You Wanted Former GOP Rep. Aaron Schock to Finally Come Out, and Now He Has

In a lengthy personal essay, former Republican Illinois Rep. Aaron Schock announced to the world for the first time what has long been known -- he is gay. He details a religious childhood, his deliberate avoidance of facing his sexuality (a bad case of "Best Little Boy in the World" syndrome), his time in Congress (including a lengthy legal ordeal that saw him resign to fight for his freedom), all the way up to his being re-outed at Coachella, as he was en route to come out to his mother. He then writes about not finding immediate acceptance from his loved ones.

Full statement HERE.

I accept his apology overture, as a first step toward seeking redemption. I would be a hypocrite to reject something I have long called for. And it couldn't have been easy to finally own up to all of the pain he has caused:

I put my ambition over the truth, which not only hurt me, but others as well. I also, in retrospect, realize that I was just looking for more excuses to buy time and avoid being the person I’ve always been.

While some see the essay as offering more excuses than remorse, I think we can all agree that coming out is never easy.

What I liked was this line:

The truth is that if I were in Congress today, I would support LGBTQ rights in every way I could. 

That is unequivocal and what we need and want to hear from a former lawmaker who actively worked against his own people's interests. (Yes, he is right that being against same-sex marriage was pretty standard on both sides of the aisles when he arrived on Capitol Hill. But John McCain and Barack Obama weren't gay. And not all Republicans voted against the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and against hate crime protections for LGBTQ people.)

What I would like to see Schock work past is what came immediately after it:

I realize that some of my political positions run very much counter to the mainstream of the LGBTQ movement, and I respect them for those differences. I hope people will allow for me the same. To that end, I hope that others can respect that for me being gay has not required stepping into some entirely new belief system, disconnected from every other facet of my life’s experiences. I haven’t overcome one kind of repression for another.

We all know people cannot change overnight -- and I choose to praise Schock for evolving instead of criticizing him for not evolving enough. But I would point him to another high-profile LGBTQ Republican, Cailyn Jenner, who managed to go through the entire 2016 election insisting that Republicans -- and Donald Trump in particular -- are just fine and dandy when it comes to our rights. (How ironic that another do-or-die election is upon us the minute Schock decided to come clean.) It's like they've given up control of one aspect of their lives -- their secret -- so they become incredibly invested in another (political affiliation), whether to emphasize that their being LGBTQ doesn't "define" them (whatever that means) or just out of ignorance. Although we all long for the day when the difference between the right and the left had to do with little more than marginal tax rates and regulations, this is no longer the case. Not by a long shot. The sooner all LGBTQ people realize this, the better our chances will be at keeping our rights -- and the planet, and other people's rights, and so on -- in tact.

So I say congrats to Aaron for finally taking the leap -- and would kindly say that a little contrition would go a long way. And I encourage to him to look deep and to let his defenses down and to educate himself about what's really going on out there. People are rightfully angry at him because he hung us out to dry the first time. I'd hate to see him do it again. If a dumb jock like Caitlyn Jenner can finally get it, so can an overachiever from the Midwest.

If  you're going to be gay in 2020, you really need to get up to speed.

25 Reasons Why We Already Knew Aaron Schock Was Gay

Well, knock me over with a feather: Former GOP Rep. Aaron Schock -- who repeatedly voted against the rights of gay people while in office -- was spotted making out with a guy (or two) over the weekend at Coachella. (For a Republican, he's looking awfully Dora the Explorer in this photo.) 

So as we look back at the worst-kept secret on and off Capitol Hill, we must ask ourselves: What really outed him first?

1) His hunky blond "travel companion"

2) His daily shower with Paul Ryan

3) His famed Men's Health cover and GQ shoot

4) He followed Tom Daley on Instagram

5) His poolside spread

6) His flamboyant New York Times profile

7) His sexy Scot look

8) His infamous teal belt

9) His ripped body in the Gulf of Mexico

10) His 10-year affair with Sir Elton John

11) His recent gay haircut

12) His recent workout at one of New York's gayest gyms?

13) His fanboying over Sam Smith

14) His workout with model Nick Sandell in West Hollywood

15) His friendship with swarthy stud Eliad Cohen

16) His Dorothy Hamill impersonation

17) His "Downton Abbey" office makeover

18) His gay beard in India

19) That a gay porn was made about him

20) His gay jump in Patagonia

21) His Village People impersonation

22) The Gray Lady's write-up about his Instagram account

23) This photo with a beardy hunk

24) He's gal pals with Arianna Huffington
or

25)  His already having been outed by Itay Hod

P.S. For those who say they are disgusted by gays who "fawn" all over Miss Schock -- yours truly included -- I say this: You're totally right. There are many other hot gay men to adore, gay men who haven't done the despicable things Schock has. But in our defense, everyone loves a soap opera villain. And watching this dashing young congressman be a flaming closet case in plain sight was fascinating, especially at a time when being gay is acceptable in much of the country. (Why bother to hide it ...  now?) From a blogger's point of view, it was his hypocrisy that was newsworthy -- but I admit it was more than that. Maybe it was remembering my own youthful struggles with being gay. Maybe it was the power and privilege of it all. But what I'm eager to see is this: Now that he's been exposed, will he finally come clean -- and will he finally apologize for the damage he's inflicted? Many people may still never forgive him -- I know I still get enraged every time I see Ken Mehlman, despite his apology and attempts to right his W(rongs) by doing pro-LGBTQ work. But it's truly the least Schock can do. And perhaps asking for forgiveness will in some way help him figure out what allowed him to commit these disgusting transgressions against his own brothers and sisters in the first place, and how he will treat them moving forward. 

