ok well what’s sam’s home life like? do his parents know he’s gay?
For a long time, they don't.
Sam comes out to his family between his first and second relationship: the one with football player was pretty toxic and they both kept it a secret (football player never came out) and after they finished it, Sam's guidance counselor - who's also Sam's friend and mentor during the whole high school - encouraged him to stop hiding if he's ready for it.
He told babies, Stevie and Stacey, first, and they understood him perfectly and after that were even some support when his parents said something homophobic (not knowing Sam is gay yet).
Eventually what finally made Sam come out to his parents was the church - some inspirational sermon, something like this. Of course it was hard for them to accept it at first, and there was this weird silence for few days/weeks and Sam was afraid they may tell him to move out - not to be a bad role model for his siblings or something, but eventually they all figured it out: his parents understood that doesn't change anything at all, Sam is still the same person, the same good boy he has always been. Later he even introduced his 2nd boyfriend to them.