I understand your point, and I do somewhat agree. It isn't anyone's business what your sexual preference is or what you choose to do in your personal life. Which means that Rogers is under no obligation to tell any of us. I disagree that by announcing this he is somehow has bad motives. The reality is, that while you or I may not care there are many people who do. He is stuck between a rock and a hard place where if he keeps silent it may appear that he is ashamed of who he is. And it appears from his statements that this was indeed something he has struggled with. It *shouldn't* be that way, but the reality is that in 2013, it still is. I don't particularly care if someone used to be an alcoholic but has now sobered up, but sometimes sharing such things helps people feel better and like they can start anew. And this announcement is not just about Rogers. In the US, soccer is not really that much of a macho sport, and as somewhat of an outsider's game it tends to be played and followed by less conservative types. There are cretins involved in it, just as there are in anything but in general he could continue to play soccer here and not suffer abuse, or at least no more and probably less than if he weren't a soccer player. But while no one here much cares about soccer, he is/was still a national team member and thus more in the public eye. His coming out was covered in major media here. I am sure that if I were to make some public announcement that I was gay, Sports Illustrated would not cover it. As such, he has the chance to be a role model for those that look up to him and to perhaps make it easier for those in other sports or professions who don't have it so easy and do have to hide their sexual preferences. For those like you and me, we can simply shrug off his announcement. Just like I wouldn't be particularly impacted one way or the other if Rogers had announced he was straight. But there is still a lot of ignorance in the US and the world. Even if you disagree that people should state their preference one way or the other, I think we should give people the benefit of the doubt that perhaps while wrong, they may have good intentions.
I suppose I am looking at it from a blind spot PTF..........I truly don't understand the need for the blog or whatever. It is sad though that because he is in so much a public view that the media feel the need to broadcast it to the world. So why make the blog in the first place, if it was not for the publicity? I guess I am suspicious by nature. How true is that.....the media have a law unto themselves. They feel they have a right to probe into your private life and broadcast anything they think may cause a titter outside. It is no wonder the readership of the newspapers is on the decline. When will they learn the vast majority of readers are not the slightest interested in who is gay and who is not. Is it just a male thing though this coming out............You don't hear from the ladies that they prefer their own sex to men though or do you?
I agree beddy, I am not the slightest bit interested if he's gay, bi or a red blooded chick magnet. I certainly don't want it splashed all over the press. Why does he feel the need to tell us, publicity maybe?
"With the masses of homophobia still around in the world, don't you think it can help people hiding their sexuality if people in the public eye do it?" Pieking..........Maybe, maybe not, but why the need to come out at all. Why is it so important they tell anyone? The female variety don't, so why is it necessary for the male of the species? "Why is a a gay guy coming onto you offensive? You just say no and carry on. The vast, vast majority will not have a problem. It's not as if they're going to try and force themselves on you." We may indeed be in the 21st century and we may be more tolerant towards these things. There is a limit and I have my doubts as to whether homosexuality will ever be accepted as the norm. I have spoken to both sides at length over this and the "other side" will never stop trying I agree. All I can say is the straight men I have spoken to said they would find it offensive to be considered even to be available to a Homosexual. I'm just expressing a view........As for them trying to force themselves on you I would certainly hope not......That though is not what I am talking about. There is no doubt that it must be difficult for gay people male or female. However it is their choice to decide and act on it. It is just one more prejudice to add to the list but it probably is the most difficult to accept for some and accordingly tolerate. Sadly it is going to take many, many, many more years, jmo, before it will be accepted in society as a "normal part of life"
He doesn't feel the need to tell us, he feels the need to tell his friends, family and fans by writing on his blog, and why the hell not? He didn't contact the media to announce it! I don't understand how anyone can be suspicious enough to believe he is looking for publicity. If you made a heartfelt post on here and it got printed in the papers would you accept a charge that you were only looking for publicity? I'd suggest not. I strongly disagree. Same-sex marriage is in the process of being legalised and the majority of the public sees it as a normal part of life. It might offend you but you need to realise that that view is outdated and sets you apart from the norm far more than being gay would.
PTF.......A blog is still a very public document..........If he wanted to make it known at all outside of his family......you ask why shouldn't he.....mate I merely say....why should he? A public blog is just that it used to highlight a point of view and to get a discussion going just as we have here. It will be very difficult for me to accept that is was nothing more than a public announcement and therefor for publicity. Sorry nothing I have seen is close to persuading me otherwise...Just my opinion though.
There's not a shred of evidence for that. I suppose you think he consulted his agent before posting on an obscure blog at 1am? Have you actually read it? Because it doesn't come across like a press release. If he was doing it for publicity he could have announced it in a magazine or on TV. A personal blog may be publicly viewable but so is this forum. What's the difference? Are your posts just for publicity? Are you just jealous that his has been widely circulated and yours haven't? Because that's as logical a conclusion as yours I'm afraid.
