Olympian Megan Rapinoe has said she
came out gay before heading to the London Olympics to be counted.
Rapinoe, a 27-year-old midfielder,
scored three goals and four assists for the U.S. women's team at the
2012 Olympics.
Appearing on NPR's All Things
Considered, Rapinoe discussed her reasons for coming out before
the games.
“I think just being authentic and
being proud of who I am. I think … just to stand up and to be
counted. For me, I don't want to make a big fuss or talk about it
all the time but it just felt good, I guess. It just felt like it was
the right time. Not that I ever hid anything or lied about anything,
but now that it's out, we can stop talking about and start breaking
down these barriers that are keeping really homosexuals from having
full rights,” she said.
Rapinoe added that it is more difficult
for male athletes to come out of the closet.
“On the men's side there's still that
the stigma of homophobia in the locker rooms and just in general in
men's sports,” she said. “It is really, I think, for male
athletes a huge coming out.”
(Listen
to the entire segment.)