History! Michael Sam becomes first openly gay player drafted to National Football League (NFL)

GLAAD today responded to the historic draft of openly gay football player Michael Sam to the National Football League (NFL). Sam will become the first-ever openly gay footballer to play for the league next season.

"Without a doubt, this is a game changer," said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. "Today, Michael Sam has redefined what it takes to be a champion. He's tackled stereotypes and joins the ranks of athletic trailblazers like Jason Collins and Brittney Griner in showing Americans that there's no place for homophobia on the field. As support for equality continues to surge, it's clear that sports fans are ready, football is ready, and America is ready for its first openly gay NFL player."

GLAAD encourages fans to share their support for Michael Sam by sharing #SamFans graphics on Facebook and Twitter.

In February interviews with The New York Times and ESPN, Sam first stated: "I am an openly, proud gay man."

In December 2013, The Associated Press named Sam the SEC's Defensive Player of the Year. He was also selected as one of 10 unanimous first-team all-Americans. He led the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in both sacks and tackles-for-loss and resides in the top 10 nationally in Division I in those categories.

Sam is the among several high-profile athletes to come out as LGBT recently, with others including the NBA's Jason Collins, the WNBA's Brittney Griner, NCAA Division I basketball player Derrick Gordon, WWE's Darren Young, UFC's Liz Carmouche, MMA's Fallon Fox, and Major League Soccer's Robbie Rogers.

In an NFL document released in April 2013, the league described its equal employment opportunity policy as: "It is the policy of the National Football League to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law."

In the document, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also stated: “The NFL has a long history of valuing diversity and inclusion. Discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation is not consistent with our values and is unacceptable in the National Football League."

The NFL added sexual orientation to its list of protected classes in September 2011.

The NFL has also demonstrated its commitment to inclusion by participating in GLAAD's annual anti-bullying campaign, Spirit Day. For the past two consecutive years, the NFL has 'gone purple' online in a stand against bullying and to show its support for LGBT youth. In December 2013, the You Can Play Project and the NFL announced the 'High Five Initiative,' an "effort to create meaningful connections between LGBT youth and leaders within the professional sports community." Troy Vincent and Dwight Hollier, former NFL players and NFL player engagement executives, visited the Hetrick Martin Institute, the nation's largest and oldest LGBT youth services organization, yesterday to do just that. The league is also collaborating with You Can Play and You Belong for the second annual You Belong LGBTQ Sports and leadership initiative.

Several NFL teams reportedly interested in drafting Michael Sam

At least six NFL teams are considering drafting former University of Missouri defensive end Michael Sam, according to analysts. If drafted, Sam would become the first openly gay active player in the NFL. 

"Any player that has a good heart and wants to be a good teammate, who loves football, we're good at helping them become part of a team," Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.

Denver Versus Seattle: Comparing Super Bowl Cities' Stats

Their geographic locations could not be more different.  Denver is located 5,280 feet above sea level on high rolling plains at the base of the Colorado Rocky Mountains.  Seattle is located in one of the most spectacular natural harbors of the world. But despite these physical differences, Denver and Seattle actually share much in common.

Denver                                                                        Seattle

•Founded in 1858 as gold mining camp            • Founded in 1851 as logging and fishing

                                                                                    center

•2012 population:   634,264, 23^rd largest in                 •2012 population:  634,535, 22^nd largest in

U.S.                                                                                    U.S.

•When bypassed by the transcontinental railroad,            •When bypassed by the transcontinental

Denver built its own connecting railroad                        railroad, Seattle forced its own connecting

in 1869                                                                        railroad in 1883

•Was rescued from a deep depression by                        •Was rescued from a deep depression by

the discovery of gold nearby in Cripple                        the discovery of gold nearby along the

Creek in 1890                                                                        Klondike River in Canada in 1897

•Has a history of boom & bust economies                         •Has a history of boom & bust economies

and is currently booming with eight new                         and is currently booming with aerospace,

downtown skyscrapers, 1,500 hotel rooms                         computer software, biotech, e-commerce,

and a rail line from downtown to Denver                        and international trade

International Airport all under construction

                                                  

 

