Why is it Michael Sam's fault that no one came out before him?

That's just half baked logic to shame people into never coming out of the closet.

Next.

well your friend/blogger is an ignorant moron.

gay people come out because everybody is automatically expected to be attracted to the opposite sex, they want to be honest with who they are, and these celebrities are helping LGBT youth, a group which has alarmingly high suicide, depression and substance abuse rates especially compared to heterosexual youth.

he might not be following a trend, but it has helped his career already. he is a seventh round pick who is lunching with oprah and has his own tv show, not even the ones with the media hype are getting that treatment. also, he is not guaranteed a spot in the roster, especially for someone drafted so low, but there have already being discussions about him making the team, even if he is not as good as the others, just bc the team/coaches not wanting to seem homophobic

i cringed when i heard about the oprah show because i knew people would say things like this. i think he's capitalizing on the attention but that's his choice to make. giving closeted athletes who are terrified of coming out even a little courage and hope is never a bad thing and at the end of the day, him being drafted really is a huge deal for the gheys and for professional sports

They're far better players. Yet, they don't get the same exposure.


He probably won't even make the cut.

I see your point, but I honestly don't think he came out with the intention of helping his career. I'd rather him come out before getting drafted than stay in the closet until after he already makes it in the NFL. I do see your point though, I think being gay brought him good things along with the bad.

I'm confused, cause it sounds like you're saying that just because coming out might actually reap benefits for him, that means it is somehow less meaningful. It's true that if he was a number one overall pick, he probably wouldn't be coming out. Regardless of his motivation though, it is still groundbreaking. I'm not sure where all y'all grew up, but being gay is still not acceptable in a lot of places in the US and is especially taboo among athletes. He represents a completely different type of gay man than the ones we always see in the media. Props to him.

lol sorry, i thought your initial comment was saying he wont benefit from being openly gay. yes, i agree, i dont think he came out to help his career, since it is such a risky thing.

Somewhere out there, there's a young boy being inspired by Micheal. It show that you can be gay and still achieve your athletic dreams. As Circinus said, Sam represents a different type of gay man.

How could there be an ulterior motive when being gay is who he is?
Oh and it's not like he was an average football player. He was #1.

He's the SEC Defensive player of the year. So no, he is NOT below average. He's the best.

What kind of mess? Coaches think of one thing and one thing only. winning . they could care less about someone's sexuality.

exactly! but agreeing to a tv deal, especially behind their back does cause problems/distractions in the locker room. i was just watching a espn where they reported that some players and coaches weren't comfortable with that, especially players who felt sam is getting special treatment. he should focus on trying to make the team first.

But I'm sure if any of the other players were doing a documentary about their life or a TV show the team wouldn't care. No matter what he does people will always focus on his sexuality. he might as well get money.

The reality show is an unnecessary mess. But still I can only applaud any public figure who comes out, regardless of their motives.

It's very brave. I mean doesn't the fact that a sportsperson being openly gay makes headlines spill enough tea as it is? Clearly it's still a very big deal and I hate to think how many numerous others are currently living some shady double-life trying to keep the truth of who they are a secret.