We’ve discussed the general proposition before of the morality of “outing” someone. As I recall, there were a substantial number of posters who felt this was a morally acceptable thing to do if the target publicly worked against gay interests.
This case is slightly different, in that it’s not simply identifying a closeted gay man, determining that he works against gay interests, and outing him. Instead, this blogger, if his claim is to be believed, essentially said to the unnamed senator: “Vote this way, or I’ll out you.”
Apparently the senator did not, and the blogger now promises to out the senator when “…it may most impact the reelection effort of the Senator.”
I contend this is unethical, and may even be illegal. A general decision to out a senator is different in character and degree from seeking to obtain a specific vote from a senator by threatening to out that senator.
I agree that it’s unethical. Sexuality should remain private. It’s no business of mine at all who my Senators are screwing (Besides the taxpayers! Zing!). Using sexuality as a weapon like this only furthers homophobia and distracts from the real issues.
I’m not sure if it’s illegal, provided that it is the truth.
It’s blackmail, definitely. But it’s still aimed at exposing hypocrisy. If you accept that the first case is morally acceptable (and I’m not sure I do), then I’d think that the morality or ethics of the current case is dependent on how much you think a vote for Alito is publically working against gay interests. Obviously, it’s not as clear-cut a case as if the vote held hostage were directly for some gay rights legislation, but the link is still there.
Of course that assumes the blogger is telling the truth. I’d give at least 50-50 odds he’s talking out his butt to garner more views of his blog. Since he says he’s holding the info till the senator next faces re-election, we can’t call him on it till up to 2010.
Course either way I agree it’s a scummy thing to do, and if he’s telling the truth it should be illegal.
Kinda dumb anyways, the number of Repubs voting against Alito is so small that if the blogger did claim that the gay senator changed voted his way and thus wouldn’t be outted, it wouldn’t be too hard to guess who the closeted one was.
Blackmail and unethical. It’s one thing to out someone for being a hypocrite, it’s quite another to threaten to out someone unless they do what you want.
If this particular poster does not come on here to defend my agenda, I will have to out him. I have a tips box on my profile and someone sent in an anon tip that you practiced unsafe sex with sheep. This honorable member of the SDMB will join the other members I have outted using my anonymous submitted tips.
Okay while this is IMHO blackmail, it joins the ranks of bullshit conspiracy theory websites. I read through this bloggers “outtings” and no where did I see proof of any of his allegations. Other then submitted tips outting someone. I have no understanding of the law, but even if the people he “outted” where in fact happily married straight men, I couldn’t see them filing libel/slander whatever there can be. As it would just give this guy some credence and media attention he so sorely is trying to get.
As with most of my posts, I could be so wrong, that I make an ass of myself.
The blogger in question apparently provided tapes of congressman Ed Schrock soliciting gay sex after the congressman supported the marriage amendment, causing Mr Schrock’s resignation. So he may not be as full of BS as I first assumed.
So far as I know, the blogger didn’t try to black mail Schrock ahead of time though, so the case is somewhat different.
He may have information on one/two of the people he is outting, but there is quite a list. And in some it is no more then slander as he admits he heard something, and is requesting tips.
If I personally was not a scaredy cat I would throw out some good doctored photo’s, perhaps a little fake audio of a politician and submit it through his website. But being sued it not on the top ten things I want to accomplish before I die.