•From the late 19^th to mid 20^th Century,                         •From the late 19^th to mid 20^th Century

Denver was known as “The Queen City                        Seattle was known as “The Queen City”

of the Plains”

•Has a skyline view of mountains, including                        •Has a skyline view of mountains, including

three 14,000-foot peaks (Pikes, Evans and                        one 14,000-foot peak (Rainier)

Longs)

•Has a national reputation for beer, including                        •Has a national reputation for beer, including

Coors, Great Divide, Breckenridge, Wynkoop            Red Hook, Pike and Pyramid

Has spawned many national musicians and                         Has spawned many national music groups

groups including Judy Collins, the Lumineers,              including Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, Pearl Jam

The Fray, One Republic, and the Flobots            and Macklemore

•Has an REI Flagship store and is known as                        •Has an REI Flagship store and is known as

an outdoor center for hiking, biking, fishing                        an outdoor center for hiking, biking, fishing,

kayaking, climbing and camping                                    kayaking, climbing and camping

•The cartoon South Park takes place near                        •The comic strip Doonesbury takes place

Denver and frequently features Denver                        in Seattle and frequently features Seattle

landmarks                                                                        landmarks

•Denver is home to first Chipotle and the             •Seattle is home to the first Starbucks,

first Quiznos, both of which started here            Nordstrom, Boeing and Amazon.com, which started here

                                                                                   

•Favorite city movie titles:                                                •Favorite city movie titles:

Things To Do In Denver When You’re Dead                        Sleepless in Seattle

•Actors from Denver:                                                            •Actors from Seattle

Amy Adams, Don Cheadle, Keri Russell,                        Anna Farris, Raine Wilson, Tom Skerritt,

AnnaSophia Robb, Matt Stone, Trey Parker                        Bruce Lee 

                                   

•Seattle and Denver Both Placed in the Top 10 cities

in the Travel + Leisure 2013 Survey of Cities for:

Athletic/active

Intelligent

Tech-savvy

Pet-friendly

Wine bars

Micro-brew beer

Environmentally friendly

Public Parks

Things to do in Denver when you're gay: Gay Bowl XII

Westword's got a great write up about this weekend's gay football extravaganza - Gay Bowl XII.

The games start tomorrow but the parties have already begun!

This weekend! Gay Bowl XII Denver 2012

Gay Bowl XII in Denver takes place this weekend (September 21-23) and promises plenty of action for gay sports fans in the Mile High City.

According to their website,"The Denver Gay Bowl is expected to be the largest Gay Bowl to date, drawing as many as 40 teams with as many as 600 players (and their many supporters) from cities across the U.S. and Canada.  Participating will be former NCAA athletes and even former NFL players."

What if Tim Tebow was gay instead of religious?

By Todd Craig

Yes, former Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow has always been known for his devout Christian beliefs, and as far as I know, he's as straight as a chalk line at a construction site.

A little history lesson: The third year quarterback's professional career before last year was defined mostly by a relatively tame pro-life ad during the 2010 Super Bowl that he starred in for Colorado Springs' own homo-hating organization, Focus on the Family.

But all that changed last season when he led the Denver Broncos on a miraculous six-game winning streak last year, and it seemed as if Tebow-mania had captivated the entire nation. The Broncos, a mediocre team at best in 2011, had risen from the dead and an 0-4 start thanks to the pluck and verve of the devout, young, and hunky quarterback who was as quick with a prayer as he was with an opportune touchdown at the end of the game.

Quickly, Tebow's faith came to be a flashpoint that spread throughout the media. Tebowing, the act of kneeling in prayer, became a national phenomenon. With each new win, the legend of Tebow continued to grow. There were Saturday NightLive skits starring Tebow and Jesus. ESPN and news programs struck ratings gold every time Tebow's jersey flashed across the screen. The religious fervor exemplified by the quarterback's public statements and demonstrations of his beliefs ramped up a debate about faith and football and whether or not the two could co-exist.

I'll admit, as a Broncos fan, I loved watching my team win again, but as a gay man I was having serious reservations. Tebow's play seemed to elevate that of his teammates. And more than once, I found myself thinking that I'd love that Tebow kid more if he just kept his religious beliefs to himself. Why did he have to make such a public spectacle of his beliefs? After all, how is any self-respecting gay man going to root for a guy who's the poster boy for Focus on the Family?

