Do you believe the outing of gay republicans demonizes homosexuality?

[cynatnite]

Poll question: Do you believe the outing of gay republicans demonizes homosexuality?

Poll result (77 votes)
Yes	(25 votes, 32%)	Vote
No	(49 votes, 64%)	Vote
I don't know	(3 votes, 4%)	Vote

[Patsy Stone]

1. I believe outing anyone

demonizes it. It's as if it's a dirty secret when you've been "outed". Even the word is demonizing.

[Drum]

2. Great poll question!

Yes, I think that it does.

[MadMaddie]

3. It depends doesn't it...

Did the gay Republican bash the gay community and help to deny the gay Americans equal rights? Because if the answer is yes that they actively participated in dehumanizing the gay community.....then yes they deserve to be outed....

[orpupilofnature57]

4. Yes ,it gives the neighborhood a bad name ,next they'll all be moving in!

[mondo joe]

5. Simply acknowledging that a person is gay can't demonize homosexuality.

That has to happen through other means.

[LWolf]

32. "Outing" is not acknowledging.

"Outing" is something that is done without the consent of the person involved; it's a violation of their privacy.

Whether or not it demonizes homosexuality depends on the means.

Outing someone in order to defame them? Yes.

[stillcool]

6. I believe gay republicans...

demonize homosexuality far more than their outing does.

[marmar]

7. Yes and no. It's a tough one.

I think that outing self-hating gay Repugs like the mayor in Spokane who promote an antigay agenda is essential: It's demonizing hypocrisy.
But just outing anyone for the sake of outing them? That's demonizing.

[nam78_two]

8. Whats with all these polls about outing gay people?

Is this some new proposed Democratic campaign strategy?

Honestly, I think they are better with the sleazy stuff than we are....
They are hypocrites and all but I don't know...I think its better to stick with Iraq, Abramoff etc.

[Tyo]

11. And what kind of traction have we gotten with that?

This is America and unfortunate as it is, there is nothing like a good ol sex scandal to make folks sit up in their Lay-Z-Boys and pay attention. Sex is kind of like the intro drug to the more serious stuff you mention. I don't like it any more than you do, but that's the way it is in this country.

As for outing, as a gay guy I have no problem with it under certain circumstances. As far as I'm concerned if you live a secret gay life while using your position in government to oppress and demonize your gay brothers and sisters who live openly and proudly you have forfeited your right to privacy in this area.

[DURHAM D]

18. Intended to be divisive. Usually works.

I, for one, don't really care what straight people think about this issue. This is a matter that should be left to the gay community to discuss/decide.

"Outing" is about purging the homophobic homosexuals from our sub-culture, the ones that are standing on our backs to further their personal agenda. Let us make our own decisions. And, I hope you will support our decisions once you realize that it is about our lives.

[nam78_two]

19. I don't care if its done by gay people

But I would find it disturbing on some level if its a calculated strategy by political strategists who are not gay...

[orpupilofnature57]

23. Bingo! just like the thumpers were used.

[ripple]

9. Considering there is so much interest in this

in light of the Foley scandal, don't you?

[stepnw1f]

10. Outing Closeted Gays that are Republican Demonizes Homosexuality?

What's demonizing to homosexuality are those people who feel the need to stay in the closet... that such a things needs to be hidden from everyone.

Why would outing a homosexual be considered "demonizing" in the first place? Being Republican and being gay demonizes homosexuality.

[ripple]

16. Timing it NOW demonizes homosexuality

Foley's actions were that of a pedophile, not your average homosexual.

As a lesbian, I see your point about the hypocrisy. I don't understand or approve of it, either. Still, outing closeted republicans right now would only make people associate homosexuality with pedophilia.

Foley was a pedophile. End of story. I don't see a sexual orientation slapped on every other pedophile, nor should one be. It's irrelevant.

And remember, Foley is the ONLY reason we are even discussing this right now.

[frustrated_lefty]

12. It points to hypocrisy.

Gay=ok. Hypocrites in charge of government=not ok.

[elocs]

13. Well, outing in a sense does help the Freepers.

They learn that they have (in their eyes) a Philistine in the camp masquerading as an Israelite. On the other hand, if they know about it, outing exposes their hypocrisy since they make much of loathing homosexuality. It is not like exposing a Nazi Party member as being a Jew in the days of Hitler when that would probably mean eventual death for the Jew. In the case of outing, the homosexual will probably end up being better off rather than living a lie that not only hurts himself/herself, but whose work for the Freepers has a negative impact on many who are openly and honestly living the gay/lesbian life.

[donheld]

14. It demonizes the HYPOCRISY!!!!1!!!!

Will some of you ever understand that?

