Three years ago today, Robbie Rogers made the most important decision of his life.
In a blog post entitled "Just getting some sh*t off my chest," Rogers came out to the world and announced that he was stepping away from the game of soccer. At the time, Rogers declared himself "free" from any worry about hiding who he was to the world anymore.
“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.
“I always thought I could hide this secret,” he said. “Football was my escape, my purpose, my identity. Football hid my secret, gave me more joy than I could have ever imagined. … I will always be thankful for my career. I will remember Beijing, the MLS Cup, and most of all my teammates. I will never forget the friends I have made along the way and the friends that supported me once they knew my secret.”
Rogers' blog post earned him a groundswell of love and support throughout the soccer and general sports community, ultimately leading him to return to soccer several months later when he joined the LA Galaxy.
After much introspection three years ago, Rogers admitted last year that he is finally happy with where he is in life. Flash forward three years and Rogers finds himself more comfortable than ever, both on and off of the field.
“When I’m playing, obviously I’m playing for the Galaxy, these guys, my family and most importantly, myself, but I also feel like I’m playing for those in the LGBT community,” Rogers said after scoring his goal for the Galaxy last summer. “Sometimes it has been tough for me, and I’ve felt the pressure from the moments like this and the [2014 MLS Cup] Championship, I never expected for me to find that pride or to be proud of coming from a community that doesn’t really have a huge footprint in sports. To be a part of it… It’s a special moment.”
