Robbie Rogers has remained relatively quiet in the media since he came out as gay in 2010. His main focus was becoming the best player he could be, and that strategy has been paying off.
He’s now excelling as a left-back for the LA Galaxy, and that means he’ll be in a unique position in 2018 as the only out player to be traveling to an antigay country to compete in the World Cup. Of course, other players might come out by then, but nobody has since Rogers did five years ago.
Related: Robbie Rogers Dishes On The First Time He Hooked Up With A Guy
Outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter infamously said in 2010 that LGBT visitors to Qatar for the tournament “should refrain from any sexual activities.” Just one of the many cringe-worth messages to come out of FIFA of late.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
But will Rogers boycott the tournament on moral grounds? Absolutely not, and for good reason.
Related: Robbie Rogers Reveals How Locker Room Behavior Has Changed Since He Came Out
“I think what I’ve learned from my experience of coming out and being present in the locker room is that by being there it is more of a statement than boycotting or something like that.”
“So if I were to go to Russia or Qatar then I would do it and I would be extremely flamboyant about it.”
We’re already looking forward to covering that.
Brian JC Kneeland
Sadly — that’s the way to get the message across!
Stefano
Yeah yeah right. What happened in Russia during the Olympics Games? Athletes were suppose to do something and…nothing happened. This is just the usual Blah blah of athletes. They learn their lessons well.
Cam
That is the same tired line that Johnny Weir used when he was defending Russia “Oh, I won’t boycott, I’ll just go there and embody whatever false stereotype that have about gays.
No Robbie, high level events or people actually boycotting brings the message home that their activities aren’t acceptable, going there just shows them that they can do whatever they want without repercussions.
AtticusBennett
NOTHING happened in Sochi. All the b.s. “maybe we’ll get a Jesse Owens moment!” talk resulted in NOTHING.
athletes at Sochi met the bigotry of Russia with all the strength and integrity of a bowl of mashed potatoes.
there was even a Canadian athlete who won a medal who was gay, who went back in the closet for the olympics, and didn’t do anything. not a gesture. nothing. then comes home and is all “look! i’ma gay hero!” no. you f***ing aren’t.
you’re not even an athlete. you’re JUST an athlete. that’s it, that’s all.
that said – if Robbie keeps his word, that would rock. be flamboyant. be visible. be EVERYTHING they hate, and do it right in their damn faces. what’s the world gonna do when the whole world is watching? do it. or boycott.
but showing up and playing by their own bigoted rules is just condoning it.
Stefano
@Cam: You are right.
Athletes are there for fame and fortune. When they came out, they did it for themselves, not for the “Community” (and it is Ok)…so they can stop pretending. For me, all their rhetoric is just BS.
Lestar
Well, we’ll just have to wait and see if he’ll really walk the walk and talk that talk.
Kieran
The best way Robbie Rogers could be “flamboyant” is to be a top notch player and score more goals than anybody. He should be focused on that rather than worrying about being “extremely flamboyant”….whatever that means.
Dixie Rect
This twit will do nothing. His PR checks must still be clearing!
Giancarlo85
I’m not paying much attention to the World Cup anyways. Too much corruption. Qatar got their bid because they paid for it. Everybody knows that. Sepp Blatter quit FIFA because of investigations into his office for bribery. There are major links of corruption throughout. The World Cup may not even be held in Qatar or Russia in the end because of this explosive mess.
And for the guys complaining about stereotypes and flamboyance… well then, go out there and do something yourself… rather than being armchair activists.
sportyguy1983
Rather than thinking about being “flamboyant” (what exactly does that mean?), he should focus on actually making the team first. He is a big time dark horse to make the team and he will be 31 when the World Cup kicks off. The the peak age of soccer players is between 26 and 28. I have a feeling he will be acting “flamboyant” from the stands.
Athletes should stick to playing their sport and not making political statement. You want to make a political statement, stop being an athlete and either run for office or work for a political organization.
