Michael Sam


Missouri must stop anti-gay law

By MICHAEL SAM
Sunday, April 3, 2016 at 12:00 am Comments (7)
Michael Sam
I’m a Missouri athlete, through and through. I played defensive end with Mizzou, I became the first openly gay NFL player with the St. Louis Rams, and I spent years playing with all my heart and soul for this amazing state. I consider it a home. It’s where I learned some of my first lessons about hard work, fairness and inclusion. But today, I’m deeply concerned for its future.
Missouri lawmakers are dangerously close to passing an extremely harmful bill (SJR 39) that would make it easier than ever to discriminate against gay Missourians and their families. This so-called “religious liberty” bill is just another way to undermine the dignity of LGBT people and their families.
As an athlete who grew up in a Christian home, two things were always made clear to me: First, treat every person, every team, every competitor with respect. Second, everyone should have an equal shot and start on an equal playing field. What Missouri lawmakers are attempting to do, however, is push an anti-LGBT resolution that ensures LGBT people start at a loss. For example, SJR 39 would amend our state’s constitution to allow businesses to legally refuse to provide service to same-sex couples. It would allow certain day care facilities and after-school programs, even if they are state-funded, to turn away children of same-sex couples. This resolution would also allow hospitals to refuse to treat LGBT patients, taking away patient rights.
SJR 39 is the opposite of respect, and it’s the opposite of equality. It does not reflect the Missouri I know.
Similar anti-gay measures have been creeping into legislatures across the country — Indiana, Georgia, North Carolina — and everyone from businesses to voters to sports leaders have made one thing clear: Discrimination will not be tolerated in their states. Now I’m calling on everyone in Missouri, from business leaders to sports clubs, to echo that sentiment, to stand up and say: Not in our state.
SJR 39 flies in the face of the values of sport and of fair-minded Missourians. In this great state, we all should be treated fairly and equally. Gay or straight, we all should be able to feel welcome and safe, whether we’re at home, at work, at a football game, out to dinner with our families, or, yes, even planning a wedding.
Everyone deserves a fair shot, on the field of play and under the law. That’s why Missouri lawmakers must stop SRJ 39 and never look back.
Former University of Missouri Tigers football player Michael Sam was the first openly gay player to be drafted into the National Football League.

Post Link

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My secret life as a gay ultra-Orthodox Jew

Image
11 April 2016 Chaya, not her real name, is an ultra-Orthodox Jewish woman who is gay. Here she describes her struggle to accept her sexuality, and why she has to keep it a secret from those who would make her choose between her identity and her family. I would lose everything if I came out. We are a tightly knit community and I think few people realise just how isolated we are. In the world I live in, being gay is the equivalent of being a bad person. It's seen as an evil desire that is completely unnatural. Soon after, my parents began to arrange a marriage for me. There is often a matchmaker involved in problem cases like mine People I have grown up with would wonder what else I could be capable of. Few would believe that I could still be religious and if I did eventually leave the Haredi community it would mean losing my job, my home and potentially my children. It's just easier for everyone to pretend that there is nothing different about me. In fact, most pe
Read more

Gay student avoids deportation to Muslim home country

Image
Ismail has been cut off by his family, publicly outed by Malaysian tabloids By:  Carol Sanders   Posted:  04/4/2016 6:58 PM A gay Malaysian student has been granted refugee protection in Canada. "I'm overwhelmed," said a tearful Hazim Ismail. MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Alexa Potashnik has become close friends with Hazim Ismail and is helping raise awareness about the U of W student’s refugee claim. MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Hazim Ismail is an international student at the University of Winnipeg who is originally from Malaysia. He has a refugee protection hearing on April 5. After questioning Ismail for about 45 minutes,  Immigration and Refugee Board member Ron Yamauchi said Tuesday morning he'd heard enough and believed Ismail is a legitimate Convention refugee and entitled to Canada's protection. "He's an extraordinary soul and people like him need support," said his friend and supporter Ale
Read more

TRUMPLER has destroyed what was once a respected position.

Image
TRUMPLER has destroyed what was once a respected position. The assumption that the President of the United States was ethical and fair, honest and true and cared about its people is sadly (SAD!) very over. In it’s place is a fat, stupid, arrogant, bloated narcissist racist who only cares about his applause and wind free venues so he can bloat and gloat about his achievements which really only exists in his own crazy warped viagra what’s left of his seventy year old brain. His nightly/early AM twitter rants (more out of his need to frequently urinate) and his yo yo fat food diet have taken their toll on his fat and obese body.  As he mentally spirals out of control and tweets every thought in his insane mind the country spins on it’s axis wondering what will set this freak show off next? Who will TRUMPLER feel slighted against tomorrow? The media? His own family? His underwear? His small hands and feeble mind? His golf club?  His fellow racist and disgruntled fa
Read more