[mondo joe]

17. I blame a well intended liberal kneejerk.

I note that a greater percentage of straights than gays seem to object to outing, which I think simply reflects an outdated PC dogma. Many gays have moved beyond that.

It's not an uncommon phenomenon.

[guinivere]

33. I don't think that it's an outdated pc thing at all.

I truly think that it is wrong for straight people to start booting folks out of the closet. It is up to the gay community to deal with this as they see fit.

[Guaranteed]

15. It entirely depends on why the outter is doing it.

Their motivation is the "demonization," if it is there at all.

[sproutster]

20. I don't (or didn't) believe in outing.

But anyone who denies someone with the same circumstances but less money and protections then our elected officials simple rights of a life that is committed to another, while themselves living a lie is wrong.

They demonize those that do NOT have the money, and protections to NOT have to worry about such trivial matters as health care, burials, simply being allowed into a hospital room. It is wrong - and under these circumstances I say OUT THE F*ckers.

[ingac70]

21. Closet, self loathing gays in the GOP must be outed....

Divide and conquer....

the redneck GOP base will stay home!

[Zenlitened]

22. The way it's being done right now, yes.

My overall impression is that the tone is basically "Har har! That guy's GAY!" or "Yuk yuk! Lookit all them GAYS in the republican party!"

Rather than "Here's how he has acted hypocritically: (explanation)."

Just my impression, and I hope I'm wrong, I hope that "Eek A gay!" is not the only message getting across.

Because I do believe in exposing hypocrites.... for their hypocrisy.

[Richard Steele]

24. No, it demonizes HYPOCRACY. (hopefully)

[Karenina]

25. HYPOCRISY.

[Richard Steele]

26. Yeah, that too!

[Deja Q]

27. Proof would be needed; most of them would cry 'SLANDER!'

[petronius]

28. No, but I do think it's immoral to use the bigotry of others as a weapon

against politicians we don't like. As I see it, there is a fundamental difference between outing gay republicans and pointing out hypocrisies such as Bill Bennett's gambling. In the latter, we are simply pointing out a gap between a person's practice and his preaching. By contrast, with outing, we are relying on the homophobia of right-wing bigots to punish people.

IMO, using homophobic hatred as a political tool is immoral, even if we wield that tool by proxy...

[porphyrian]

29. It's not very nice, but it does expose their extreme hypocrisy.

I don't know that I'd do it personally, but I don't think it reflects badly on homosexuality itself beyond the actions of individuals.

[David Zephyr]

30. No.

.

[Raine]

31. No, it demonizes

hypocrites.

[The Brethren]

34. I give about as much respect

to gay republicans and their privacy as their party gives to my rights as a gay person and my privacy.

But the whole subject of "outing" someone is interesting to me in itself. Because I don't believe that fact that someone is gay or bisexual is something they can put in a concrete vault and guarantee that no one will ever find out. Unless that person has never talked about with it anyone in their lifetime or shown attractions to the same sex ever and have done everything they could to date or marry and "act" like a straight person.......and even then....there's always the chance that something slips out about their real feelings....then somewhere along the way someone else knows. The only difference I see regarding the issue of people talking about gay republicans and who they are is that it's being done in the media to a larger group instead of the people around them who probably already knew. It's politics. As we've all seen anyone remotely connected with politics has no guarantees that their personal lives are secret, private and in any stretch - off limits.

Stepping back, I also recall many republicans, including gay republicans viciously attacking Clinton for his affair and making it as public as they could. I've also had arguments with gay republicans who not only feel his private life is an open book, but will go on at lengths about what he did and in full detail. I find that a double standard. However, what I also find disturbing and demonizes who we are is when I see some people in general combing the issue of hypocritical gay republicans with politicians who engage in relationships with minors and the issue of gay bashing. These are separate issues. I don't respect gay republicans at all - it's not only their individual votes on issues that affect me, but also their party's long standing history of bigotry and affiliations and support from the likes of jerks like Falwell. Politicians who think it's ok to have sexual relationships with minors come in all varieties: straight, gay and bi and they all equally disgust me regardless which party they belong to. And if there are straight people who use the issue of gay republicans to ridicule and trash gay people general, then they are no less hypocrites then the gay republicans themselves.

[Oak2004]

35. No, and I am a gay former Republican.

I'm personally well aware of the hypocrisy, where gays are tolerated and even appreciated in private, but hidden while the party panders to hate. It has to stop, now.

And btw, most gay Republicans are "out" everywhere except in the public eye, and are not struggling with their sexuality: they're just willingly playing their part to maintain Republican power.