PTF........"It might offend you but you need to realise that that view is outdated and sets you apart from the norm far more than being gay would." Strewth mate now you really are exaggerating........ In the first place I didn't say it offended me personally more that I have spoken to friends about this which helped me to form my view. You are saying my view sets me apart from the norm based on what pray? If that were true why is there a need to publicise his sexuality at all, why would the guy go into hiding, if everything said is so normal in regards to his sexuality?
Can't agree....what is coming out then if it is not a public statement!? The difference is that while this indeed is a public Forum are we not debating a question raised by another poster? Have I not expressed several times I am expressing just that, my opinion on the matter just as you are publicly. There is no need for me to seek the publicity it is there for all to see, just that, my view.
Ok so any post which isn't a reply is a cry for attention then is it? I have to say I find your line of argument baffling. It's simple, the norm is acceptance if not support for gay people. It's only an issue for some because other people with views similar to yours make it one. America is more conservative in this issue than we are, granted, and so is football. But it's only a matter of time before they catch up, and this is a small step in that process.
No I am not saying any post is a cry for attention....However there are posts that are intended to do just that and I see his as one. I am a bit puzzled as to why you see my posting as to an intolerance of gays. You are assuming rather a lot and you have got it wrong. The norm is not a tolerance or an acceptance of gays at all. Certainly based on the evidence I have witnessed. I am not saying it is right or wrong for either. Nor am I saying that is how I personally feel. There is more tolerance certainly that I accept. However it is a long way from being the norm, tolerance or acceptance. You do not know me personally as I do not know you. However, if you knew me personally you would know that while I am not gay myself I do have a very strong circle of friends who are. Mainly because of my relatives as I spoke of earlier. My opinion is based on my discussions with them and their views. I don't say I have vast knowledge nor do I say that my views are correct, only that I am not alone in my views and at the moment nothing has been said that will change those views.
Sorry but I am not wrong. Public polls show that twice as many people support same-sex marriage compared to those who oppose it: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/dec/26/voters-back-gay-marriage-poll That is concrete statistical fact, not what my friends say. I don't need to know you personally to see that your views are regressive. That's not a slight, it's a dispassionate observation. I'm not calling you a homophobe but your argument that you can't be one because you have gay friends is facile.
It's an old fashioned opinion I'm afraid. Frankly it's impractical to keep your sexuality private. Gay people still want love and companionship as much as straight people. Imagine if because your a pro footballer you couldn't socialise with your team mates with your wife or live with your wife or even become man and wife in the 1st place. This is the current scenario for a gay athlete and this must affect there well being and happiness outside of football.
Oh I accept I am old fashioned........As I have previously said it is just my opinion. As for polls they cannot be relied on as has been proven numerous times in political elections. Was it ever suggested that it was accepted as the norm for men to marry men or for women to marry women. I don't think so......and further to that I really do not think it will be seen so. I think though perhaps the debate should be carried on by others. I have expressed my view which may or may not be the norm or the majority view. It is just that a view for what it is worth.................
You're conflating two different ideas here: I didn't say being gay was the norm, I said support for gay rights was the norm. You're entitled to your view, but you must accept it is a controversial one, and certainly not the majority opinion amongst the general population.
I think its great that a footballer has "come out" about his homosexuality. Statistically, there should be more gay footballers, and the fact that there are not more openly gay footballers probably says more about football and some of the neanderthals who watch and play it than anything else. Rogers going public may encourage more gay footballers to also come out. I cannot imagine how difficult it must be to feel the need to keep secret something as basic as your sexuality, and the negative impact it has on your lifeof trying to live a lie. Something as basic as walking down the street hand in hand with the person you love denied to you because you are afraid of openly declaring your preference! As to the question of a heterosexual being offended/disgusted if a gay man came on to them, I find this quite bizarre. Do some people really think that homesexual men are so predatory that no arse is safe from their advances? Gay men have the same insecurities as everyone else, and there is the same range of personalities and characters. Personally I would be flattered if a woman or a man felt I was attractive enough to ask out! However, being a happily married man (33 years this year) I would respectfully decline either offer without offence and still remain freinds with the man or woman concerned. However, I would take the womans number, just in case I needed it in the future.
Why, because I have a different opinion than you? I think blokes announcing their sex life idiotic, yet have to be tolerant. Its unfortunate that such tolerance is only a one way street. You should be able to have a differing view without being branded an idiot
That's a really annoying argument. You are able. For example, I don't tend to agree with fiscal conservatism but it is still a view that I consider to be valid and not idiotic. Your opinion, however, is one that I consider to be idiotic. Once again, it's not that every opinion that I don't agree with is idiotic, but yours is.
