Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley on Monday spoke out in
support of Michael Sam.
Sam, 24, came out last week in interviews with ESPN and The
New York Times. The college football player is a strong NFL draft prospect.
If drafted, Sam would become the NFL's first openly gay player.
“I think it's an insult to gay people to think that they are going
to be looking at their teammates in a sexual way,” Barkley told CNN's Wolf
Blitzer. “That's an insult to all gay men. And we welcome them to the locker
room, and I wish Mr. Sam the best.”
When asked how a gay player would be received in an NBA locker
room, Barkley answered: “I think they're going to be safe with their teammates.
I think the public at large is more homophobic than guys in the locker room. I
think we as players get a bad rap.”
Barkley went on to reiterate that gay and lesbian couples deserve
the same benefits as heterosexual couples.
In 2011, Barkley announced his support for marriage equality,
saying he loves gay people.
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