Another Hypocrite Forced Out of The Closet.

It seems like only a few years ago that if a person was outted, it was a scandal. Heads exploded, people fainted over learning of so-and-so getting caught with a male escort or having a ‘wide-stance’ in the bathroom stall at an airport. Now if a week goes by without a public official telling the world they are gay, something seems queer in the world.

And as luck would have it, this week another conservative government employee was outted. And nobody blinked an eye. Well, nobody blinked an eye at him being gay – the scandal and investigation that surrounds the circumstances for his coming out is what has everyone buzzing.

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu publicly acknowledged last weekend that he is gay amid allegations of threatening to deport his Mexican immigrant ex-lover. An investigation for allegations of “human rights violations, threatening & intimidating, misuse of public resources, theft of property, theft of identity, fraud & impersonation” is currently underway.

Sheriff Babeu has been rough on undocumented immigrants in Arizona and has been coming down hard on those that employee them, calling for punishment against “those that harbor” undocumented immigrants. Seems to me Babeu had been doing more than harboring an undocumented immigrant these past few years. Oh hypocrisy, thy name is Babeu.

And before you give credit to Babeu for coming out, let’s note why he did so – he was going to be outted for threatening to deport his ex. Babeu would have never come out publicly had he not threatened his ex-lover, or anyone didn’t stumbled upon his online gay dating profile (it doesn’t take Cagney & Lacey to figure this out). There is really no credit or points for being courageous and true to yourself and the world when you’re being forced, and under such circumstances.

Would this investigation have been underway, or a public career potentially ruined, if he had just been honest with himself and everyone else in the beginning? Or would his career have even begun in such a conservative district if he ran as an openly gay American?  Probably not.  But he would have been true to himself, to the world, and to those closeted that are looking for inspiration and confirmation that it is ok to be who you are and make it in the United States.

Babeu's support (and all those currently closeted) for a political party opposed to issues that affect his happiness and govern his choices reflects self-hatred and internalized homophobia. And if you would rather remain in the closet, just make sure you don’t threaten to deport your ex.  Your secret isn’t going to be safe for long. And neither is your credibility.