Aaron Rodgers Shares Insights on His 2013 Choice to Address His Sexuality Publicly

Over ten years ago, Aaron Rodgers came clean about the reasons behind his decision to come out as gay.

“In an interview for the author's new biography, Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers, I think I was upset with the framing [of the rumor] because it was meant to shame the idea of being gay, and I have so many friends that are gay in the community,” the forty-year-old Rodgers said to Ian O'Connor.

And just before that, I really had several conversations about this with [Jason Wilde] and I said, ‘I want to go after them, the individuals saying this.'”

“Not in relation to me, because I could care less what they thought of me,” he went on, “but that they're using this to shame, like being gay is a bad thing.” As if it were a bad thing.

While Wilde advised him to “just let it go and just say no,” the quarterback for the New York Jets continued, saying that he “wanted to go after” that element.

Since it was how I truly felt, I wish I had chosen to do the former. You can say whatever you want about me, but do you realize that these folks are using this to make it look bad to be gay?” he asked.

That is simply disrespectful to all of my community friends who don't think it's a decision. They were giving the impression that homosexuality is a shame, even if many of the people you ask didn't ask to be born into this life. “This is my identity.”

“So I wish I would have handled it that way, and I don't blame Jason,” he said in closing. We have discussed it.

In a 2013 Tuesdays With Aaron segment on ESPN Milwaukee, Rodgers talked about the “bizarre rumors that swirl around from time to time that get silly” while being interviewed by sportswriter Wilde.

Wilde cynically retorted, “I have no idea what you could be referring to,” in response to Rodger's statement. Oh, you mean the rumor that Aaron Rogers is gay?

After chuckling, Rodgers clarified that he was alluding to the rumors over his sexual orientation. “So you know?” Wilde enquired. “You noticed this outside?” In response, Rodgers stated at the time, “I'm just going to say I'm not gay.” I'm a huge fan of women. I have nothing further to say about that.

“There will always be ridiculous things in the media, and you can't worry too much about [it] and I don't,” he went on. Professionals should be professionals, and personals should be personals, in my opinion. And I'm going to maintain it that way.

(Source)