Being the first openly gay football player for the NFL is ground breaking. Like all firsts, they come with struggles and hardships. Michael Sam is about to face the world.

Sam is the first openly gay player to be drafted by, and possibly play for, an NFL team. Sam is hoping to play for the St. Louis Rams.

Of course, being openly gay and a great football player create buzz, good and bad. Some people are more accepting of Sam and look to him as a role model. But others, however, see him as an intruder and do not support his lifestyle.

After receiving the news that he had been drafted, Sam kissed his boyfriend in excitement. This stirred up people and caused many comments to be said. Through Twitter, these comments have been made against Sam.

“I’m sorry but that Michael Sam is no bueno for doing that on national TV,” former Super Bowl champion Derrick Ward tweeted.

“Man U got little kids lookin at the draft. I can’t believe ESPN even allowed that to happen,” he added.

After Ward tweeted this, he received death threats to him and his children.

Sam is a role model for people everywhere; not just gay people but anyone. He is against all odds and still stays strong. Sam does not let anyone bring him down, he is proud of who he is and will not let anyone change him.

Sam is taking the criticism very well. It is expected for him to be critiqued as a football player and judged in that way. However, people who judge Sam just because of his sexuality is unacceptable. It is the twenty first century and people still do not have the freedom to love who they want and not be judged for it. It is amazing to think in this day and age that love is illegal.