Hunt: Come out, come out wherever you are
Last Friday, the documentary Outrage opened in select cities. This film by Oscar-nominated documentarian Kirby Dick (Twist of Fate, Sick, This Film Is Not Yet Rated) is getting serious attention because it outs prominent federal, state and local politicos. The film outs not just run of the mill closeted politicians but the kind that really have it out for the LGBT community. You know, those folks that ACTIVELY fight against gay marriage, partner benefits, and gay adoptions, basically anything that might put us on equal footing with our heterosexual counterparts.
Outing will, no doubt, get plenty of debate in the coming weeks and this gets me to thinking. I have a ton of interest in the exploration of the main stream media’s culpability in not reporting on the sexual behavior of closeted gay men (or bi men or men who have sex with men – gotta hit all the categories) who choose to work on legislation against the interests of the GLBT community. The men featured in Outrage are not surprises to many in the gay world. It’s been reported by blogs like blogActive.com and reporters like Michelangelo Signorile for years. Why is it that the intimate details of straight politicians can go under the microscope but when it comes to the sex life of these hypocrites there is nary a peep from the mainstream outlets?
Though the film overwhelms you with the voting record of these politicians on topics from marriage equality to partner benefits to hate crimes legislation, we never see the exposure of these men’s voting records regarding LGBT legislation in major print or on major news outlets. The mainstream media never even discuss the importance of voting records when these men are exposed. When something newsworthy happens (ex. Larry Craig) we see the subject treated in a tabloid nature. For the most part, the coverage is similar to a celebrity getting arrested for drunk driving. We rarely, if ever, see REPORTING. They just miss the point. Being a gay Republican is not news (just ask the Log Cabin Republicans). Being arrested soliciting sex in an airport bathroom shouldn’t be ALL we talk about (though when it comes to hypocrites, I do enjoy the schadenfreude). Serious news agencies should be reporting on how these men’s political actions hurt the people that they socialize with not to mention their own self interests.
We should see some serious discussion of these people’s voting records around LGBT rights. I would even be happy to see a report on why it seems being closeted seems to be the only way to be a successfully elected gay Republican. How about a report on the hypocrisy of it all? It appears that many reporters and news agencies are more frightened of the loss of exposure than getting the real scoop. When it comes to closeted politicians working against LGBT people, the g word is still a dirty little secret that news agencies are afraid to touch with a ten foot pole. We know ALL about former President Clinton’s escapades and the details of John Edwards’ affair are fair game. So should reporting about Rep. Ed Schrock, cosponsor of the Federal Marriage Amendment, trolling for sex on a gay phone line. Outrage is bringing this debate to the general public and I welcome it.
But what happens when we get full civil rights? When we no longer need politicians to vote for our equality? When we have the law and the constitution on our side? Will we still need reporters to dig into the closets to expose our enemies? Will outing be seen as just a historical tool used in our march toward equal rights? Or will we find that these adversaries will always be lurking?



When is it comming to Dallas?
Never thought I’d say this but… Kudos to Dick.
Well I know that our governor Charlie Crist (R) is a closeted queer, who voted yes on amendment 2, to ban all civil rights for gay people.
RJ, why do you care? Or do you plan on having it shown at a “Jump for Jesus” event at your local Baptist church?
If we had full rights, there would be less need for people to be in the closet. However, that’s not a given. That said, the only time I care about outing anyone is when they are hurting me. Otherwise, I could not care less.
“The Menstruator” you always give me a good laugh. thanks.
I say it’s pretty easy, get a list of ALL the governors (of course most concentration on the Hater ones) Repubs. and Dems. no doubt. Have a “committee” from each state do simple probes (no pun intended) into their lives (backgrounds) with regards to their Social, Religious Morals, Marital and Sexual lives and expose them!
Why not, they seem to be so concern with our personal lives. Most of them think that OUR (LGBT) lives are so important to them and some call us “threatening.”
