This is great: In an interview with ESPN yesterday, University of Missouri All-American defensive end Michael Sam came out, saying that he was “an openly, proud gay man.” And now he’s got the support of First Lady Michelle Obama.
Earlier today, the First Lady tweeted her support of the six-foot-two, 255-pound defensive back, calling him an “inspiration to all of us.”
You’re an inspiration to all of us, @MikeSamFootball. We couldn’t be prouder of your courage both on and off the field. -mo
— FLOTUS (@FLOTUS) February 10, 2014
Sam, who’s scheduled to participate in the NFL’s draft scouting camp later this month and is favored to be a mid-round draft pick in the NFL draft in May, would be the league’s first openly gay player. Last year, Wizards center Jason Collins came out publicly, making him the first player on a major North American sports team to come out as gay.
“It’s a big deal. No one has done this before. And it’s kind of a nervous process,” Sam told ESPN, “but I know what I want to be … I want to be a football player in the NFL.”
