Out Spotlight

Today's Out Spotlight is an American professional soccer player who now plays for Los Angeles Galaxy.  In 2013, he came, becoming the second male footballer in Britain to do so after Justin Fashanu came out in 1990. Today's Out Spotlight is Robbie Rogers.

Robert Hampton "Robbie" Rogers was born May 12, 1987 to Theresa and Robert Hampton Rogers II.  He joined one brother, Timothy, and three sisters, Nicole Camilla, Alicia, and Katie Rose in the Rogers family. His mother's family is originally from the Columbus, Ohio area where Rogers played for Columbus Crew. His maternal grandfather is a graduate of Ohio State University and his mother spent her early childhood years in Dublin, Ohio, before the family moved to California.

Growing up in California, Rogers enjoyed surfing and still surfs when he returns to the United States. He also enjoys playing table tennis and has a strong interest in music. Rogers states that his favourite athlete is Zlatan Ibrahimović.

Rogers started playing soccer at age four-and-a-half at the American Youth Soccer Organization.  By seven, Rogers he soccer in the Coast Soccer league, as well as in various Hispanic leagues. He attended Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, where he was a two-time High School All-American in soccer. Rogers made three appearances for Orange County Blue Star of the USL Premier Development League in 2005, leaving upon deciding to attend university in the fall. He played one season of college soccer at the University of Maryland, alongside his future Columbus Crew teammate Jason Garey, helping lead the team to the 2005 NCAA Championship. During his one season at UMD, he scored seven times and assisted a further five goals. He was also named in the ACC All-Conference Freshman team, as well as the Soccer Rookie Team of the Year.

 Rogers plays as either a winger or as a second striker.

After impressing during his one year of college soccer for Maryland Terrapins, he attracted the interest of Dutch Eredivisie side Heerenveen. In the summer of 2006, Heerenveen invited Rogers to the club for a three-week trial, an option that he ultimately took up. The trial period was successful, and he signed a two-year professional contract with the Dutch side in August 2006, his first professional deal. Rogers admitted that the decision to turn professional, and turn down three remaining years of eligibility at Maryland, was "the toughest of his life", but also stated that it was "an opportunity he could not pass up". However, he failed to make a first-team appearance for the club, although played frequently for the reserve side that went on to win their respective league during the 2006–07 season. He left Heerenveen by mutual consent in February 2007.

Following his release, Rogers returned to the United States, and was subsequently signed by MLS side Columbus Crew ahead of the 2007 MLS season. Columbus Crew acquired Rogers after they had won a Draft Lottery for the player in March 2007. He scored his first goal for the club on June 17, 2007, netting the opening goal of the game in a 3–3 draw away to New England Revolution. Rogers scored two further times during the 2007 campaign, both of which came in a 3–2 victory over DC United at RFK Stadium. He made ten appearances during his first season with Crew, scoring three times and making one assist.

The 2008 season would be Rogers' breakthrough season as a professional. He started the campaign playing regularly for Crew, scoring his first goals of the season in a 4–3 home win over CD Chivas USA on April 13, 2008. He went on to score the winning goal in a 2–1 win against Kansas City Wizards on May 4, 2008, before netting twice a week later as Crew defeated San Jose Earthquakes 3–2 to take their winning streak to five matches. Following his two goals against Earthquakes, he was awarded the MLS Player of the Week award for week seven. His sixth goal of the campaign came in a 3–1 home win against New York Red Bulls at Columbus Crew Stadium in September 2008. He went on to score a further goal in the 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs, scoring the club's second in a 2–0 win over Kansas City Wizards; a win that ensured Crew progressed to the Conference final. Rogers played in all four of Crew's MLS Cup games, including in the final, where they defeated New York Red Bulls 3–1 at The Home Depot Center in November 2008. The season was successful both individually and collectively for Rogers, as he was named in the MLS Best XI team for the year, as well as picking up Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup silverware. He made 33 appearances during the 2008 campaign, scoring seven times, and assisting three goals.

It took Rogers five months to score his first goal of the 2009 season as Crew started the season without a win in seven games.  He eventually netted a goal in a 3–0 win over San Jose Earthquakes at Buck Shaw Stadium on August 9, 2009. It was his only goal of the 2009 MLS season, although he did score two goals in two CONCACAF Champions League matches against Puerto Rico Islanders and Deportivo Saprissa respectively. During the season, Rogers picked up his second Supporters' Shield title after Crew finished first in the overall standings despite their slow start, finishing a point ahead of second placed Los Angeles Galaxy.

