Reflection 3: Doors Swung Open—The Ethics of Outing

Outing is the act of disclosing a gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender person's sexual orientation, or gender identity, without his or her consent. In the days of old Hollywood, closeted stars had to contend with not only the rise of an unscrupulous tabloid press, but an American society overwhelmingly unsympathetic to homosexuals. In the 21st century, however, gays have gained unprecedented mainstream acceptance. Today, many performers, athletes, and politicians now often live openly as homosexuals. Still, not all of today's public figures are comfortable coming out of the closet. Those who chose not to openly disclose their sexual orientation, must rely on public charades, clandestine lifestyles, and the good graces of the gay community. Sometimes, their secrets are safe. Other times, they might find themselves publicly outed. Reasons to out a gay public figure vary, but it in every case an individual is robbed of the choice to reveal a very personal aspect of his or her life. Do you believe outing is acceptable? Is it a necessary evil, or a loathable practice? For example, can a case be made to out an A-list celebrity or Washington politician if his or her outing would help the overall visibility of homosexuals in American society? Must some people's privacy be sacrificed for the greater good? Finally, what of closeted homophobes? Are they fair game—and who decides?

Include at least three of the following in your discussion:

• "Outing the Hypocrisy of Outing" (Time)
• "Outing Rep. Aaron Schock is Completely Acceptable" (Huffington Post)
• "Ex-NFL Player Kwame Harris Hopes Outing Helps Gay Athletes" (Sports Illustrated)
• "The Case for Outing Closeted Politicians" (Salon)
• "The Case Against Outing Gay Politicians" (Newsweek)
• "When is Outing Justified?" (New York Times)

Requirements:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be two full pages in length
• Must include a works cited page

Due: We 9.16