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Player
that retires after being released from UK pro-team comes out in
February and is now pursuing a pro-career in United States
as an openly gay soccer player.
From
New York Daily News -
Rogers has agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Galaxy, according to a report by USA TODAY Sports, and also hopes to play for the U.S. national team during the 2014 World Cup.
The winger, who recently turned 26, had a change of heart after he gave a speech to about 500 kids at an LGBT forum in April.
"I seriously felt like a coward," Rogers said. "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?"
In February, Rogers shared on his website that it was time to step away and discover himself away from his sport.
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"For
the past 25 (years) I have been afraid, afraid to show whom I
really was because of fear. Fear that judgment and rejection
would hold me back from my dreams and aspirations," Rogers
wrote. "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."
Since then,
NBA player Jason Collins has publicly shared his sexuality
through a Sports Illustrated story that he wrote with veteran
sports journalist Franz Lidz.
Rogers says he got a call from the veteran center the afternoon
after Collins released his story.
"[He] just wanted to see how the process had been like for
me with media and the attention," Rogers said. "I just
tried to give him as much advice as I could. He seems like such
a nice guy."
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