The public has spoken and has given a big thumbs up to openly gay athletes in sports. The first poll after Michael Sam came out found that "89% of Americans said athletes' sexual preference shouldn't determine whether they are offered contracts."
The poll of 780 people by Seton Hall University found that 6% said a person being gay should be considered, while 5% had no opinion or did not answer. On specifics about Sam, the poll found:
Thirty-eight percent of the respondents said Sam will be drafted in a lower round as a result of making his sexual preference public, while 40% believe it won't play a role.
It's bizarre the poll used "sexual preference," a term that is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. The results, though, are lopsided and another sign that society is more than ready for openly pro athletes. Now all we need are more to come out publicly.