Seattle Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid suggests Robbie Rogers is somewhat of a trailblazer for soccer in North America.
The 25-year old winger publicly came out as gay in February before retiring from the game but is now back on the scene, making his LA Galaxy debut in the MLS champions' 4-0 win over the Sounders on the weekend.
Schmid believes that Rogers has now cleared a path for people with similar sexual preferences to be confident of being accepted by the mainstream sporting community which he feels should really be a normal thing in this day and age.
"As a society we're moving forward," Schmid told MLSsoccer.com.
"I don't know if tolerant is the right word, but we're more cognizant of the differences that people have. I think it's becoming less of an issue.
"I'm proud of him, I'm proud of what he's doing, but I think it's important that people evaluate him as a soccer player.
"It shouldn't be, 'He's a good soccer player for being a Presbyterian,' or something like that. He's taken a burden on his shoulders.
"Five years from now, this isn't going to be a big thing. It's going to be normal."
