Robbie Rogers Joins LA Galaxy, is First Openly Gay MLS Player

According to the AP, out gay footballer Robbie Rogers will be returning to professional soccer, joining the LA Galaxy and becoming the first openly gay athlete to play in the MLS:

"I don't know what I was so afraid of," Rogers said Friday. "It's been such a positive experience for me. The one thing I've learned from all of this is being gay is not that big of a deal to people."

"People are just really growing and accepting and loving," he added. "Those other things are just not that important to them. I think as the younger get older and the generations come and go, I think times are just becoming more accepting."

As previously reported, Rogers recently trained with the Galaxy and rumors began to swirl that he would join the team.  Rogers, who had expressed reservations about pursuing a career on the field since coming out, told USA Today that his experience meeting LGBT youth helped change his mind:

“Rogers' epiphany to return to the game came when he spoke to a group of about 500 kids at the Nike Be True LGBT Youth Forum in Portland last month. 'I seriously felt like a coward...These kids are standing up for themselves and changing the world, and I'm 25, I have a platform and a voice to be a role model. How much of a coward was I to not step up to the plate?'"

Rogers' decision has also perhaps been bolstered by the outpouring of support he received since coming out this past February in addition to the support he saw for recently out NBA player Jason Collins.  Last month Rogers spoke to Anderson Cooper and Nightline about the struggles he faced living in the closet and his decision to come out.

Anderson Cooper At The Altar In SNL Skit: Video

Last night's season finale of Saturday Night Live was full of several funny gay-themed skits. There was one promoting New Xanax, which relieves the stress of attending spectacular gay summer weddings, and another in which Ben Affleck's "ex-gay" character tries to pray the gay away. He doesn't.

SNL also included a grand farewell for Bill Hader and his character Stefon, who is seen about to marry Anderson Cooper.

Watch two of the three (the Ben Affleck clip can be found here), AFTER THE JUMP.

Anderson Cooper Interviews Cleveland Kidnapping Rescuer Charles Ramsey: VIDEO

If you were watching the news yesterday, or reading this site, you know about the amazing rescue of three women who had been held captive for a decade which happened this week in Cleveland. Anderson Cooper last night interviewed Charles Ramsey, the neighbor credited for rescuing Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Meanwhile, horrific details are beginning to emerge regarding the captivity.

Westboro Baptist Church Defector Libby Phelps Alvarez Talks to Anderson Cooper: VIDEO

On his daytime show, Anderson Cooper welcomed Libby Phelps Alvarez, who defected from the Westboro Baptist Church, to talk about why they do what they do, how they treat her now that she is gone.

Phelps Alvarez also tearfully apologized to a soldier's mother whose son's funeral was picketed by the WBC.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Note: The interview was previewed back in February, and we ran a shorter clip then, but apparently it aired in full today.

Gay Footballer Robbie Rogers Proud of Jason Collins; Speaks to Anderson Cooper : VIDEO

AC360 aired Anderson Cooper's interview last night with Robbie Rogers, the footballer who came out in February and promptly retired. The interview was supposed to air earlier this month but was preempted by the tragic bombings in Boston.

Jason Collins' coming out, however, provided a perfect opportunity to air the clip because in it Rogers discusses having to live a straight stereotype while playing professionally. It would be really nice for CNN to post some longer clips of these interviews.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

In related news, Rogers spoke with E! News about Collins:

I think I was surprised like everyone else. Obviously, I know what it is like going through being gay and being a professional athlete and being closeted and all the emotions and all the thoughts that go through your mind. I don't know him, but I was very happy and proud for him. But most of all, I was happy that our society gave him such a positive response including athletes from all over the world on Twitter. Society is really changing, people are moving along and accepting gay athletes and I think more athletes will follow in his footsteps.

Matt Salmon: 'Gay Reparative Therapy' Helped Me Meet Guys - VIDEO

Matt R. Salmon, the gay son of Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ), sat down with Anderson Cooper on Friday night to talk about his father, who has spoken publicly of his opposition to same-sex marriage, and his mother, who worked on an anti-gay constitutional amendment in Arizona, about his love for them.

I posted a brief segment on Saturday but here's the full version. Anderson asks Salmon if his parents would be okay with meeting somebody he was dating, and also about his experiences with gay reparative therapy.

SALMON: "Looking back I don't regret it. The goal was to become straight. And it turns out what I took away from it was an increased confidence...A big part of it was really teaching me to make relationships with straight men because that would help me to kind of take on this straightness and so it really helped me actually learn how to talk with men and..."

AC: "It helped you meet guys."

SALMON: "Yeah, yeah, it did."

AC: "I think your doctor right now is spitting up his coffee."

Salmon says that it was his decision to begin reparative therapy (he was 18 at the time he says) but he is very happy now that he is gay and he hopes talking about it will help others in his situation.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...