Kirsten Clodfelter gives a standing ovation to the men who are speaking up in support of Michael Sam—including the incredibly funny Jon Stewart.
As anyone with access to the Internet surely already knows by now, talented University of Missouri defensive lineman and the Associated Press’ SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Michael Sam, who is an anticipated mid-round draft pick for the 2014 season, sent the football world into a frenzy when he publically came out in an interview with ESPN last weekend.
Despite Rush Limbaugh’s hysterical insistence that heterosexuals are under assault (much like Christmas, apparently), gay people – *gasp* – already infiltrated the “straight world” long ago, where they provide our medical care, educate our kids, bag our groceries, defend our country, deliver our mail, keep our cities safe, and wave hello to us from their driveways across the street.
Given that homosexuals are so much like heterosexuals in that, you know, we’re all just people, it’s no surprise that so many individuals and communities lauded Sam for his decision to share this news publically before an opportunity to be drafted this spring. Sam’s alma mater, who was aware of his sexual orientation before the start of last year’s season, sent out a classy, warming tweet of support just after the story broke:
We support Tigers of all stripes at Mizzou. Proud of you @MikeSamFootball! #OneMizzou http://t.co/ueLCOJ4RFF pic.twitter.com/DvJ2vTIbgU
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— Mizzou (@Mizzou) February 10, 2014
Former Vikings’ punter Chris Kluwe and Super Bowl champion Brendon Ayanbadejo, both vocal LBGTQ+ advocates, met with Sam to offer their support in the days leading up to his announcement. And across the country on Sunday night, players, fans, and commentators rallied behind Michael Sam as well.
Perhaps the best response, though, came from Jon Stewart, who (as usual) was quick to call out the bigoted, “controversy-adverse” players and executives in the NFL for their ridiculous hypocrisy.
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Stewart rightly questioned how it’s possible that in a league rife with so many issues concerning violence, drug abuse, sexual assault, and other illegal activity, a player’s sexual orientation could possibly make anyone’s top list of worries.
And though Donté Stallworth was himself featured in Stewart’s litany of the NFL’s more concern-troll-worthy problems, Stallworth wasted no time in taking to Twitter to lay out a fierce and brutally honest argument against anyone doubting if the NFL is truly ready for a player with as much heart, strength, and talent as Michael Sam.
Leave it up to Stewart to put it in perspective. Fantastic.
Oh my god, this was great!
Epic.