On Jan. 16, NFL free agent Michael Sam shared the news of his marriage proposal to his longtime boyfriend, Vito Cammisano.
Like most couples, the two posted images of their special moment on social media to share with friends and family members.
Contrary to the warm ?responses heterosexual ?couples receive, Sam and his fiancé were greeted with an ?abundance of hate.
Sam’s personal life has been subjected to a great deal of public scrutiny.
As the first openly gay player in the NFL, all eyes have been on Sam and his boyfriend from day one.
This past Friday our prying eyes were stunned to see that Michael Sam had proposed to his boyfriend in — of all places — St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
Roman Catholics and ?LGBTQ supporters have a long history of standing on opposite sides of the aisle regarding same-sex marriage.
With both sides founding their arguments upon largely non-negotiable terms, finding common ground between the two communities can seem like a pipe dream.
But I believe there is plenty of room for mutual understanding between all parties involved.
Speaking from my own life as a Roman Catholic, my political and religious beliefs often coincide.
I have a passion for ?assisting those in need, ?regardless of how the greater society may judge and ?condemn them.
This desire to aid found its roots in the faith I’ve loved since childhood.
Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and giving shelter to those experiencing homelessness speak to the core of who I am.
But often my heart is broken by discussions regarding love between two people of the same sex.
Fellow parishioners, who I normally regard so highly for their compassion, suddenly begin to spout ignorant and hateful rhetoric whenever this topic is breached.
I was not raised to view any other human as a second-class citizen and neither were these dissenting ?individuals.
But it is clear that in their minds “gay” is equivalent to “lesser.”
Some of my fellow Catholics seriously believe that LGBTQ individuals should deny their true feelings and force themselves to live ?without the love they could have found in life.
But why exactly is this love so caustic?
Most proponents of better inclusion within the Church for LGBTQ Catholics argue that the love these individuals can offer the Church would not threaten that of ?heterosexual couples.
I disagree.
How could the love ?LGBTQ couples share not improve the lives of those around them?
In a world that can at times seem dark and inhospitable, the love shared between any couple can serve as a beacon of hope — regardless of sex or gender.
I congratulate Michael Sam and his fiancé and thank them for expressing their love in the way that feels the most significant to each other.
The public and the Church will likely never cease to debate this issue, and the lives of the people being discussed will continue to be pulled around and walked upon.
But for now, let’s all take a moment to celebrate the fact that, since this past Friday, there is a little bit more love in the world.
sjdickma@indiana.edu
