With the London 2012 Olympics fast approaching and reporters stocking up on personal stories to feature during the games, Megan Rapinoe decided it was time.

In a recent interview with Out Magazine, the U.S. women’s soccer midfielder with the short-cropped platinum blond hair said for the first time publicly: “For the record: I am gay.”

Rapinoe had not been hiding her sexuality, she simply said no one had ever asked her directly.

“I feel like sports in general are still homophobic, in the sense that not a lot of people are out,” Rapinoe told Out Sports. “I feel everyone is really craving [for] people to come out. People want -- they need -- to see that there are people like me playing soccer for the good ol’ U.S. of A.”

Rapinoe, who burst onto the scene at the 2011 World Cup in Germany, spoke with USA Today’s Robert Klemko about her decision to come out now.

“To be honest I've been thinking about it for a while, trying to find a time that works, now leading up to the Olympics, people want to get personal stories. Our team in general is in a position where people look up to us and kids look up to us. I embrace that and I think I have a huge LGBT following. I think it's pretty cool, the opportunity that I have, especially in sports. There's really not that many out athletes. It's important to be out and to live my life that way.”

“It's about standing up and being counted and saying you're proud of who you are.”

Rapinoe, who turns 27 on Thursday, acknowledged that the culture of sports makes it more difficult for closeted male athletes to come out, but said that when a high-profile active athlete finally does come out, it will pave the way for others.

The Americans open their London campaign with a Grup G match against France on July 25th in Glasgow.

http://www.washingtonpost..._blog.html

Who?

OK, this is getting ridiculous...

Timmy84 said:

OK, this is getting ridiculous...

meltwithu said:

A gay female soccer player... I'm shocked Waiting for a male figure skater to announce he's straight

Clearly people are hunting for these now.

And as has been said over and over, who cares?

Like, couldn't all this outness be one thread?

Another one of those, "but we already knew that, Honey " scenarios. From the first moment I ever saw her I instantly thought, "Dinah Shore Weekend". Besides, she openly dates and appears in public with her girlfriends.

She's a cool girl; very perky and a little firecracker on the field. During the women's world football championship (last year?) she was the darling of the international sports press; an excellent player with lots of personality. Since I live in Europe now I'm just starting to appreciate soccer; I have to say that Rapinoe and the American Women's Soccer Team is awesome-really top tier and they kick serious butt when they play. The ladies made me very proud watching them get almost to the end, and they were so good that a lot of Europeans were rooting for them to win the Championship, too. Go Rapinoe. Next time bring that trophy home, Girl

I thought it was funny.

On the radio the outing of mr. Ocean was mentioned. It was said it was news because the black hiphop scene predominantly consists of lyrics that promote a strong heterosexual macho male attitude, reinforced with gay and female unfriendly lyrics and attituteds.

So, after mentioning that, the DJ said he still didn't understand why no male soccer player has ever come out as gay.

This is oftentimes asked during interviews with Dutch soccer players. They always respond the same, that it is weird that there is no gay player, because soccer players don't differ that much from 'normal' human beings. So, at least 5% of the soccer players is gay.

So, we'r all still waiting for that first gay male soccer star.

I am very happy with this new trend. People coming out, without any fuss. Not making it some dirt or gossip news, just as a fact of life.

This trend is wonderful for every person around the world who thinks being gay is a bad thing.

Now they have so many examples, from so many disciplines, they know it's nothing to be ashamed about. They know they can be gay and be succesfull. They don't need to play hide and seek about it.

Ottensen said:

Another one of those, "but we already knew that, Honey " scenarios. From the first moment I ever saw her I instantly thought, "Dinah Shore Weekend". Besides, she openly dates and appears in public with her girlfriends.

She's a cool girl; very perky and a little firecracker on the field. During the women's world football championship (last year?) she was the darling of the international sports press; an excellent player with lots of personality. Since I live in Europe now I'm just starting to appreciate soccer; I have to say that Rapinoe and the American Women's Soccer Team is awesome-really top tier and they kick serious butt when they play. The ladies made me very proud watching them get almost to the end, and they were so good that a lot of Europeans were rooting for them to win the Championship, too. Go Rapinoe. Next time bring that trophy home, Girl

I misread your post, thought you meant:

"bring that trophy wife home, girl"

Not every gay girl has such a beautiful wife as Ellen Degeneres has

smoothcriminal12 said:

With the London 2012 Olympics fast approaching and reporters stocking up on personal stories to feature during the games, Megan Rapinoe decided it was time.

In a recent interview with Out Magazine, the U.S. women’s soccer midfielder with the short-cropped platinum blond hair said for the first time publicly: “For the record: I am gay.”

Rapinoe had not been hiding her sexuality, she simply said no one had ever asked her directly.

“I feel like sports in general are still homophobic, in the sense that not a lot of people are out,” Rapinoe told Out Sports. “I feel everyone is really craving [for] people to come out. People want -- they need -- to see that there are people like me playing soccer for the good ol’ U.S. of A.”

Rapinoe, who burst onto the scene at the 2011 World Cup in Germany, spoke with USA Today’s Robert Klemko about her decision to come out now.

“To be honest I've been thinking about it for a while, trying to find a time that works, now leading up to the Olympics, people want to get personal stories. Our team in general is in a position where people look up to us and kids look up to us. I embrace that and I think I have a huge LGBT following. I think it's pretty cool, the opportunity that I have, especially in sports. There's really not that many out athletes. It's important to be out and to live my life that way.”

“It's about standing up and being counted and saying you're proud of who you are.”

Rapinoe, who turns 27 on Thursday, acknowledged that the culture of sports makes it more difficult for closeted male athletes to come out, but said that when a high-profile active athlete finally does come out, it will pave the way for others.

The Americans open their London campaign with a Grup G match against France on July 25th in Glasgow.

http://www.washingtonpost..._blog.html

we already knew love