Shocking!
Oh come on now, does this really surprise anyone?
In all seriousness though, I completely agree with the sentiment behind Andrew Sullivan's email to Mr. Cooper: it is important that LGBT celebrities come out. In fact, it's a matter of life and death. Because we shouldn't forget that a shocking number of LGBT kids are still killing themselves each year. If one life is saved by a celebrity that a kid looks up to coming out, that's worth it, isn't it? What better way to send the message that it really does get better?
On the flip side of the coin, I have mixed feelings about forcibly outing gay conservatives. I do understand the anger and frustration that prompts people to do this. I think it's despicable that there's so many of these "Log Cabin Republican" types who are willing to advocate for trampling LGBT rights. The fact that most of these types seem to be rich white men makes them even less sympathetic. I'm not willing to say it's wrong to out these people. But I wouldn't be comfortable participating in it either.
I also feel that as allies, it's vitally important that we keep ourselves educated about these issues and speak out at every opportunity against any form of bigotry, bullying, or harassment. Until our culture changes to make this kind of behavior unacceptable for any reason, I fear that whatever other remedies might be tried will always fall short.
In all seriousness though, I completely agree with the sentiment behind Andrew Sullivan's email to Mr. Cooper: it is important that LGBT celebrities come out. In fact, it's a matter of life and death. Because we shouldn't forget that a shocking number of LGBT kids are still killing themselves each year. If one life is saved by a celebrity that a kid looks up to coming out, that's worth it, isn't it? What better way to send the message that it really does get better?
On the flip side of the coin, I have mixed feelings about forcibly outing gay conservatives. I do understand the anger and frustration that prompts people to do this. I think it's despicable that there's so many of these "Log Cabin Republican" types who are willing to advocate for trampling LGBT rights. The fact that most of these types seem to be rich white men makes them even less sympathetic. I'm not willing to say it's wrong to out these people. But I wouldn't be comfortable participating in it either.
I also feel that as allies, it's vitally important that we keep ourselves educated about these issues and speak out at every opportunity against any form of bigotry, bullying, or harassment. Until our culture changes to make this kind of behavior unacceptable for any reason, I fear that whatever other remedies might be tried will always fall short.