Football players give praise and express concern after gay all-American ‘comes out’

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EL PASO — To his dad, he is one who will have “many hurdles to cross”. To his University of Missouri teammates and coaches, he is first-team all-American and Associated Press defensive player of the year in the SEC. To athletes and sports affiliates he is a “courageous young man” and a football player. To some though, he is the gay football player. He is Michael Sam.

Going in... (Cheryl Howard/Borderzine.com)

Coming out of the Closet

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EL PASO – When I was nineteen and in college, my friend Gary House told me that I was too open with people, that I ought to be more cautious, more afraid. Some people were not nice; they might want to hurt me. I argued with him and stated that openness was the best defense, at least for me. After hours of discussion, I didn’t sway his opinion and he didn’t sway mine. I did, however, consider what he said long afterward.