Pro 



Pardon me, I woke up at 3:30 this morning and could not get back to sleep. I've been working too hard and simply don't feel like heading into work yet.

More and more, I am becoming VEHEMENTLY pro-outing, a la the campaigns of Mike Rogers at BlogActive.com.

During the fight for marriage last year, I was livid that men and women who date same-sex, whether they identify as homosexual or not, would vote against, or support elected officials who vote against marriage equality.

I cannot say that I feel bad about what Mike Rogers does or what Boykin and Cannick are doing to out black ministers that preach against homosexuality and get a little on the side.

We can go around in circles that it is unkind to the "victims" of the outing, or that it is unethical, or that we are tearing people down and subjecting them to discrimination because we are upset that we aren't getting what we want.

But we are in a peculiar situation. Almost any gay or lesbian can pass for straight if they choose to, or if it is needed. But they still engage the community quietly on the side. And how can we, as members of that community that have chosen not to hide, allow them to take advantage of us for fellowship and sexual needs while they body-slam our civil rights in the political arena. It's unacceptable. They forfeit their right to silence about their identity when they attack us on that level.

If someone hugely out-ed me at school, I would be devastated. It would be painful for me. But at the same time, I don't try to pass, most of my colleagues know, and its clear to me that some kiddos have figured it out. I'm not about to hide it, I'd rather not do what I do than lead a double life. While I cannot make that decision for another, that other had better not go about trying to make my life hell. I work hard to make my school a safe place for all kids. I don't work against safety and equality.

What do you think? 

Posted: Wed - October 5, 2005 at 06:34 AM          
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