Michael Sam, the former NFL draft prospect and first-ever openly gay player in the NFL, penned an op-ed in The Columbia Tribune in which he blasted a proposed bill by Missouri lawmakers, SJR 39, for being anti-gay and that measures must be taken to stop it from passing.
Sam further elaborated in his piece:
As an athlete who grew up in a Christian home, two things were always made clear to me: First, treat every person, every team, every competitor with respect. Second, everyone should have an equal shot and start on an equal playing field. What Missouri lawmakers are attempting to do, however, is push an anti-LGBT resolution that ensures LGBT people start at a loss. For example, SJR 39 would amend our state’s constitution to allow businesses to legally refuse to provide service to same-sex couples. It would allow certain day care facilities and after-school programs, even if they are state-funded, to turn away children of same-sex couples. This resolution would also allow hospitals to refuse to treat LGBT patients, taking away patient rights. SJR 39 is the opposite of respect, and it’s the opposite of equality. It does not reflect the Missouri I know.
Sam is absolutely right. The bill passed in Georgia recently was repealed by Governor Nathan Deal after major sponsors threatened to pull their endorsements from major sports teams in the state, not to mention the general nationwide backlash.
More importantly, we live in a day in age where it should not matter if someone is straight or gay, black or white, Christian or atheist, etc. People are people regardless of how they may live their lives and should be treated as such.
That said, though Sam did not win many fans in the NFL, he has hit the nail on the head square on in this case.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports