Last weekend, a series of screenshots from a revealing video allegedly featuring former U.S. representative Aaron Schock emerged online that resulted in Twitter temporarily suspending several accounts of those sharing the images.
Then on Wednesday, a barrage of new even more x-rated photos allegedly featuring the ex-lawmaker in a number of very compromising positions hit the web. Many of them clearly showed his face. Twitter removed the images and suspended the accounts of those circulating them as well.
Now, there are few fans of Aaron Schock in the queer community. The guy has been out enjoying freedoms won through the sweat and blood of a community he directly harmed at every step of his political career through homophobic legislation.
While that’s definitely frustrating, at what point do we go from pointing out Schock’s hypocrisy to simply engaging in revenge porn?
To be sure, Schock is a public figure who should be held accountable for the discrepancy between public voting record and his private life.
Last month, Queerty ran several stories about Schock making out with a dude in broad daylight at Coachella. That was something he did out in the open for everyone to see, and so we saw no problem in reporting it.
Related: WATCH: Video emerges of Aaron Schock hooking up with a guy at Coachella
But publishing personal photos he shared privately with another person in confidence is treacherous territory. In fact, it borders on revenge porn.
45 states plus Washington, D.C. and one U.S. territory have laws against revenge porn, also known as nonconsensual pornography, which is defined in California, the state where Schock resides, as:
An image … of the intimate body part or parts … of another identifiable person, or an image of the person depicted engaging in specified sexual acts, under circumstances in which the persons agree or understand that the image remain private, the person distributing the image knows or should know that distribution of the image will cause serious emotional distress, and the person depicted suffers that distress, is guilty of disorderly conduct.
Revenge porn laws are designed to protect people. All people. Even self-loathing closeted Republicans who we don’t like.
And while we may not agree with Schock’s past stated political beliefs (we don’t know where he stands on LGBTQ issues today), we do agree with the belief that everyone should be treated equally under the law.
Schock has been out of office for almost as long as he was in office. Since resigning in disgrace in 2015, he has kept a very low profile and, from what we can tell, is no longer politically active with little to no chance for a political comeback. Greg In Hollywood reported in March that he is “living in a small Beverly Hills apartment, working on converting an office building near Los Angeles International Airport into a luxury hotel.”
At this point, perhaps it’s time we ask ourselves: What do we really want from Aaron Schock? Do we want an apology? Do we want him to come out publicly? Do we want him to join our fight? And, if so, do we really expect him to after we’ve shared and reshared his bedroom selfies?
There’s no denying that Schock has made a lot of very poor decisions, both professionally and in his personal life. And we’re not defending a single one of them. But disseminating private videos and photos can hardly be a helpful addition to this saga.
Here’s a thought: Maybe it’s time for Aaron to simply speak a bit of truth. And for us to show we’re willing to listen.
Related: Was Aaron Schock outed? Or did he out himself when he groped a dude in public? The debate rages on.
andrewmpls
Meh. Even if he comes out and becomes an LGBT activist, he’s still a Republican. No thanks, we don’t need him. And seems like he just wants to live his life in private from now on and be left alone.
Brian
If you’re sending nudes to strangers or people you barely know for hookup purposes, you should have no expectation of privacy. You are the one willingly putting them out there, you get to live with the consequences. And since it’s 2019, there really are no consequences other than Queerty shoving them down our throats, then trying to take the moral high ground after the fact.
I haven’t seen the pics from yesterday, but the video from a few days ago clearly appeared to be someone putting it on display, not someone sharing an intimate moment that they wouldn’t expect other’s to see.
PinkoOfTheGange
You shouldn’t have an expectation of privacy but you may.
Brian
Naivete is not a defense.
Ronbo
@Brian
I’m just glad you did not confuse Aaron Schock with Aaron Sorkin. After you insisted that Meg Ryan ran for California Governor (Meg Whitman), several of us in the community were concerned with your mental health.
Perhaps taking a few more weeks off from commenting (cold turkey please) would help us forget the intellectual deficits AND give you time for your school work. Just because Queerty has a comments section, does not mean you have to fill it up with whatever pops into your head. If you keep posting, we’ll have no chance to miss the new, more informed and more humane Brian.
neemer5
That’s victim blaming. Revenge porn laws are clear. He had an expectation of privacy, even if he sent the pics to a rando on Grindr.
