leave soccer just because he's gay. Obviously he'd be subjected to fan abuse and perhaps even some comments by opposing players, but he's only 25. It would be a shame to see him abandon his athletic career.

Some teammates and other players have publicly supported him. Eddie Pope wrote on Twitter, "Brave men like you will make it so that one day there is no need for an announcement. That day can't arrive soon enough."

Amen, Pope.

posted by rcade at 02:11 PM on February 16, 2013

The megachurch pastor reserves some of his most stringent rhetoric for gays and lesbians. Arnt Lesbians Gay? Or did I miss the memo He has described gays and lesbians as "perverse," "miserable" and "abnormal" people who engage in an "unnatural" and "filthy practice" that will lead to the "implosion of our country." Jeffress argues that the gay community employs Chinese "brainwashing techniques" in order to have homosexuality "crammed down our throats."

Ok now I've had things "crammed down my throat" before but never any Chinese (brainwashing techniques that is)

posted by Folkways at 02:51 PM on February 16, 2013

The number of anti-gay people who use the "crammed down our throats" metaphor is pretty funny.

posted by rcade at 03:16 PM on February 16, 2013

I couldn't agree more with Eddie Pope's comments. It would have been great if Robbie Rogers had reached this point a few years ago when he was playing with the Columbus Crew--in a city that has built a reputation of being very gay-friendly and presumably would have at least provided him a lot of support while playing at home.

In any event, good on him, and hopefully he does feel comfortable with coming back at some point in the near future.

posted by bender at 03:54 PM on February 16, 2013

Amen, Pope.

I woke up from a nap, stumbling around in a semi-stupor, came to this discussion, scrolled hazily through the new comments and immediately came upon those two words.

Without knowing the context, my first thought was OMG, there's a new sheriff in town, they voted him in while I was asleep, and things are suddenly very different at the Vatican.

In my daze, it made sense to me because I figured that if anyone were to know about such a bold, dramatic change, it would be rman rcade.

posted by beaverboard at 05:16 PM on February 16, 2013

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