Michael Sam voted off “Dancing With the Stars”

Michael Sam danced beautifully on tonight’s Dancing With the Stars but it was not enough to prevent him from being voted off.

It’s a pity.

Sam and partner Peta Murgatroyd received their highest marks yet from the judges for their week four dance but did not garner enough votes from the public to remain in contention.

‘I had a great time; an awesome experience,’ Sam said after the elimination. ‘I want to thank Dancing With the Stars and everyone here who came out and supported.’

Judges had given the pair 30 points out of a possible 40 for their rumba to the song Not My Father’s Son from the musical Kinky Boots.

Sam compared the story of the dance to the journey of his relationship to his estranged father who reacted negatively in an interview with The New York Times after Sam came out.

‘I was hurt,’ Sam said on the show. ‘I called him and I said, “You lost another son” … and I haven’t talked to him since.’

Of his dance and choice of song Sam said: ‘It shows I’m sad right now but by the end of the song I’m strong and I’m going to make it. There’s light at the end of the tunnel, and I’m walking straight into that light.’