Mizzou football standout receives support from Obama, others

University of Missouri senior defensive end Michael Sam is on the verge of becoming the National Football League’s first openly gay player, and his announcement is garnering support from across the country.

The first-team all-American and the Associated Press defensive player of the year in the Southeastern Conference spoke publicly about his sexual orientation for the first time in an interview with the New York Times, according to the paper.

Yesterday, the Kansas City Star posted reactions from around the country via Twitter. Many celebrities and others expressed their support for Sam’s announcement, including President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Ellen DeGeneres, Gov. Jay Nixon, former St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner and former Mizzou quarterback Chase Daniels.

Read more from the Kansas City Star.