#DOMESTICTERROR

Why media Coverage of Michael Sam is Important

The past few days, the media has been humming about Michael Sam’s announcement about his #LOVEORIENTATION. I've noticed a lot of flack about the amount of news coverage he’s getting. So, why is it big news?

Well, it’s kind of a question that answers itself. It’s big news because it’s still news. The status quo doesn't allow LGBTQ community members to pass through life unnoticed. In fact, if we don’t announce our preferences we’re often accused of purposely withholding our identity. Is it our fault that we feel the need to withhold in some cases? Is it really even anyone’s business how we identify? In fact, why does it matter how we identify unless you prefer to discriminate based on it?

Now we can compare the experiences of gay and straight people all day, but the fact is, if you’re gay, there is likely to be some backlash. It doesn’t matter if you’re an 11 year old in New York, or an NFL draft hopeful in Missouri. The latter may have some clout with the media, though. If he chooses to use that advantage, he can change the way the world treats that 11 year old in New York.

It goes so far beyond media coverage. LGBTQ youth in America are three times more likely to commit suicide as others in their age groups (violencepreventionworks.org) In fact, they make up about 30% of all completed suicides (fiercegoodbye.com). 2010 is the most recent year with fully compiled data, and there were 38,364 suicides reported that year (afsp.org). 38,364 x 30%= 14,578.32 suicides by LGBTQ youth in America. Let’s revisit why it’s newsworthy that Michael Sam is coming out before the NFL Draft. His bravery might inspire one of those youths to keep going.

Perspective: 2,977 people were killed on 9/11 not including the hijackers. That’s 4 times LESS than the number of LGBTQ youth that are dying every single year. So why, then, is 9/11 treated as the worst terrorist attack in recent history? Is it because the terrorists used planes instead of words? Is it because the terrorists were reportedly foreigners? Is it because we’re too afraid to open our eyes and see the domestic terrorism that’s happening in this country daily? Terrorism is NOT defined by what weapons are used or what nationality or age groups take part. It’s defined as the systematic use of violence, including hate speech, as a means of coercion for political purposes. We are talking about death on a scale of FOUR 9/11 attacks per year in our junior high and high schools. People like Michael Sam are important enough to garner attention from the media because he beat some incredible odds to be a 2014 NFL Draft pick. But the odds he beat simply to make it to adulthood are also staggering.

If you have never been in a minority group, you will never be able to fully grasp the thought process that happens to simply exist. Avoiding pronouns to disguise a same gender partner, laughing half halfheartedly at jokes mean to wound a group that you belong to, being ostracized by lifelong friends. I can’t imagine what it must be like to be in the media twenty-four hours a day, but using that to the advantage of a bullied social group is well deserving of the media’s attention. Risking everything you’ve worked so long and hard for to take a stand is newsworthy. And in this day and age, being openly gay IS still taking a risk, especially when major league sports are involved.

A lot of Americans would have us focusing on The Olympic Games or Iranian movement in the Atlantic Ocean. How can any of that media coverage help the people in THIS country? 93 percent of teenagers report hearing derogatory language about LGBTQ orientations at least once in a while. Ninety-three percent! 50% report hearing it daily (violencepreventionworks.org).

Think about a trait you possess that society deems “undesirable.” Now imagine half of the population heard about how undesirable that trait is on a daily basis. Imagine the media, your friends, family all told you it was undesirable, maybe even without knowing you possess the trait. Imagine your job being at risk because of that trait. Imagine being stalked or harassed because of it. Would you be comfortable being on display in the media and talking about having that trait? Would you hide that trait at all costs?

There are a multitude of ways to react to being LGBTQ, but the fact is that some people will hate you for it. Whether they know about you or not, they will be vocal about their opinion that you are second class. Having a voice in the media that sympathizes is a way to survive. Having media outlets that care enough to show those voices is empowering. Showing successful people like Michael Sam in the media can literally save lives in America. Showing news footage of two old ships SLOWLY approaching America does not save anything or anyone.

If Iran chooses to become violent, the government will know and react to that threat, whether the general public knows it or not. The U.S. Government has the military means necessary to sink those two ships, in fact, we already nearly sank one of them back in 1988 (forbes.com).

Using the media to halt ongoing violence in the United States is a much better use of our resources than tying up news outlets with ships. What would be the continuing coverage? There has to be news to make it worth reporting and Iran is not enough of a threat to be newsworthy. I’d say saving 14,000 of America’s youth is a news worthy cause. There has NEVER been an openly gay NFL player. Never. And the fear that seethes in America is the cause of that. Media outlets have made it possible for supporters to be front and center in present day news. A stride forward for equality in this country IS news. What are we worried about Iran destroying if we’re okay raising our children in hostile environments? If you believe equal rights are not newsworthy, it’s probably because no one votes on yours. Media is the best tool we have against #DOMESTICTERROR, and how can there ever be an end to International Terrorism, if we can’t even end Terrorism at home?