Coming out of Robbie Rogers is 'tipping point', says activist

The decision by American soccer player Robbie Rogers to come out as gay was hailed by rights groups who believe sport in the United States is reaching a "tipping point" in accepting homosexual players.

The 25-year-old former Leeds United and US national team midfielder wrote a blog post about his struggle keeping his sexuality a secret and that he was leaving the game.

"Robbie Rogers demonstrated enormous courage coming out and it's great to see the overwhelming positive response from other players around the sport," said Brian Ellner of Athletes Ally, a group that fights to end homophobia in sports.

"It's clear that the culture of sports is transforming rapidly. We're at a tipping point."

No player in the National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association or National Hockey League has ever come out as gay while playing.

The most prominent "coming out" in professional sports in recent times was Puerto Rican featherweight boxer Orlando Cruz, who last October announced he was gay.

Rogers played briefly for Leeds United this season but left the club after a loan deal to English League One side Stevenage expired last month.

In a blog posting linked to his Twitter account, Rogers made an emotional revelation under a message that simply said: "Just getting some sh*t off my chest".

"For the past 25 years I have been afraid, afraid to show who I really was because of fear. Fear that judgment 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 wrote.

"Secrets can cause so much internal damage. 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.

"Life is simple when your secret is gone. Gone is the pain that lurks in the stomach at work, the pain from avoiding questions, and at last the pain from hiding such a deep secret."

Rogers, whose most recent of 18 appearances for the US squad came in 2011, said football was a refuge for him as he fought personal issues.

"I always thought I could hide this secret. Football was my escape, my purpose, my identity. Football hid my secret, gave me more joy than I could have ever imagined."

While tennis' Martina Navratilova, former Wales rugby union captain Gareth Thomas and Surrey and England wicketkeeper Steven Davies have come out while still active competitors, no British-based footballer has done so since former Norwich and Nottingham Forest striker Justin Fashanu in 1990.

Fashanu committed suicide eight years later aged 37.

Gordon Taylor, chief executive of England's Professional Footballers Association, responded to Rogers's announcement by saying: "It's no bad thing that he's been brave enough to come out.

"We know of players who are playing who are gay who've not had that confidence as yet. But, as the rest of the world becomes more civilised, hopefully that will come."

Patrick Burke, co-founder of the group You Can Play, which campaigns against homophobia and for equality for gays athletes, believes players in the top North American leagues will soon start to announce they are gay.

"I think we have hit the turning point in the sports world for sure. The majority of professional athletes are supportive and do not care if one of their teammates or opponents is gay, it makes no difference to them," Burke said.

"We have had over 100 professional hockey players stand up with us and say that they would be happy to support openly gay teammates.

"We will have an openly gay NHL player within the next year or so and I think the other sports will follow suit."

Agence France-Presse, Reuters