Journalist Michelangelo Signorile is defending outing a prominent Republican member of the U.S. Senate.
Signorile, who popularized the practice of outing and the name for it in the ’90s, penned a lengthy essay on his blog June 7 laying out his case for the outing of anti-LGBTQ politicians. Prior to Signorile’s article, a number of male sex workers, as well as adult film performer Sean Harding, Tweeted that the senator had hired them for sex. However, none of the people naming the prominent politician cited any evidence about the encounters or about his sexuality.
The story began trending on social media late last week, reviving rumors that the lifelong bachelor has spent his career in the closet. Critics immediately criticized the outing campaign, claiming that gossiping about his sexuality is a violation of privacy.
Signorile, however, defended his story–and the outing of anti-LGBTQ politicians. “If this particular characteristic, like other characteristics about public figures, is relevant to a larger story encompassing their work, their role, their power, their influence, and is something the public should know — then it should be reported.”
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The journalist skirted the question of sourcing the story, but he went on to cite the cases of Aaron Schock and Larry Craig, two other anti-LGBTQ lawmakers who were eventually driven out of the closet by journalists. Speculation about Schock’s sexuality abounded while he was in office as an Illinois congressman, but his constituency was unmoved, sending him back to office three more times before a campaign finance scandal derailed his political career.
After dozens of photos of Schock at circuit parties, gay clubs, and among gay friends at Coachella surfaced on Instagram, he finally came out. “I am gay,” he posted. “For those who know me, and for many of those who know of me, this will come as no surprise.” He has not, however, apologized for his anti-LGBTQ votes, including voting against the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and opposing marriage equality.
In Craig’s case, the Senator was arrested in 2007 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport for soliciting a man for sex in a public restroom. After an initial claim that he was tapping his feet and reaching under the wall of his stall because he had a “wide stance,” Craig later pled guilty to the charge.
In Signorile’s view the outings of Craig, Schock and the GOP senator would have prevented damage to queer Americans and democracy itself.
“The closet,” Signorile writes, “for powerful politicians, becomes a sort of practice run at the art of deception on a grander scale. And when you will sell out your own kind, there’s really no telling how low you will go.”
Cam
Evil Closet cases like Lady Ghramn absolutely should be outted.
RFD
True and the lies these men tell are disgusting. The work they do against us much worse.
Gadfeal
Where does it stop? Any “Family Values” proponent who has extra-marital sex? Any Congressman who cannot correctly answer a basic question on Constitutional Law which he swore to “uphold and protect” as a primordial responsibility? Any Congressman who cannot cite the basic concepts of a thousand page new law that he/she has just voted to approve or to refuse?
Cam
@Gadfeal
Aaaaaannnndd, here is one of the troll accounts to clutch their pearls and cry that rabid bigots trying to pass laws that harm us might be sad if they are outted.
As for the rest of your comments…..Guess what, people who cheat and all the other things are already outted by the tabloids….so nice try.
Jim
There is nothing wrong with being gay ergo there is nothing wrong with outing.
This is the 21st century.
Nedra
I am in total agreement. The only time “outing” is wrong is if the person lives in a homophobic country like Morocco or Jamaica. But if they are a politician who is working against gay people, they should be outed even if they are in Saudi Arabia.
Gary Q VV
LGBTQ persons who use their highly influential powers against their own kind must be outed to eliminate their harmful effects on our community – there are no exceptions, no mercy, no nothin’.
Roan
Out Lindsey Graham? He’s already out. It’s not a secret.
RFD
But he keeps lying about it and must be torn out forcefully and maybe he will lose his seat in the Senate!
Kangol2
Uh, DL Lady Graham publicly denied being gay, just like Aaron Schock. He’s not out, except behind closed (closet) doors.
Cam
It is to his voters.
Gary Q VV
PS: Thank you and keep up the good work Mike Signorile! You have the backing and support of our community – except for those scabs who are weak and ignorant of the great importance that you give to our greater cause.
hurdygurdyman
Out them all. Especially Republican politicians who spend their time creating legislation that hurts us.
Aries3dc
This slope is slicker than we think! There are several prominent Democrats who are in the closet. We are playing with a fire that will eventually burn them.
Jared MacBride
That’s the “prominent Democrats” problem, not ours.
Toofie
Are these Democrats voting against gay rights?
Cam
I love how you’re trying to deflect the post from evil anti-LGBT bigot Miss Lindsay.
If any Dems are in the closet no problem because they aren’t trying to push laws attacking us.
But nice try.
KW1969
All politicians should be out or outed for everyone’s safety.
KW1969
All politicians should be out or outed for everyone’s safety. I have no patience for a grown adult shaking in their boots to come out in 2020. Especially for someone trusted with such public responsibility.
Prax07
Burn all the closets down and bring every last one “hiding” out into the spotlight. Repubtard & Dem alike.
Kangol2
Back in 2013, Queerty reported on an anti-gay, closeted gay sitting Republican US Senator (he’s still in there, too, initials JB), who was outed by someone with an excellent track record on such things, but the mainstream media would not dare cover the story then and still won’t touch it now. Why are they maintaining the closet for anti-gay Republicans.
Jared MacBride
Trade off: the media gets a source, the senator gets silence.
Saps48
I just looked up the Arkansas senator’s record on Wikipedia, and it’s pretty poor concerning gay rights, civil rights, and environmental protections.
Cam
Why not just say John Boozman?
Gadfeal
There are only two sitting senators with initials JB: John Barrasso (WY) and John Boozman (AR). Since J. Barrasso has been already mentioned in 2013, it must be him.
Kangol2
It’s John Barrasso, not Boozman.
If you do a search on Queerty, you’ll see. Barrasso has repeatedly voted for anti-gay legislation.
The mainstream US media absolutely will not report on Rogers’ outing of Barrasso or the fact that he may be living in a glass closet.
BTW Cam, you even commented on that article back in 2013!
Ronbo
The truth should not be denied. Why protect a lie?
stanpaske
I never advocate outing a person. It is a personnel decision and should not be forced upon a person. However, if your a public person who continually denies and decries our rights and freedoms, all the while enjoying the fruits of our struggles and strives, well then, you should be in the same gutter you like to put us. You want to call me names, well then, he should enjoy the harm and disgust that society and the current administration chooses to saddle upon us.
Consider This
I’m still chuckling about Sen. Larry Craig’s problem with a “wide stance”. Remember his position, I mean excuse.
dougrobnyc
I have always had tremendous respect for journalist Michelangelo Signorile. His drive to expose hypocrisy in the LGBTQ+ political communities is well documented. Aaron Schock and Larry Craig are just some the many closeted politicians who were impacting our lives with negative political decisions. Mainstream media was not interested in addressing these issues.
I am very grateful for Michelangelo’s determination to inform the public about the truth and any false veneer these closeted politicians were attempting to present to the general public which supported systemic homophobia.
For this and more, I say Bravo & many thanks!