To Out or Not To Out

The question of the recent ages for many homosexuals. In this day and age, with homosexuality being more widely accepted and a mostly protected status under anti-discrimination laws, having the world find out you're gay is not as devastating to one's life as it used to be. Or is it? It all depends on the life, of course.

Lately, there has been a rash of high-exposure outings, especially on the political landscape. One of the most determined is Mike Rogers over at BlogActive. Mike is fighting the hypocritical fight: closeted, right-wing, republican politicians who are publicly anti-gay in their speeches and, most importantly, in their voting. He's credited with outing Senator Larry Craig long before his arrest in that Minneapolis airport. Rogers has also been instrumental in the exposure of Florida Governor Charlie Crist, Evangelical Ted Haggard and many others.

In addition to the politicos, Hollywood has also been rife with gay rumors and outings. Many celebrity websites love to play the speculation game on celebs' sexuality. Perez Hilton basically forced Lance Bass out of the closet, as well as gave a swift kick to Neil Patrick Harris. Many "blind items" (thinly disguised, nameless riddles), are about closeted homosexuals, with Ted Casablancas over at E! being a notorious spreader of these items.

So what does any of this do for the homosexual community? If we force someone out of the closet, what does that say about us?

I was just going to write that, while I understand outings in the political arena, especially those who are virulently anti-gay in their voting while engaging in homosexual sex on the sly, I'm not so sure about outing in general...But that would be a lie. I am all for outing and I'll tell you why:

Every homosexual who is visible makes this world a better world. Every person who steps out of the closet strikes a blow against shame. If you didn't know already: the closet is about shame. Anyone of us can dress it up in any number of ways (I'm in the closet to protect my job. I'm in the closet to protect my family. I'm in the closet so I can get leading roles in feature films. I'm in the closet because my constituents won't understand.) but truth is anyone who is in the closet is there out of personal shame, simple as that in my opinion.

As generations pass, more and more homosexuals live their lives openly and honestly but there is still too much shame aimed at and within the gay community. We are constantly told that our love and our sexual desires are wrong, abominable, disgusting, and, thank you Mike Huckabee, icky. Well, personally, I think sex with Mike Huckabee would be icky, so no worries for you there, Mike. And all these statements and proclamations are merely words of shame, most often lobbed from "God-loving" folks who are speaking more out of their own fears than out of love for God or any of His children, but don't get me started on them again. But no matter how many of us do live openly and honestly, it won't mean anything until we ALL do.

So, I say outing is good. I say the more of us who live out and proud, or just live quietly but honestly, the better the chance that humanity can live more harmoniously. Of course, there will always be an anti-gay faction in the world, just as racism is still alive and kicking in the world, but it can get better, but only if we allow it.

If you have the opportunity to make the WORLD a better place, wouldn't you take it? I'm talking to you Charlie Crist. And you Queen Latifah. And anyone else who has the ability to effect change. Including myself.