The sports world's attitude towards the LGBT community has undergone a transformation in the two years since Robbie Rogers became the first openly gay athlete to compete in a North American sports league, the LA Galaxy defender said Tuesday in a phone interview.
Rogers, whose milestone came nine months before Jason Collins appeared in an NBA game following his own coming out, was speaking on the eve of the Galaxy's annual Pride Night, which will be celebrated before, during and after Wednesday's game against Western Conference rival Portland Timbers (11 p.m. ET, ESPN2/ESPNDeportes/WatchESPN).
Spectators will receive rainbow flag scarves at the door. Rogers will address the crowd post-match, and he said the shift in attitudes will be a central theme.
"Just a couple of years ago, there were no 'out' athletes," Rogers said. "It's crazy how quickly the landscape changes."
The Galaxy aren't the only MLS team honoring Pride Month. Last weekend, the Seattle Sounders honored Collins, with whom Rogers has become close friends, before their 2-0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes. (Sounders captain Brad Evans -- Rogers' former teammate in Columbus -- donned a special armband for the occasion.)
Thank you @Starbucks for donating the Pride flag for today's opening ceremony! #SEAvSJ pic.twitter.com/RTmiUpwG4Y
- Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) June 20, 2015
Rogers' life has changed over the last two years, too.
The Southern California native struggled with the extra attention his coming out brought in 2013, to the point that he told his agent and the Galaxy's PR staff to turn down media requests last season.
"I was so busy doing appearances and interviews and all this different stuff that I didn't actually enjoy the game that first year," he said.
"I was trying to be comfortable with being the only gay soccer player and the only gay guy on my team. At first, I kind of struggled with it. Then last year I realized that it didn't really matter, that nobody on my team cares.
"I focused on being a good soccer player, because I felt that that would be more of a statement."
The strategy worked: Rogers, a career midfielder, reinvented himself as the team's starting left back and helped them win their third MLS Cup in four years.
Rogers may have shunned the spotlight last season, but he didn't abandon his status as an influential figure in the gay community. He made public service announcements. He visited schools regularly.
"I get letters pretty much every day from kids," he said, before adding that while he enjoys being a role model, it's not what he set out to do.
"I would be lying if I said that my plan was to come out and help all these people," Rogers said. "The truth is I was trying to help myself. I was depressed, and I wanted to be happy."
Rogers insists he's happier than ever these days, not least because the interview requests have slowed to a trickle. When they do come in, he doesn't duck them.
"There are times when it's important to talk about things," he said. "Like when FIFA's being ridiculous, or on nights like [Wednesday]. But outside of that I really don't even really think of myself as an openly gay soccer player."
It's another sign of progress -- even if there's still a long way to go.
"I've had other professional athletes come out to me, but no soccer players," he said. "At least not yet."