Out, out, damned . . .

BigGovernment.com publisher Andrew Breitbart has announced he is resigning from the advisory board of GOProud, a group of gay conservatives, after its leaders reportedly "outed" the chief pollster to Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry.

"I have a zero tolerance attitude toward the intentional infliction of vocational and family harm by divulging the details of an individual's sexual orientation as a weapon of political destruction," Breitbart wrote on his website. "As an 'advisory board member' I was not consulted on this extreme and punitive act. Clearly, there are more productive means to debate controversial ideas and settle conflicts.

"Therefore, I cannot in good conscience stand with GOProud. I still stand by gay conservatives who boldly and in the face of much criticism from many fronts fight for limited government, lower taxes, a strong national defense as well as the other core conservative principles," Breitbart said.

Bravo, Mr. Breitbart!  I have never understood the need for those in the gay community who engage in this sort of behavior on the basis of "principle."

Should a person ever be "outed?" Perhaps in very limited cases.  Here is an example:  let's say you work for a priate organization that does not allow gay people.  Putting aside any argument as to why you would work for such a company, let us also say you are in a management position and the fact - not rumor, not innuendo - becomes known to you that a member is gay and lied on their application to become a member.  It is one thing to inform upper management quietly and allow the person the opportunity to resign; it is another to announce it at a public meeting.  The person was made aware of the requirement and lied on an application - that is what at play here.  That is less of an outing as it is enforcing a policy, which can still be done so as to ensure the dignity of the person.

Absent such circumstances - no.  If I don't want people in my business, I'm not sticking my nose in theirs.  And if I am privy to such a fact - again, not  a rumor or assumption - that person can rest assured it stays with me.  If you think you need to "out" someone to meet the needs of your personal agenda . . . go screw yourself.