I agree with you though on Queerty’s fake sanctimony
Cam
If Schock had voted against a certain race having rights and then was discovered to be a member of that race, media wouldn’t be beating itself up over reporting upon him. But our community has been attacked for so long by hate groups accusing us of discrimination if we call out their bigotry, that we are actually having a discussion trying to rehabilitate a guy whose goal was to harm all LGBTQ people so he could maintain his job and steal tax dollars.
Catholicslutbox
There are even more pics out now. A lot butt hole pics… a lot.
AxelDC
I don’t care. He stole taxpayer money through fraud. He deserves whatever he gets.
Geeker
Dear Aaron, Don’t put things on the internet that you don’t want to be seen although I suspect that might have been exactly what you wanted.
Esscourt
Karma’s a bitch, Aaron!
Taiyoken
Is it “revenge porn”? Yes. Will that stop me from wanting to see it? No.
I really pity Aaron. He was raised or convinced to have a mindset that poisoned himself against who he is. He’d have been much happier and healthier if he’d have embraced his sexuality and never worked so hard against it.
The left wing seems to have made it clear that they don’t want him.
And, no matter how much he deludes himself, the right wing will never accept him. Especially not now.
He IS conventionally hot, and we’ve already seen him naked. Hardcore gay porn might be the only career path left to him.
1898
i dont consider him hot. the best thing i could say about him is that he looks super generic and unmemorable
PinkoOfTheGange
nice enough body but a disappointment in the tackle dept imho.
spacecadet
@Taiyoken, I agree with everything you said except the very last line unless you were joking. Sure he has no future at a political career anymore, but he still has his regular job as a real estate developer.
MacAdvisor
How about we ignore Schock as long as he remains silent? He isn’t seeking publicity. He is going about his life quietly. I don’t think he even qualifies as a public figure anymore. So let’s just ignore him. Let him go to dances, make out with people, change in the gym, and live his life.
Hussain-TheCanadian
@ MacAdvisor
but but but………….We know what you’re saying MacAdvisor (and you’re probably right), but it feels so good to see him tarred and feathered like this, it feels amazing that he’s being held to account for what he did to the gay community (not to mention the tax payers).
Bryguyf69
“He isn’t seeking publicity. He is going about his life quietly. I don’t think he even qualifies as a public figure anymore”
You’re ill-informed. Schock is considering a political comeback. Queerty had reported on it. As recently as March, when charges against him were dropped, Schock has given interviews about this. In fact, he gave CBS an extended interview saying that he regretted resigning. That’s not seeking publicity, and living a private life? March was just 2 months ago.
Google, “Ex-Rep. Aaron Schock isn’t ruling out return to politics after corruption charges dropped.” Don’t condemn those of us who are trying to prevent an unrepentant homophobe from returning to politics. Accountability matters to many of us.
IWantAFullBeard
Question: How does he support himself? Does he have a job even? I’m sure the money he made at the beginning of his career was entirely spent on his legal defense costs.
Bryguyf69
I asked the same thing in another post. Not only does he have legal bills, but he was also ordered to reimburse the government. And he is virtually unemployable, being a source of disdain and ridicule from both Democrats and the GOP. Apparently, he’s making real estate deals and has supportive parents. That’s before all these photos leaked, of course.
1898
“Are those newly leaked Aaron Schock nudes you’ve been sharing revenge porn?”
“you’ve”?
speak for yourself, graham. i’ve neither seen nor shared any of this guy’s nudes.
Celtic
I seriously doubt this is/was an act of revenge. The fact is, in this age of expanding technology one must be wise to where and with whom they shoot nude or suggestive photos of themselves. I suspected Schock long ago. He is HOT. So. Allow him time to come to terms with his sexual orientation. In the meantime, I will ogle his awesome butt.
Stefan
The story here is who leaked these and why? I’m almost starting to feel bad for the guy.
Bryguyf69
It’s not considered a leak if he willingly sent the video or photos to another individual. That recipient then owns the media and can release it as s/he so chooses, just as people have published letters, etc throughout history without the writer’s consent. Leaking is the release of data that was meant to be secure. If you give these images to people, there shouldn’t be any expectation of security. Especially knowing how many political enemies you have.
youarederanged
@Bryguyf69
This is about revenge porn laws, not leaking. Revenge porn laws were specifically written to prevent people who were sent photos by someone from posting them without consent. This case is literally the definition of revenge porn. Unless of course Aaron posted them himself. The one thing politicians are good at is getting publicity.
David
Queerty is SHOCKED! SHOCKED I SAY! that people would share this poor lamb’s leaked nude pics and wanking video! By the way Capt. Renault here are your winnings…
Toofie
He foolishly made these videos at his age. His own fault. As for revenge or what not, it’s the hypocrisy that’s irked everyone. A gay man voting against gay rights. And never apologizing or explaining.
