Everyone from NFL players, coaches, and executives, to the Obamas were thrilled when NFL leading prospect Michael Sam “came-out” as gay; President Obama tweeted: “Congratulations on leading the way, @MikeSamFootball. That's real sportsmanship;” while Mrs. Obama echoed those sentiments: “You're an inspiration to all of us, @MikeSamFootball. We couldn't be prouder of your courage both on and off the field.” But, what few have understood - is the very sad story of a childhood filled with abuse, neglect, violence, sexual perversity, and tragedy that inevitably led Sam to succumb to the homosexual orientation: Sam is the seventh of eight children; His parents separated when he was a boy; as a child, Sam watched one of his older brothers die from a gunshot wound. Another older brother has been missing since 1998, and his other two brothers are both imprisoned. A sister who was born before him died in infancy. At one point in his childhood, Sam lived in his mother's car. In a recent interview, the father of Sam disclosed that he took one of his sons to Mexico in order for the boy to lose his virginity. It’s symbolic that Sam decided to out himself to his father, on his father’s birthday, in an impersonal text message, that simply said: “Dad, I’m gay.” Concerning his family, Sam has said: “I’m closer to my friends than I am to my family.” As a teenager, Sam sought out replacement father figures: couches, and older teammates. He became obsessed with Harry Potter books (fascination with illusionary worlds of escape and larger-than-life entertainers is a hallmark of all gay men) and spent part of his high school years living with the family of a fellow player. Growing up in a small Texas town, in part, seems to have partially protected Sam from the exploration inherent when a traumatized boy goes looking for older men to comfort him. Yet, he still eventually surrendered to that painful hurt and embraced homosexuality. Consequently, he struck back at his somewhat homophobic dad, in the only way he could: by coming-out as gay. Like most gay men, it all goes back to childhood and back to someone who hurt them.
↧