We’ve only had a few days to drool over hunky, newly out NFL prospect Michael Sam, and he may already be taken.
MediaTakeOut is reporting that the cute, lean guy in these pics with Michael is his boyfriend.
They’re also making some pretty obvious jokes about Sam “sacking” the boyfriend, but you know that’s the first thing you thought as well.
Take this news with a grain of salt, because MTO isn’t exactly the most reliable source in the world. However, since Sam is actually out it’s certainly more plausible than the recent stories surrounding Aaron Rodgers. Because that dude is definitely not gay.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
If it is true, we think the two guys look adorable and can totally see Michael Sam becoming the first out and proud gay NFL-er and this cute, so far nameless guy his First Dude rooting on the sidelines. Perhaps they could double date with 49-er Colin Kaepernick and his rumored boo.
NG22
The boyfriend–who is allegedly a swimmer–is cute. But lucky him for getting that Michael Sam bawdy on the regular. Dude is stacked. Like getting screwed by an action star.
I had to stop going to MediaTakeOut a long time ago. They spill dat tea, but they so damn shady. And more importantly, I find them homophobic. Whenever a “star” *may* be hooking up with a guy, they act like it’s the most repulsive thing in the world.
Respect4all
He looks kind of skinny for a football player, but what do I know? If they’re happy together, then I’m happy for them. But really, how is it anyone’s business.
KDub
Black guys really love their white meat. lol
B Damion
@KDub ….girl please. Same can be said for white guys and their dark meat.lol
J with da tea
@B Damion: YOU BETTA PREACH GIRL! Def a cute couple though
KDub
@B Damion: Awww don’t get salty, B. You know it’s true. We see white guys together all the time. Seeing two black guys is like a bigfoot sighting. Nice try but you know it’s not the same.
Niall
Firstly MediaTakeOut lol. And secondly, how easy is it to go through a newly outed person’s social media profile and then declare the first guy he has multiple pics with to be his boyfriend. Good for them though, if it’s true.
Apparatus
@KDub:
I think the problem is probably that a lot of gay black dudes are on the DL or keep it secret from their families, so finding 2 who love each other and will walk down the street holding hands is rare. Easier to find a more liberal white guy who is more comfortable with himself. I think black guys hook up with all races equally but the white guy is probably the one who will kiss him in public, you know? Also Latinos because (being Latino myself) they are crazy gay-friendly these days it’s remarkable!
DShucking
At least now we can speculate about the relationship of someone we KNOW to be gay.
alanj
@DShucking:
Exactly!
Tracy Pope
In complete agreement with @RobertJohns:
Michael Sam has been out publicly four days. Too bad we promptly left “Congratulations, we’re here to support you” for “Who’s his boyfriend?”.
While he’s dealing with family and friends new knowledge about him we didn’t even give him a week to take a breath.
MK Ultra
If it’s true, they’re a really cute couple!
DShucking
@Tracy Pope: We didn’t ask, “Who’s his boyfriend?” We asked, “Is that guy in the picture with him he posted online his boyfriend?”
CCTR
@KDub: “Seeing two black guys is like a bigfoot sighting.” FALSE
It all depends on where you are looking!
Tracy Pope
@DShucking: Oh. Social media. Well that makes all the difference in the world.
KDub
@CCTR: I’m looking at EVERY black celeb that comes out. It’s definitely a pattern. Is it not PC to acknowledge this?
DShucking
@Tracy Pope: I have no idea what you’re saying now. He put this picture out there. No one asked who his boyfriend is. He posted the picture and people asked if that is his boyfriend. Please save your cynicism for when it’s deserved.
Tracy Pope
@DShucking:
I apologize. Being sarcastic wasn’t helpful.
I know the general consensus is if someone posts a photo online it’s then fair game for gossip. This seems particularly true of our community. I just don’t see it that way.
KDub
@Apparatus: Can’t be that many “on the DL” because there are a lot of them in gay bars and clubs these days. They just don’t seem to want each other (but get mad if a white guy
simply isn’t interested in them, go figure). I think the problem is low self-esteem. I read that simply watching TV starts to lower their self-esteem as early as 5 years old. If it’s true, that’s a lot of insecurity by adulthood.
CCTR
@KDub: I didn’t know the generalization you were making was referring to gay black celebrities…so it all depends on where you are looking. There are many out gay black men that are not celebrities, look there if you want a “sighting”.
CCTR
@KDub: Wow! You are one of those. I didn’t realize. My mistake.
CCTR
@Apparatus: In all due respect there are lots of Latino (as well as other non Black) men that are DL. Your comment is based on stereotypes.
Bob LaBlah
OK, the guy is out of the closet, a picture of him dancing with a woman in a bar and his boyfriend have surfaced. Please forgive me for sounding like a negative Nelly but WHAT is his major in college? You CAN NOT play college football unless you have a major at the school.
In other words, is there ANYTHING else about him beside the fact that he prefers a pole to a hole? Or better yet, is he just a jock or does he have traces of a brain that can function after being knocked around the football field?
Spike
Figures it wouldn’t take Queerty long to hit the bottom of the barrel on this story. I’m sure they are working overtime to locate a picture of him in underwear.
Apparatus
@CCTR:
No it’s not. There are men on the DL across all ethnicities. That’s a given. My point was (and it is backed up by polling not to mention my own superficial experience as a gay Latino man) that the Latino community is more supportive of LGBT issues than the black community, so that’s probably why you see more black guys out in public with a white/latino man.