Stefano
@Giancarlo85: Go yourself ! Lol
Stefano
@Giancarlo85: “Qatar got their bid because they paid for it. Everybody knows that.” I love it…and the sun turns around the earth, everybody knows that (i’m sacarstic) ! You are hilarious.
aliengod
Why would he want to hurt the LGB community by promoting false stereotypes. Being a gay guy doesn’t mean you have to act girly or feminine. I don’t think that does anything to help promote acceptance. Bad idea Robbie.
Giancarlo85
@Stefano: You’re stupid. You don’t really have much in the way of brain cells.
@aliengod: And what are these “false stereotypes” are you speaking about? Oh that’s right… for a closeted fake masculine queen like yourself you always have to bitch about what others are doing. But you’re too much of a coward to actually do anything yourself!
Hussain-TheCanadian
I don’t think FIFA understands how hot it gets in the summer in the Gulf region; I’m talking so hot that you cant drive your car during the day.
Besides lets be real, do people really think that there are no gay men in Qatar or the Persian gulf? Its the worst kept secret:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bGqMpXxWNU
Giancarlo85
@aliengod: And you think feminine and out gay men don’t do anything to help acceptance… wake up, feminine gay men are the ones that CHANGED MINDS BECAUSE THEY ARE ACTUALLY OUT TO BEGIN WITH.
That’s the problem with you phonies.
Anyways here is the REAL problem with past and future bids. Even the South Africa 2010 World Cup bid has been called into question.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/afontevecchia/2015/06/02/qatars-2022-world-cup-bid-marked-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-fifas-sepp-blatter/
This sort of corruption was going on for years.
Jared MacBride
Rogers is very unlikely to make the 2018 U.S. World Cup team. Nice player, but MLS soccer is second rate and the US team coach prefer players now competing in Europe.
aliengod
@Giancarlo85: As usual, you are so delusional. Gay men are constantly portrayed as flamboyant, feminine sissies in movies and television even though it isn’t realistic. The majority of gay men act like men. I’m not saying you don’t have a right to act like a androgynous sissy, it just doesn’t represent the majority of gay men. It’s the stereotype the media likes to portray to make gay men seem inferior. It has nothing to do with being out of the closet. I’ve been out for many years. Being out doesn’t require me to be feminine. Your need for attention has nothing to do with your sexuality.
Giancarlo85
@aliengod: Blah blah blah… “flamboyant, feminine sissies” have more guts and are more manly than a closeted douche like you. Realistic? Sure it is. There are many feminine and flamboyant gay men out there, myself included. We are out every single day. And what do you mean act like men? You subscribe to societal expectations and norms… you’re heteronormative. You want to blend in because you are too ashamed to admit you are different. I’m not “acting” like anything by the way. I am being myself.
You are just too much of a homophobic self hating bigot to see reality. The flamboyant and feminine gay men are out there changing minds and you aren’t doing shit.
aliengod
@Giancarlo85: Apparently you missed the part where I informed you I’ve been “out” for many years. Your constant attempt to distort reality to suit your needs is futile. The fact is, most gay guys are comfortable being guys. Most of us don’t feel the need to “fem out” to draw attention to ourselves. I understand that’s your thing so have at it. But to portray in television and movies feminine men as an accurate representation of gay men is incorrect and stereotypical. It’s an inaccurate portrayal of true LGB. It’s not about “blending in”. It’s about being true to who you are. I’m simply a man who happens to be gay. I don’t need to be flamboyant to express my homosexuality.
William Armstrong
You can be yourself and get your message across too! Just have fun and come home safe!
Giancarlo85
So called gay masculine men, like you aliengod, have done little to nothing to increase awareness and acceptance among the population. The gay men that improve awareness and acceptance have always been feminine and flamboyant gay men. This is just the reality.
Giancarlo85
@aliengod: You aren’t out. So don’t even try to lie about that. And distort what? Little guy, I state the reality. By the way, are feminine gay men not comfortable being guys? Are you really this full of shit in real life?
Feminine gay men are GUYS. They aren’t trying to be women. Maybe take your stupid nasty degrading attitude somewhere else. And you wonder why nobody wants to date your hateful ass. By the way, stop repeating the “LGB” nonsense. No such acronym.
