I still don't see why people are upset or not understanding why Michael Sam received the award. For one, it's not a celebration of homosexuality. It's an award in the name of Arthur Ashe given to someone who displays courage. If you don't think what Michael Sam did is courageous then there is no point having this conversation. The fact that so many people on twitter were crying about it and the fact that people feel he doesn't deserve an award for "being gay" displays just how courageous it was for him to say he is gay and become the first known active gay professional athlete.

At the end of the day people have issues with an athlete knowingly being gay and that is all it is. I don't care how people try to rationalize their thought process. That's the issue. The gay athlete.

I still don't see why people are upset or not understanding why Michael Sam received the award. For one, it's not a celebration of homosexuality. It's an award in the name of Arthur Ashe given to someone who displays courage. If you don't think what Michael Sam did is courageous then there is no point having this conversation. The fact that so many people on twitter were crying about it and the fact that people feel he doesn't deserve an award for "being gay" displays just how courageous it was for him to say he is gay and become the first known active gay professional athlete.

 

Yep.

It usually isn't too hard to proclaim that you are part of the 90%+ majority. I may be wrong but I don't remember many people being imprisoned, ridiculed or even killed simply because they are straight. Have you ever been a part of even a high school football locker room? If so, how would your locker room have treated someone who said that they were gay? If they were treated the same as heterosexuals across the board then you wouldn't hear gay people asking for equal rights. The fact is they are not treated the same everywhere. For an All-SEC player to step out and proclaim he is gay took a lot of courage. A lot of people would have (at best) reacted like you did. Most would have been worse. I'm not hear to judge gay or straight people. I've been divorced and remarried. From what I've read in the Bible, my sins are no worse nor no less than his are. I'm not proud of the path that I took to get where I'm at, I've made my share of mistakes. I'm just glad that I'm here.

 

One of the better and most well written posts I've seen on BGP in a very long time. Well done AJG.

I don't think many gay Americans are imprisoned or killed for being gay.

 

I've been in a high school football locker room but not with someone who said he was gay so I cannot answer that question.

 

Not treated the same, you are right. Gays are celebrated and being homosexual is promoted. I'm not being homophobic or hateful. All I'm saying is there is no parade in Cincy to celebrate straight people.

 

I guess my real problem with this entire thing is that his coming out had to take courage. If being homosexual is equivalent to heterosexual, it shouldn't be something that takes courage to proclaim.

 

I'm not belittling that it took courage - I realize that. I understand taking a stand against the majority is difficult. But I guess it goes back to the previous paragraph - it shouldn't have to take courage.

 

 

Regarding the sins part of the paragraph, you and I cannot judge if any sins are "worse" than others. It is not our place and we do not have authority to "compare" sins.

 

You're the guy that sits around with your buddies and complains every February that there is no "White History Month", I guarantee it.

I'll be honest, when I first heard that they were giving him the award, I felt similar. But the more I thought about it and after hearing his speech, I'm glad that the recognized him.

 

Is it a little over the top? Maybe and I think he would even tell you that he doesn't feel like he deserves to be on that list. However, until we as a society are at the point where it doesn't really matter when an athlete comes out, it's not blasted all over ESPN for days, then this will still be important.

 

I enjoyed learning more about him as well, which I know PP92 mentioned as well.

So how is he different from Billie Jean King, Robin Roberts and Mark Bingham? They were all previous gay winners of the award. You can throw Pat Summit in there as well although she hasn't ever come out.

 

Honestly, I was just trying to get Mountain Ref fired up.

You're the guy that sits around with your buddies and complains every February that there is no "White History Month", I guarantee it.

 

I wouldn't say complain, but yes, I see the similarities between that and this, and I say the same thing: If one group is trying to establish "equality" then why should the celebrate the difference?

You may not be a homophobe but you sure as hell have homophobic tendencies.

 

"What? You think I'm a cop because I'm wearing a police officer's uniform?"

I wouldn't say complain, but yes, I see the similarities between that and this, and I say the same thing: If one group is trying to establish "equality" then why should the celebrate the difference?

 

When all/most of the majority recognizes the equality, they probably won't need to celebrate the difference.

 

Let's keep it real, homosexuals are not equal yet by our society's standards, which is why it should be recognized at this time.

When all/most of the majority recognizes the equality, they probably won't need to celebrate the difference.

 

Let's keep it real, homosexuals are not equal yet by our society's standards, which is why it should be recognized at this time.

 

I guess that's where we disagree. I think in order to make it equal, we should act as if they already are.

As long as we promote homosexuality it will not be considered equal to heterosexuality. Does that make any sense?

 

What I mean is I think celebrating it will convince more people that both lifestyles are not equal; it will instead make people always think homosexuality is not the same.

You may not be a homophobe but you sure as hell have homophobic tendencies.

 

"What? You think I'm a cop because I'm wearing a police officer's uniform?"

 

Sorry if it comes off that way. I'm really not. I just think celebrating it makes the issue grow. If we keep promoting how it needs to be equal, it will always be considered something less.

 

Again, I'm not a homophobe and don't mean to come off that way. I don't treat people any differently or judge them based on their sexual orientation. I just think the way we promote homosexuality will never make it considered equal.

I guess that's where we disagree. I think in order to make it equal, we should act as if they already are.

As long as we promote homosexuality it will not be considered equal to heterosexuality. Does that make any sense?

 

What I mean is I think celebrating it will convince more people that both lifestyles are not equal; it will instead make people always think homosexuality is not the same.

 

He's literally the first openly gay athlete ever, where his while career everyone will know he's gay. It's an accomplishment for sports IMO that someone has finally had the courage to admit it. I don't want to compare him to Jackie Robinson because he was a HOFer, but at one point this is how people felt about black players, and people for a matter of fact.

He's literally the first openly gay athlete ever, where his while career everyone will know he's gay. It's an accomplishment for sports IMO that someone has finally had the courage to admit it. I don't want to compare him to Jackie Robinson because he was a HOFer, but at one point this is how people felt about black players, and people for a matter of fact.

 

I think we for the most part we agree. Since homosexuality and heterosexuality are supposed it be equal, why is it a big deal that he's an openly gay athlete?

I think we for the most part we agree. Since homosexuality and heterosexuality are supposed it be equal, why is it a big deal that he's an openly gay athlete?

 

Because he's the first. This is a step in which one day both may eventually be recognized as equal. I do understand how some peoples religion hold them back, but this is a step in the right direction.