(Hat tip: The Malcontent)
David Crary of the Associated Press has done a story about the “outing” of public figures.

NEW YORK (Oct. 4) – Though decried by many gay-rights leaders, “outing” – the practice of exposing secretly gay public figures – is expanding into new terrain as Internet bloggers target congressional staffers, political strategists, even black clergy whose sermons and speeches contain anti-gay rhetoric.
Few issues are as divisive within the gay community. Numerous gay organizations, such as the Human Rights Campaign and the Log Cabin Republicans, staunchly oppose outing, yet many other activists support it when the targets are public figures – or their aides – who work against gay rights or condemn homosexuality.

Malcontent points out there is a survey associated with this story where you can make your opinion known on the subject.
Full Article and Vote Here!
-Bruce (GayPatriot)

This is interesting….. I’m glad I’m not involved in the forced outing of gay men. This would be a lot of money for someone to have to shell out in a civil settlement.
Gay Man Outed on Radio to Receive $270,000 – FOX News

Arbitrator Rebecca Westerfield found on Friday that Hernandez had suffered emotional distress but dismissed claims of sexual harassment. She said that Hernandez had no choice but to quit his job and was owed workers’ compensation.
Hernandez was awarded $250,000 and nearly $20,000 in economic damages because of the emotional distress that led to seven months of unemployment after quitting his job.

Now imagine if a bunch of forced-outed gay men got together and filed a class action lawsuit. Whew. Maybe there *is* money to be made in the blogosphere?
-Bruce (GayPatriot) – gaypatriot2004@aol.com

Excellent column in today’s Seattle Times by Danny Westneat on the “swamp of personal attack politics” that is the gay outing campaign. (Please read the whole column…. it is great!)
When Outing Is Out Of Line – Seattle Times

We’re not all willing to sink so easily into the swamp of personal-attack politics…. It’s possible to be gay and against the gay-rights bill without being a hypocrite…. I support the gay-rights bill, too. But it’s extreme ? disturbing, even ? to conclude that anyone’s position on it justifies a witch hunt into their personal sexual lives.

If only our so-called “gay rights” groups in DC felt as strongly in favor of protecting the individual rights of gays targeted by such efforts… I can only hope, right?
And then there’s this great comment by Dave Kaplan, Log Cabin President for Washington State (and occassional GayPatriot reader!) has this great comment, too:

“Just because you’re gay doesn’t mean you have to agree to every plank of liberal, gay orthodoxy.”

Now THAT is the Log Cabin I joined 10 years ago!!!
-Bruce (GayPatriot) – gaypatriot2004@aol.com

All I have to comment on this latest “outing” is: What exactly is all this accomplishing? A lot of wasted energy with absolutely no positive outcomes for gay rights.
Gay-rights opponent Santorum stands by outed aide – Knight Ridder
Santorum’s own words say volumes about who is really hurting individual gay Americans….methodically…..one by one:

“Robert Traynham … is widely respected and admired on Capitol Hill, both among the press corps and among the congressional staff, as a communications professional. Not only is Mr. Traynham an exemplary staffer, but he is also a trusted friend confidente to me and my family. Mr. Traynham is a valued member of my staff and I regret that this effort on behalf of people who oppose me has made him a target of bigotry in their eyes.
“It is entirely unacceptable that my staffs’ personal lives are considered fair game by partisans looking for arguments to bolster my opponent’s campaign. Mr. Traynham continues to have my full support and confidence as well as my prayers as he navigates this rude and mean spirited invasion of his personal life.”

I thought it might be interesting to check out what Keith Boykin, prominent African-American gay liberal activist, had to say about this issue. So I drifted over there…..
Black and Gay and Defending the GOP? – KeithBoykin.com
I’ll close with these observations from one of Keith’s readers (GP edited for typos *grin*):

“If gay marriage is the litmus test for hate, then 80 percent of black people are hateful, and most of the planet! That would also include my Grandmother!
I wish Robert Traynham much success, in his life. Ignore the naysayers and maybe one day Robert will be a Senator! He already gets my vote! I could have only imagined the first black congressional staffers, after the civil rights movement! They did a lot for black rights just by showing up on time and showing there faces!
Stop, hating, and bitchin and grow up!”

Amen.
-Bruce (GayPatriot) – gaypatriot2004@aol.com

Rex Wockner has a column today published on 365gay.com regarding the recent flurry of speculation about the sexuality of CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
The Wockner Wire (Out Goes on an Outing) – 365gay.com
If it were true that he is gay, Anderson Cooper would be one of the most high profile gay men in America and could serve as a positive role model for young men and women who are questioning their sexuality. I have a feeling Anderson is also a closet Republican, which would make things even more interesting….but that’s not where I want to go with this today.
Instead, let’s focus on how Rex viewed the situation after OUT Magazine had Anderson on its front page openly questioning his gayness.

“Rex, thanks for your note,” he responded. “I’m in Beirut right now. I’m just not interested in talking about my private life. Thanks.”
I don’t think you can argue with that. If Bill Clinton would have said exactly those words, the world might be a different place today.

Interesting. So it is okay for a member of the Mainstream Media to decide to come out on his own terms, or avoid the subject altogether. But what about the outing witchhunt going on against conservatives (elected and non-elected) by Michael Rogers? What a double standard.
One could use the exact same arguments against Anderson Cooper that Rogers has used against Ken Mehlman for example. Neither make public policy, but both can help positively influence it. So why the pass for Anderson but the unhealthy obsession and hate against Mehlman? I have no idea if either of them are gay. But if either of them are, I stand by my belief that both should be allowed to come out on their own terms…. or not come out at all.
Why do left-wing gay terrorists have the power now to decide who is worthy of protecting and who has to be cast out to the wolves with no regard for their family and personal lives? Why, because the left-wing Gay Streeters at HRC and NGLTF are allowing it to happen. It is a disgrace.