This month Out Magazine features a stunning photo of openly gay football player Michael Sam on its cover. The media spotlight has been on Michael Sam ever since he came out as gay before the NFL draft. When the St. Louis Rams drafted Sam in the final round, he made history by becoming the first openly gay football player drafted into the NFL.
In addition to putting Michael Sam on the cover, Out Magazine featured Sam in a lengthy article available online:
Michael Sam and the Draw That Changed American Sports Forever
In this article, Out Magazine supported Sam saying that his coming out is “a huge deal” because “the NFL, the richest sports league in history and the most macho show on earth, has drafted someone who is gay.”
While some may think that Michael Sam has simply benefitted from his coming out, this article shows that Sam, like other high-profile LGBT Americans, has dealt with abusive online statements, inspired protests from religious organizations, and even sparked a Republican lobbyist to propose a ban on gay athletes in professional sports.
