Sam is the 21st recipient of the prestigious Arthur Ashe Courage Award and joins a great legacy of previous winners that includes Muhammad Ali, Pat Tillman, Nelson Mandela and Robin Roberts.
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There wasn’t a dry eye in the house at the ESPYs Wednesday night once trailblazing out athlete Michael Sam took the podium to accept the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.
Speaking to an audience that included boyfriend Vito Cammisano, Sam delivered an emotional speech about achieving the impossible and embracing diversity.
“To anyone out there, especially young people feeling like they don’t fit in and will never be accepted,” he said, “know this: great things can happen when you have the courage to be yourself.”
Sam is the 21st recipient of the prestigious award and joins a great legacy of previous winners that includes Muhammad Ali, Pat Tillman, Nelson Mandela and Robin Roberts.
by Matthew Tharrett
This post originally appeared on Queerty. Reprinted with permission.