Michael Sam has faced a mountain of discrimination and adversity throughout his life, most notably after he came out of the closet before entering the NFL draft last year. But in a new interview, Sam says it’s not just his sexuality that people discriminate against; he also faces discrimination over his fiancé’s race.
Since coming out, Sam hasn’t been shy about sharing his love for his longtime boyfriend, Vito Cammisano, whom he recently proposed to, with the world. And although many of his fans have supported Sam’s relationship, he revealed during a recent talk with Quinnipiac University students that some critics have bashed his relationship with Cammisano because he’s White.
“My fiancé gave me the strength [to come out],” Sam said. “The challenge I get now is, why are you not dating a gay Black guy? Why are you dating a White guy?”
But in Sam’s eyes, leaving the man who’s been by his side through it all just because he’s White sounds ridiculous.
“Why would I do that?” Sam asked the audience. “Why would I leave someone I fell in love with and have been through so many challenges with?”
Even though it’s 2015, it’s no surprise that Sam is being criticized for dating outside of his race. For many in the Black community, seeing Black celebrities date anyone other than their own still brings up very visceral, painful and sometimes hateful reactions. But if Sam has found love in Cammisano, which seems to be the case, then that trumps the thoughts of any angry fans.
