Michael Sam: ‘After the first time I knew pretty damn sure I was gay’
The first out NFL player recalled the moment he knew he was gay at the HRC’s Time to THRIVE Conference.
Michael Sam revealed the moment he realised he was gay, speaking at the Human Rights Time to THRIVE Conference.
Sam made history a year ago when he came out, making him the first openly gay player drafted by the NFL.
Sam said he told himself he would experiment in college as he thought maybe he was just going through a ‘phase’, but realised he was gay the first time he was with a man.
He revealed that he didn’t understand what his sexual orientation was when he was younger. Sam didn’t have the support of his family, he said he grew up ‘poor, alone and afraid’.
Speaking at the HRC Time to THRIVE Conference, he said: “After that first time I knew pretty damn sure I was gay. I knew pretty sure I didn’t like girls.”
Despite saying he regrets the way he came out, Sam said at the conference: “I’m very proud of myself. I have no regrets.”
Sam also spoke about what he feels is his responsibility as an out sports star. He promised the audience that the would continue fighting for the world’s LGBT youth.
“I’m still fighting the good fight, not for myself but for the younger generation, until my legs break,” he said.
He also took the time to thank his fiance Vito Cammisano, who he proposed to earlier this year, he said: “He is the only one who made me comfortable to be who I am in my own skin. I owe him everything.”
Last year’s conference attracted lots of attention. Actress Ellen Page came out as a lesbian on stage, saying she was “tired of hiding and tired of lying by omission.”
Watch Michael Sam’s speech from the conference here:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-vj9ibagnU]