And what do you mean “fem out”? Are you stupid? It has nothing to do with drawing attention. It has to do with people being themselves.
And yes, you are all about blending in and pleasing heterosexuals. People like you accomplish nothing for the community and in fact you cause more damage by bashing on other gay men you just don’t like.
So yes, you’re a total complete hypocrite and douchebag. Feminine gay men are men. And they are more manly and brave than someone like you!
Giancarlo85
I love it how people like alienturd constantly bully and harass other gay men because they don’t live to his deluded standard of “manhood”. He actually think he’s helping the community, when in reality he hasn’t done shit for anyone.
And by the way, if you think most gay men are so called “masculine gay men” like you… you’re more delusional than I thought.
martinbakman
Has remained relatively quiet?
What does that mean? That he hasn’t posted a bunch of selfies or had a pic of his dick show up on TMZ?
This is a world where there are still a bunch of farts that don’t give a hoot about American football. He’s doing as much as he can fit into his schedule with appearances and promoting his book and playing for the championship MLS team, LA Galaxy.
I’m not sure what he means by extremely flamboyant but I’m assuming it means however he defines flamboyant, and not necessarily in some manner merely meant to indulge others.
Saint Law
@aliengod: Jesus when did you get so prolix? You can do stupid in one sentence you know.
“I’m simply a man…”
So you keep saying. You’re obv trying to convince someone but I’m at a loss just who.
Bauhaus
I hope by flamboyant he means public displays of affection: kissing, nuzzling, cuddling, hand-holding, canoodling, and caressing any boyfriend/partner he may have. In other words, behaving in public with his man just like his straight mates do with their women.
Kathukid
I’m still waiting for the first professional golfer to come out. There has to be at least one.
lauraspencer
This coming from the same man who was hung up on someone “masculine” playing him in a TV series?
http://www.queerty.com/robbie-rogers-wants-a-very-masculine-actor-like-chris-pratt-to-play-him-in-the-upcoming-sitcom-about-his-life-20141225
Sounds like Rogers says whatever he needs to say to get press. He isn’t man enough to act “flamboyant” or whatever he means by that.
passingthru
@aliengod: It isn’t “inaccurate” or “incorrect”. There is a big world of gay folks out there and it’s accurate and correct to portray them in many ways. That being said, it’s best to not be judgemental. Let’s celebrate all of the diversity because in diversity there is strength. In variety there is flavor. Who wants a boring gay world where everyone is the same?
judysdad
I must say, Giancarlo85 has to be one of the angriest, despicable posters I’ve seen on this or any other site. Dude, you have serious issues, with your hatred of masculine gay men. Please seek help…the sooner the better.
aliengod
@judysdad: I agree with you. However, I must warn you that he/she is so threatened by masculine gay men that he/she will attack you mercilessly. He/she is such a miserably angry person that he/she will lie and/or attack anything that threatens his/her philosophy. I’ve attempted to speak with him/her but have realized it’s a waste of time. It’s best to let it spew it’s hate and ignore it.
Giancarlo85
@judysdad: You are one with serious mental problems and you are unhinged like alienturd. Total kissing up to the right wing and will do anything to please straight people. Alienturd is now calling me a girl… he has done this plenty of times in the past because he suffers from dementia and his own internalized homophobia.
What hatred of masculine gay men? I don’t care for fake ass shits like you or alienturd.
Giancarlo85
It’s funny this hit and run tool judysdad comes in here… I’ve seen praising right wing politicians on this blog before. Alienturd does the same thing. Alienturd is very happy selling this country out to bigots like Rand Paul and others. Best to ignore alienturd… his mental paranoias and delusions are getting the better of him.
bob5678
Mrs. Rogers can’t even make the first team for the Galaxy. How does he expect to make it to the World Cup? Is he going as the water boy? Let’s not forget that the coach of the national team wants to win the World Cup.
adrianjurado310
how else is he going to find a boyfriend?