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Actor Eric Stonestreet predicts that one day, it's not going to take an act of courage for an openly gay person to play in the NFL.
“It’s going to be considered common. It’s not going to feel taboo, and people are not going to feel they need to be closeted or keep their sexuality a secret because of other people’s opinions,” Stonestreet said this week. The “Modern Family” star, who plays a gay man on the popular ABC show, said, “Times are changing and Jason Collins, Michael Sam and those guys who have come out are most definitely having an impact with society.”
Sam came out as gay before this year’s NFL draft. He was drafted in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams. Collins, who played basketball for the Brooklyn Nets last season, is the first openly gay athlete to play in a professional league in North America.
The two-time Emmy winner, who plays Cameron Tucker on “Modern Family,” said it won’t be so sensational for a gay athlete to come out as it becomes more acceptable.
“We have gay athletes in professional sports. There’s no way around it. There’s no doubt that that’s true, and anybody who doesn’t think there’s gay athletes in professional sports doesn’t understand basic sociology,” the actor said.
Stonestreet noted that Sam, like any athlete, will have to earn his way onto the St. Louis Rams roster. His spot is not guaranteed.
Kiss, Usher and Jennifer Lopez will perform at Fashion Rocks concert
The Sept. 9 event at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, will also feature Duran Duran, Miranda Lambert and Pitbull. It will air live on CBS at 9 p.m. Eastern time.
Ryan Seacrest will host the two-hour special, which celebrates the relationship between music and fashion. The event takes place during New York Fashion Week.
DJ-producer Afrojack, Rita Ora, Nico & Vinz and the Band Perry will also perform. More performers and presenters will be announced at a later date.
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