Basically, we should NEVER stop exposing the Bigot Hypocrites…
That ROCKS! Be even better if I can see it in one of the theaters where they have beer…sorry, thinking to myself about maximum entertainment value.
There is no moral wrong in outing people like these. Sorry, once you start passing moral judgement on others, but you’re a public figure and you go do what they’re doing? As ye sow, so shall ye reap.
Who could think that such in general is possible in our city. The
first action of LGBTs (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals) in
Kirov. «Procession against discrimination of LGBT-CITIZENS on a
workplace». And all has begun that mass-media, suddenly, has inflated
scandal with carrying out in Kirov a gay-pride. I will not describe
its preparation when all of us have decided it to carry out, about
it, it is possible later. So.
A day before it on the next party all on a chain had been transferred
the information on the forthcoming stock. Some hours prior to its
carrying out we have met from correspondents of the newspaper
“Businessman” which has expressed desire to shine this project. At
once I wish to add that from the sources we have learnt that FSB has
lowered the information for mass-media not to shine this action and
on our action there was only “Businessman” and «Freedom Radio».
How much could, we have tried to provide safety of forthcoming
procession. We have dressed masks, were closed by iridescent scarfs,
dark glasses. All of us and even more quantity of people would not
hide the face, knowing that after such action on us persecution
everywhere where it is possible for itself to present – on work, at
home, in the street, in educational institutions will not begin.
Roughly in 14-00 we have begun: have developed banners, flags we have
gone …
Nuar went the very first, bearing an iridescent flag. He threw the
phrases, and we picked up:
THE HOMOPHOBIA IS TREATED
LOVE IS NOT CRIME
HOMOPHOBIA IS FASCISM
BREAKING STEREOTYPES, YOU FIND FREEDOM
THE CONSTITUTION ON OUR PARTY
THE WORLD IS COLORED, INSTEAD OF BROWN
GO OUT OF DOORS, RETURN YOURSELF THE CITY
TODAY US – TOMORROW YOU
WHILE WE ARE UNIFORM – WE ARE INVINCIBLE
WE DECLARE THE RIGHTS
ALL ARE VARIOUS, ALL ARE EQUAL
Some honeycombs of meters we went easy, only causing curiosity in
citizens. But it was necessary to us to pass a crossroads as there
were police cars. As then they have declared to the press: “We
protected them from citizens”.
In our numbers the small panic was created. But after from the
approached cars OMON fighters poured out and with menacing kind have
started us to suffice, all have rushed into different sides. Mostly
participants have rushed to court yard, removing on the move masks,
and merging with a lump of the population, walking on a city in the
day off.
Your obedient servant, a few having tarried, has stumbled and has
flown on concrete a knee, having failed on the earth. Has then jerked
not in court yard and on road, having rushed under expensive car with
shouts KILL … RESCUE … But has been seized by the employee of OMON.
Probably, the pain from the suffered knee so has touched me that I
have turned white and at once have recollected that when that I had a
stroke … … Employee of the ОМОN, having seen my turned white person,
have released me …
It has started to ask at once questions to police officers: what
occurs?
All of them left from answers, trying to plant me in the car, but the
status of my health did not allow to them it to make, having applied
physical strength, here I wish to notice that further our
negotiations with them were conducted in enough tactful form from
their party. I understand that presence of Radio Freedom forced them
to hold frameworks of decencies.
On a question: “WHY DID YOU RAN?”
I have responded: “ALL RAN. ALSO I DID.”:))))
They have suggested me to show documents, I have asked them a
question (at this time the journalist kept record of all event),
having seized this moment: “I Can show you the documents, without
giving of them in charge?”, and on their silence I have understood
that I have such right. I have opened the passport, and they have
written off all my data. Then for finding-out of the further actions
they have suggested me to pass in department. I have again exercised
the right the free citizen and have asked: “If you have just
established my person, I can not go with you?”. On what they have
responded: «Is not present, you will go with us», but have not
undertaken any measures to force me to go with them.