Back to the article, who cares who Sam is dating? He said it himself in that interview with the NYT that his one and only focus from now until May is football and getting drafted into the NFL. Maybe that should be all our focus too when it comes to him, and leave the tabloid garbage on the sidelines.
CCTR
@Apparatus: Thanks for your response. Maybe I’m misunderstanding your reasoning but the implications to me are that there is essentially a shortage of out gay black men for other out gay black men to date (be seen in public with), because white/latino communities are more supportive of LGBT issues than the black community.?
My point is that it is very possible that a black man will date and be seen in public with someone based on their personal desires for each other and these desires can transcend polls, superficial experiences of an observer and stereotypes. No of us (including me) should really have to explain “reasons” as to why there is a perception of seeing more black guys in public with white/latino men. We should just let them be.
BlackHouston
*Yawn*
DShucking
@Tracy Pope: Now you’re backing off what you originally said. Again, no one asked, “Who is your boyfriend?” so get down off that particular high horse. You complain about a community’s cynicism yet you make comments like that. lol
DShucking
@Apparatus: The DL comes from the black community because many feel that ‘gay’ is a white society term. And obviously Sam’s one and only focus is not football if he’s spending time giving interviews about being gay and posting selfies with other cute guys.
Sebizzar
@Respect4all: Skinny!? Michael Sam is the guy on the left, he is fit and sexy didn’t you see that vid of him dancing shirtless 😉
TinoTurner
raise your hand if you’re shocked the boyfriend is white!
oilburner
Another brother upgrading to some white bitch once he finds some success . Lol I love it.
DShucking
@oilburner: 2014.
Tony Johnston
Well since it’s a white guy it’s probably pretty safe to say this is his boyfriend (even though it came from MediaTakeOut).
TomMc
QUEERTY: “it’s certainly more plausible than the recent stories surrounding Aaron Rodgers. Because that dude is definitely not gay.”
TomMc: Okay gents (and ladies). I want them to be too, but I suppose in their own time? (That penned, your coverage of them has been unrelentingly impressive – save the fact that Mr. Lanflisi didn’t ask to be some kinda gay hero or anything… Yet, he is.)
Wingfield
I’m late to the party but all of these ” black guy dating a white guy” sarcasms are pathetic. I live here in atlanta and I’d say the majority of black guys ARE dating black guys here.
Let’s not forget that picture of the two black dads that went viral. Regardless why does it matter? None of us chose to be gay and none of us choose what turns us on. There’s someone out there for everyone and you have to be pretty miserable if an interracial gay couple bothers you.
mydude
@KDub:
Where the fuck do you live? I see black gay couples every day
@Tracy Pope:
He’s living his life and having a great time. I don’t think he’s wasting time whining about what people here are saying about him.
@Apparatus:
Huh? There is not a shortage of gay black men and the black community is increasingly and quickly becoming more progressive on homosexuality. Polling has support for SSM above 60 percent and climbing.
Kangol
Good for him, maybe they’ll be together for the rest of their lives, maybe they’ll be together for the rest of the month.
Whichever it is it’s their business, and obviously not every black (or latino or asian american etc.) gay famous man is with a white man, but that would require looking beyond the obvious examples.
Let’s just give this young man support because he’s going to need it. The better we make it for him, the better it’ll be for those who follow him.
GQ83
so…they couldn’t be just friends?
bottom72
Ohhhhhh God Michael Sam is so hot he can mount me any day.
solacesoul
@KDub:
@KDub probably lives in some small town or mid-sized town with not much of a population of people of color, and not much of a diverse, vibrant gay scene. In major metropolitan areas, like New York, DC, LA, Atlanta, Houston, Chicago, etc., where there are large African-American populations and more choices, gay black men seek out, party with and date each other overwhelmingly.
There are even larger cities as well that don’t have much to offer in terms of gay diversity, and everything is so lily white it is disappointing. (Yes, I am calling you out, Phoenix, Denver, Boston, Orlando and even San Francisco!), and this, the perception there could be that most black men are only interested in white men, because quite frankly, that may be all you see in your limited view.
It is not like that in a humdrum college town like Columbia, mo., where Michael Sam is currently. We probably won’t really know much about his interests until he gets drafted to a team in a major media market and has more choices in dating, including but now to limited to, race and ethnicity.
hashtag
@Solacesoul
Thank You for explaining the difference between accepted stereotypes,personal perspective and realities, in a courteous manner. I am black gay male and have dated athletes and others who are blk/latinix or whatever and mostly these comments about DL that seem so dismissive. I also don’t think @KDub has to be from some small town or mid-west. Everyone in Nyc/SanFran/La etc isn’t Liberal. It all depends on exposure and we should really stop acting so myopic when it comes to Queer culture.
Most gay people are in closets of some type until they are not. Times are changing but saying shit about “their self-esteem is lowered @ age 5 from watching Tv”*(That could apply to anyone who isn’t rich/famous) People are insecure in general. What’s also tired is people trying to justify their prefs for whatever.Whats with the need to be defensive because”they get mad when Im not interested but they not interested in their own” Maybe whatever your experience is..lm pretty sure the persona was “mad/sad” because they got rejected. Not because you were white. Its typically american and why some people don’t even want to associate with this culture. We seemed obessed with validating ourselves or making sure our group is fitting the “gay-brand-name”, which to alot of people is just the “straight-brand”. Whats point of comming to Espn to say youre a “gay” man if that really doesn’t mean anything different than “I’m straight-person”? I’m hopeful Mr.Sams has a successful football career, he had courage to accept his diffrence and perhaps even capitalize on a moment. Bravo.