During the following season, Rogers' fourth at Columbus Crew, he made 34 appearances and scored twice. His first goal of the campaign came in a 3–2 win over New England Revolution in May 2010, with Rogers' goal coming in the 91st minute of the match. He also netted in a 2–1 win over Colorado Rapids in the MLS Cup Conference semi-final. Despite Rogers' goal, eventual champions Rapids would go on to win the tie 5–4 on penalties after extra-time. Rogers opened his account for the 2011 season in the club's first game of the season, scoring a late consolation penalty as Crew went down 3–1 to DC United. A month later, in April 2011, he scored the only goal of the game in a 1–0 home victory over Sporting Kansas City at Columbus Crew Stadium. It was to be his last goal for the club, in a season where he played 30 times. His last game for the club was in a 1–0 defeat to Colorado Rapids in the MLS Cup wildcard game on October 28, 2011. During his last season with the club, he led the team in assists and was also awarded the 'Crew Hardest Working Player' award. In December 2011, it was announced that Rogers was a free agent after he rejected the offer of a contract extension at Columbus Crew. During his five seasons at Crew, he made 138 appearances and scored 17 times.

After Rogers left Columbus Crew, he  joined Leeds United (UK) on an initial two-week trial period in December 2011, before signing on a permanent basis a month later, in January 2012. Rogers explained his national team coach Jürgen Klinsmann recommended him to then Leeds manager Simon Grayson, who in-turn invited Rogers for a trial. His work permit was granted a week after signing for the club. He made his debut on February 18, 2012, coming as a 79th minute substitute in an eventual 3–2 home win over Doncaster Rovers. However, he had to be substituted just ten minutes into his debut after suffering a severe clash of heads with Doncaster defender Tommy Spurr. The head injury ultimately ruled him out of first-team action for several weeks. He returned  first-team in April 2012, making his first appearance under new manager Neil Warnock —  coming in as an 85th minute substitute in a 2–0 defeat Reading.  A week later, on April 14, he made his first start for the club in a home fixture against Peterborough United. Similarly to his debut, he was substituted after just ten minutes due to sustaining an ankle injury.The ankle injury would ultimately rule him out for the remainder of the season. Rogers made four appearances during the second half of the 2011–12 season, with his first few months at the club blighted by injury.

Ahead of the 2012–13 season, manager Neil Warnock said that he was hopeful Rogers would be able to get a full pre-season under his belt. In June 2012, Rogers returned to the United States to take part in a rehabilitation program, as well as spending two weeks training with the Los Angeles Galaxy squad. He returned to Leeds at the beginning of July 2012, and was featured in a number of the club's pre-season games. Shortly before the start of the new season, on August 9, manager Neil Warnock revealed that Rogers, along with team-mate Danny Pugh, had been placed on the transfer list in order to generate funds for a new striker.

Rogers joined League One side Stevenage on August 23, on a loan deal until January 2013. Stevenage manager Gary Smith, previously manager of MLS side Colorado Rapids, said that Rogers always impressed him during his time managing in the United States.  Rogers made his debut for Stevenage two days after signing, on August 25, coming on as a late substitute in the club's 1–0 away victory against Oldham Athletic. He made nine appearances during his five-month loan, with his time at the club "hampered by injury". He returned to Leeds on January 15, 2013.

A couple of weeks after being released by Leeds United, on February 15, 2013, Rogers announced his retirement from professional soccer at age 25 and announced he was gay, making him the first professional footballer based in Britain to come out since Justin Fashanu did so in 1990.  He announced his retirement and his sexuality with a 408-word post on his personal blog, robbiehrogers.com, writing, "I'm a soccer player, I'm Christian, and I'm gay, Those are things that people might say wouldn't go well together. But my family raised me to be an individual and to stand up for what I believe in."

He went on to say, "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. 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".

In a March 2013 interview with The Guardian (UK), Rogers said he retired to avoid the pressure and scrutiny from the press and fans, what he called "the circus". Rogers said, "Are people coming to see you because you're gay? Would I want to do interviews every day, where people are asking: 'So you're taking showers with guys — how's that?'

On May 1, 2013, the day after basketball player Jason Collins became the first active openly gay player in a top U.S. sports league and credited Rogers with having "blazed a trail", Rogers joined Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer in training as a "special guest". He said he made the decision to return to soccer in April 2013, after speaking in front of a crowd of 500 at an LGBT youth event in Portland, Oregon, during which he "seriously felt like a coward".  He told USA TODAY Sports, "These kids are standing up for themselves and changing the world, and I'm 25, I have a platform and a voice to be a role model. How much of a coward was I to not step up to the plate?" He contacted Galaxy coach Bruce Arena, who extended him an invitation to train in Los Angeles.

On May 24, 2013, Rogers agreed to terms with the LA Galaxy, pending the trade of his MLS rights from Chicago Fire SC in exchange for Mike Magee. Although the Fire held his MLS rights, Rogers had said in a radio interview that he had no intention of playing for Chicago, as he preferred to be close to his family in Southern California.

When the deal is finalized, Rogers would become the first openly gay player to to sign for a major men's professional team in the United States, as Jason Collins is a free agent.