Somewhere about that time, I was at the gym, putting in my miles on the treadmill and staring at the various TV screens in front of me. Fox News had a panel discussion asking if Tebow was the victim of discrimination because of his religion. The talking heads argued about the freedom of religion. The general consensus, unsurprisingly, was that Tebow was judged more harshly because of his religious views, and that Tebow was the victim of society that looked down upon him because of his outward expression of his love of Jesus.

That's when it occurred to me.

What if his outward expressions of love were romantic ones for another man?

Let's say that after each touchdown instead of prayer, he pointed to his boyfriend in the stands and blew him a kiss. What if after his interview he thanked his husband for his love and support instead of Jesus? What if instead of delivering Easter sermons Tim Tebow rode a float in a gay pride parade or spoke to the revelers at the White Party?

I'm going to say with some certainty that the talking heads on Fox might be singing a different tune about Tebow – just as I would.

If the above scenario proved true, we gays would be reveling in our new-found football hero. We'd buy his jerseys just as we buy Gaga's CDs. We'd tune in for Tebow Time just as we tune in for awards shows hosted by Neil Patrick Harris. We'd buy magazines with him on the cover and pine after him just as we do for Ricky Martin. And when the religious groups would protest, we'd always have his back because, after all, love is love, and he should be able to express his love in any way he wants.

Much the same way the talking heads on Fox News just had just done on the TV in front of me.

As I consider Tebow now, I wonder if there isn't a part of me that isn't being just a tad bit hypocritical. Sure, our beliefs are different. And yes, he represents an organization - Focus on the Family - that is reprehensible. But if we gays want to be out and proud, if we want to express and celebrate our love in public as well as at home, then perhaps it is wrong to resent Tebow for doing essentially the same thing for his lord and savior.

So, as Tebow departs our little corner of the universe to go take his unique brand of ball and Bible to the burroughs of New York, I'm left asking myself what it all meant. For the Broncos, I'd say it means an upgrade in their QB position with the arrival of Peyton Manning, a former Colt star (No, not that kind of Colt star!). For Tebow's faithful, well, I'm sure they'll stand by their man.

In the end, maybe the lesson to be learned from Tebow-mania is not that public expressions of love for Jesus can be polarizing, but rather that all demonstrations of love, in whatever form they take, have the beauty and power to inspire thought and understanding. As we in the LGBT community look to the future of our quest for acceptance and legal rights, we must remember that love is not just what we're fighting for, but it is also our most powerful weapon.

Brett Favre under investiagation for alleged penis pics

Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com

Brett Favre is being investigated by the NFL for inappropriate sexual contact with a New York Jets employee. First it was a voicemail leak, then nude pictures.

Ed McCaffrey Football Camps

The Ed McCaffrey Dare to Play Football Camp for kids with Down Syndrome is coming up June 25 & 26 at Valor Christian High School - 3775 Grace Blvd. in Highlands Ranch, Colorado from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Come cheer on the campers at their football game on June 26 at 11:30 a.m. Tailgating starts at 10:30 a.m. Other Ed McCaffrey football camps are also available starting the week of June 28.
To register, please click here.

Enter to win a VIP Super Bowl fantasy

No, not that kind of fantasy.

Snickers is giving you the chance to win a VIP Super Bowl XLIII experience every week during the 2008 NFL season. That's 17 trips with exclusive party access, travel and accommodations, and of course, two tickets to the Big Game.

Enter to win here.

Denver Gay and Lesbian Flag Football League

Denver Summit gay flag football is becoming the Denver Gay and Lesbian Flag Football League this fall. Are you a football lover? Have you been playing flag football for years and wished you could find other gay people who share your passion about the sport? Have you never played football but are itching for a team sport as a way to meet new people?

The National Gay Flag Football League (NGFFL) has identified Denver, CO as an expansion city. And the Denver Summit has officially earned a bid to play in the Gay Bowl annual flag football championship in October 2008 in Salt Lake City, UT.