Black Pegasus
So Twitter has suspended the accounts of those circulating the photos of Schock? Welp, that was quick considering there are millions of porn images and videos on twitter. I guess Schock is enjoying those protections he would’ve probably voted against. POS
iamru2
@ blackguy it’s white privilege you of all people should know that!
KellyRobinsonJr
For an ASSHOLE, he sure has a nice one…
Godabed
Beyond all the shallow gays that will drool over his gym body and basic face.
This article is hypocritical and trash. Here;s why, this site is one of the first sites to report on trashy incidents… I’m won’t call it news, and push the vanity of white gay life at nausea. You posted his nudes now you want to complain about them. Pick a lane sis, then stay in it.
Aaron ruined a lot of lives with his policies and live, and could have or may have caused lost of life. Gay are attacked all over the world, yet people do love to gloss over the way the US handles it’s LGBTQ community, we are still assaulted and killed on a daily basis, we are still not a protected class of people. Does he deserve what he’s getting now. Hell yes. Not only was he complacent in his duty as a US representative, but made very damaging statements about the community.
The real issue isn’t that he hasn’t admitted that he’s gay, it’s that he hasn’t apologized for his actions.
He’s a grown man, he made those video, and photos and put them out there on the internet, he needs to accept the consequences of that. Any adult that does it should know people you may have never seen has it on their harddrive and beat off on it. So not I don’t think this is revenge porn.
When he owns his mistake and the damage he’s done, then I am pretty sure this assault on his closeted characters will end.
Miles
We have no idea if what was leaked is revenge porn. So where are these new pics? Were some released after the video?
t
I may need to see them for myself in order to make a sound judgement! Anyone have a link? 🙂
Bryguyf69
Go for the video, from which the photos were captured. Sorry, I don’t have a link.
Bryguyf69
Revenge porn? There’s no proof that this is revenge for anything. It could simply be someone giddy for have received nude photos of a celebrity. As for nonconsensual, unless this was stolen off a server or hard drive, I don’t buy it. The law makes no sense. We allowed to publish love letters without seeking permission from the writer or his/her estate. Biographers do this all the time. Fact is, once you intentionally send something to someone, it belongs to the recipient. Why should naked photos be any different? What’s the difference between a naked and clothed photo? If you decide to send it, then you obviously didn’t see enough of a difference to dissuade you from sending it.
As for the California law, does it also prevent us from showing it to a friend? Our parents? So why not our friends on the internet? So much for the First Amendment. Why do we need this “protection” when ultimately, it is our decision whether to have taken and shared such photos in the first place? Is there any other example of possessions that forever belong to the giver and not the recipient? If not, why should these photos be different? What if I took the photos with my camera, on my property, and printed them out with my printer and my paper? Under this law, the photo still belongs to the person in the photo and not me. Does that make any sense? Sorry, we don’t own our image unless it is copyrighted or trademarked. Nor is this a case of libel since there is no defamation or misrepresention. In fact, they show the REAL Aaron Schock, not a manufactured image for his conservative constituents.
Finally, quoting the California law is pointless unless you can show that the source was a Californian. If Schock sent the photos to someone outside California, then the law doesn’t apply. It’s similar to the notification laws regarding the recording of phone calls. It doesn’t matter if your state requires that both parties be notified — if you are calling me in New York, then I can record you without telling you because our law only requires that one party knows.
seaguy
I wouldn’t mind a hookup with him cause he is hot.
Hdtex
And you lack any sense of taste or self-worth
SportGuy
This is just karma for this racist closet piece of trash.
trelld
I really do not understand why people hate the guy so much. The guy was a politician, aren’t they all liars? Let the guy live his life… butt the pics are hot.
Hdtex
He voted 100% anti-LGBT for YEARS. He gets no life, while voting against mine. Period.
Jackrabbit
As usual I saw nothing but a blurry picture that I didn’t realize was his dick. I must withhold comment until I see all the pictures clearly and the video fully.
corktownboy
i posted a video.
Jon
Grenmore needs to stop clutching his pearls over Schrock being called out. To quote Barney Frank “ You have a right to privacy, you do not have a right to hypocrisy.” Schrock actively attacked and hurt LGBT people. His hypocrisy is being called out. That is not outing or revenge porn. If he did not want to be called out as a hypocrite he should not have moved too West Hollywood and started openly cruising men.
ParisHiltonsBadEye
Is he a self-loathing slut? Must be exhausting.