American college footballer Michael Sam comes out in interview with ESPN’s Outside the Lines.
Sam, a defensive lineman with the Missouri Tigers, said: “its a load of my chest.” He confirmed he had told his team mates last August, saying: “they took it great, they rallied round me, they supported me and I could’nt ask for better team mates.”
At present there are no openly gay American footballers, baseball players, hockey players or basketball players playing in the United States and Sam’s decision to come out is unique for a young sportsman as high profile sports people in the past who chose to come out did so after they had retired.
He said he wanted to “own the trust” and make an announcement before any newspaper chose to out him.
He said he did not want to be defined as the “first openly gay sportsman in the US” to come out rather as “someone with great character and personality.”
Sam is eligible for the NFL draft in May and assuming that he is drafted, will become the first openly gay player in the history of the NFL.
In interviews with ESPN and the New York Times he said he made the decision after his experience two weeks ago at the Senior Bowl where it seemed many people were already aware of his sexual orientation.
“I didn’t realize how many people actually knew, and I was afraid that someone would tell or leak something out about me,” he said. “I want to own my truth. … No one else should tell my story but me.”
On Sunday night, the NFL released a statement supporting Sam.
It read: “We admire Michael Sam’s honesty and courage,” NFL senior vice president of communications Greg Aiello said in the statement: “Michael is a football player. Any player with ability and determination can succeed in the NFL. We look forward to welcoming and supporting Michael Sam in 2014.”
He came out to his parents during a phone call last week, he said: “I told my mom and dad last week, and they just pretty much said we knew and we love you and support you.”
“I’m their baby boy. I’m the first to go to college. I’m the first to graduate college. Something like this is just another milestone.”
Sam said he understood that his life was about to change forever and was happy and proud to be speaking out at last.
He concluded saying: “I’m not afraid to tell the world who I am. I’m Michael Sam: I’m a college graduate. I’m African American, I’m gay and I’m comfortable in my skin.”
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