I have asked for police officers about medical aid in what has not
received refusal, but also have not received that medical aid. The
journalist persistently tried to force to be presented and show
employees in turn the documents. They persistently were silent. At
that moment when Katya (journalist) tried to receive at OMON of an
explanation concerning detention me, I have called Nuar: they too
have been detained. Has asked to invite the legal expert – Denis
Shadrin – which on our action was present. In some minutes it has
approached. Katya has started to interview at once Denis about
legality of my detention about infringement of my rights. And here
there was a miracle. As if by magic all police officers have amicably
sat down in the cars and have left, and was them much enough – an
order of 7-8 cars.
After that we have run, – and I got away home, – in court yard and
has had time to see, how some persons have shipped in the car and
have taken away.
Denis has found out where them have brought, has gone to them.
When the place of events has become empty, there was a shock from an
event. Katya, seeing my status, and that that circulation caused me a
pain, has suggested to pass to itself home and to have a rest it is a
little, but I understood that now it is necessary to get out those
whom have detained, and having thanked her, have gone to militia
department: the blessing, it was nearby.
Having approached to department, – I have stopped through road, –
those who has had time to escape have started to approach to me.
Three boys. And we have started to wait for their clearing as under
the law bodies of the law and order had the right to detain only at 3
o’clock.
After a while the group of girls has approached still. In a kind of
that us has gathered much before department, I have suggested to sit
pending in a court yard of the next house.
At this time calls from branch from those who had cellular telephones
have started to arrive.
The first messages that became inside arrived from the organizer of
parties in “Zodiac” and from Nuar. They kept us informed events.
In department:
-They tried to photograph them, thereby breaking their rights
-They did finger-prints, again breaking their rights
-Obscenely offended
-There was a strong pressure, physical violence threat
-Took away from some cellular telephones
-Did not admit the legal expert for legal aid rendering
Some minors participated in our procession. Before the action we have
asked to take with ourselves passports that in a consequence there
were no problems with findings-out of the person as in this case us
could detain at 48 o’clock.
To one of our visitors of Moscow to Adik (Sergey Gubanov) the
passport has been spoilt: having taken away it, militiamen have
pulled out a part of the first page together with the signature,
number and the arms. On these actions in a consequence the statement
for damage of the important document has been made. At a presentation
of claims concerning damage of the passport police officers have
responded that and was also they know of nothing, but before it,
making the interrogation report, they brought the given passports.
And during that moment it was as it should be that grants to us the
direct proof is right further in court that Adik has got to
department with the innocent passport.
Detention has occurred approximately at 14.30, but after the lapse of
3 hours nobody has been released. But we have waited that moment when
people began to leave department. We have started to ask them at once
that there occurs.
To one boy moral pressure was put.
Have told: – all the same we will close you, we will bring accusation
that you drank beer
On what he has responded: – I DO NOT DRINK ABSOLUTELY
- We will show that you celebrated need in a public place
- I don’t do that
- We will show that you fought
- I’M IN GENERALLY AGAINST VIOLENCE
Gradually people began to leave to release minors, presence of adults
native was required. Here we have simply shown sharpness.
Having left several persons and the car, we have gone home where
LGBT-Rainbow Radio (www.radioraduga.com) has received from us the
latest news of events on the air. Already more close by midnight
there has arrived also Nuar with Adik as were late – wrote the
application for the spoilt passport. Nuar was in time to an aether
where itself has already told about everything that occurred in
Kirov, on city streets and in police station. Well and further, happy
and happy, awfully tired we drank tea and simply digested all events
which have just occurred to us.
Nadezhda-Angel, administrator of the web-site ”Amazons of Vyatka”
and Under urgent message of LGBT Rights
We had a «Procession against discrimination of LGBT-CITIZENS on a workplace» in Kirov, Russia
1 May 2009