Arts & Entertainment
Michael Sam speaks on ‘terrible’ racism in gay community
former NFL player gets candid about his LGBT concerns
Michael Sam shared his thoughts on coming out publicly, racism in the gay community and homophobia in the black community in an interview with Attitude Magazine.
The former NFL player, who appears on the May cover of Attitude Magazine, says the reaction to his coming out was positive and he hopes he helped some people.
“It was amazing. There was a friend who told me to give his cousin a call ā she had tried to commit suicide twice. After she heard my story she promised herself she would never do it. People kill themselves because they canāt handle the pressure and that stress. Itās very sad. If by me living my life, I can save someone, I would do it again,” Sam told Attitude.
Sam says it’s hard to be accepted as a gay, black man not by the black community, but by the gay community.
“Itās terrible. People have told me Iām not gay enough, people have told me Iām not black enough. I donāt know what that means. You want to be accepted by other people but you donāt even accept someone just because of the color of their skin? I just donāt understand that at all. How are you saying that, āoh, I want people to accept me because Iām gay but I donāt accept you because youāre black, or because youāre white or because youāre Asian,'” Sam says.
Sam, who currently plays football for theĀ Montreal Alouettes, says he’s found the black community to be more progressive about acceptance.
“I can only go by my experience and the people Iāve been around. I think itās more accepting, actually. There are a lot of black, openly gay people. A lot of people have [gay] friends, cousins, brothers, sistersā¦ They have at least one openly gay person, at least itās more accepting, thatās my experience,” Sam continued.
“People tell me they have family members who are gay and it doesnāt freak them out and no black person ever freaked out at me, āoh youāre gayā. None. There are people who are over religious who go, āoh, youāre a fag, youāre going to hell.ā Thatās everywhere. Ted Cruz is pretty much anti-gay,” Sam says.
Photos
PHOTOS: PrEP for Pride
White Plains LGBTQ celebration held by Charles County Department of Health
The second annual PrEP for Pride LGBTQIA+ Pride Festival was held on Saturday, May 18 on the campus of the Charles County Department of Health in White Plains, Md.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Capital Trans Pride was held at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 18. The day-long annual event included workshops, panel discussions, vendors, an awards ceremony and more.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
The third annual Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 18.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Equality Prince William Pride kicks off in Manassas, Va. #Pride #LGBTQ . Covering for @WashBlade pic.twitter.com/vC85k8UBye
— Michael Patrick Key (@MichaelKeyWB) May 18, 2024
-
South America3 days ago
Peruvian government classifies transgender people as mentally ill
-
Autos1 day ago
Seductive sport-utes: Buick Evista, Subaru Outback
-
District of Columbia3 days ago
Meet Jay Jones: Howardās first trans student body president
-
a&e features3 days ago
Whatās new at Rehoboth Beach for summer 2024