Come Out, Come Out -- Wherever You Are!

I wrote about my coming out -- Thanksgiving 1988! -- in my memoir. 

Do you remember yours?

Wilson Cruz and Laverne Cox remember theirs ...

Actor Dan Amboyer Says 'I Do' to Marriage -- and Coming Out

Dan Amboyer -- who I first discovered on the show "Younger" -- pulled a one-two punch this weekend, announcing his marriage to longtime boyfriend Eric Berger and publicly coming out for the first time. A friend of mine went to Carnegie Mellon University with Dan back in the day and said Dan was a "big girl" on campus -- "and sooo scrawny at CMU, but I have a memory of him saying he was fat as a kid." But Amboyer has been coy about his sexuality over the years as his career picked up pace, so congrats on all fronts! Meet his lucky groom HERE.

Actor Gordon Thomson, Adam Carrington on TV's 'Dynasty,' Comes Out at 72

Imagine getting a text from a friend letting you know that a famous "childhood crush" of his had just come out to him. 

How could I misspell the surname of Holly from "General Hospital'"?

That's what happened yesterday. And while it turned out I didn't really know the actor -- am I the only queen who never watched "Dynasty"? -- I certainly like what I've dug up here! Read my friend Tim Teeman's interview with Gordon Thomson -- and see how good "Adam Carrington" still looks at 72 -- HERE.

Borna This Way?

Did Borna Coric just come out of the closet -- or did a gay unicorn just happen to run through one of the big-ass Croatian's Instagram stories? With Instagram-out Jan-Michael Gambill long retired and Dominic Thiem's boyfriend status still unclear, it sure would be nice for an ATP to take the plunge.

Follow HERE.

Morning Wood

It's never the athletes you want to come out -- until NOW.

Former NFL Tackle Comes Out as Gay, Says He'd Planned to Commit Suicide After Football

Former Patriots and Chiefs tackle Ryan O’Callaghan, who spent his NFL career feeling isolated and alone while listening to anti-gay slurs in the locker room, says he had always planned to commit suicide after football, until Kansas City Chiefs staffers stepped in.

"As long as there are people killing themselves because they are gay, there is a reason for people like me to share my story and try to help. People need to understand that we are everywhere. We’re your sons, your daughters, your teammates, your neighbors. And honestly, even some of your husbands and wives. You just don’t know it yet…It’s not always easy being honest, but I can tell you it’s much easier and more enjoyable being yourself and not living a lie."

Read his harrowing tale -- written with a few journalistic headscratchers -- that has a happy ending HERE.

Former Tennis Pro Jan-Michael Gambill and Malek Alqadi Make It 'Official'

Paris really is for lovers, because any hint of coyness was erased today when Jan-Michael Gambill's boyfriend, Malek Alqadi, wished his former tennis pro love a happy (40th) birthday -- and anniversary -- on Instagram! I like where this is going, guys. Here's wishing you a long and happy life together.

Now let me know when you're ready to sit down for an interview, JMG. You've got a story to tell that many people would love to hear. 😎

'Younger' Star Nico Tortorella Comes Out as Sexually Fluid

For those driving, pretty sure "sexually fluid" is one exit past bisexual on the highway to Gay Town. Read HERE.

'Real O'Neals' Star Noah Galvin Has a 'Known Attitude Problem'

Truthfully, I was never sure if this meant I had the 'best attitude' or gave it.

ABC executives are reportedly so infuriated by the bitchy interview Noah Galvin gave to New York magazine's Vulture blog in which he called Colton Haynes’ coming out “pussy bulls**t”, mocked Eric Stonestreet, referenced charges against Bryan Singer regarding underage boys, and criticized ABC itself for taking too long to renew the show, that they are considering axing Galvin’s show, "The Real O’Neals," according to The Hollywood Reporter: The trade rag's sources also note that Galvin -- who plays Kenny ... or Kenneth on the sitcom -- has a "known attitude problem," something I cannot relate to at all! Read HERE.

 

Salt Lake City Teacher Comes Out to Students

I'm not sure why this story has been all but scrubbed from the internet, but you can read about one magic-underpants-wearing teacher's unlikely coming-out story HERE.

Striking a New Chord

Former "Glee" pretty boy Chord Overstreet stars in a new movie about a group of guys, one of whom comes out of the closet. Watch the trailer HERE.

Olympic Freeskier Gus Kenworthy Comes Out

Welcome to the club, handsome. Details HERE.

Out and About

Towleroad looks back on the year's highest-profile LGBT comings out HERE.

Out at ... Last!

MLB umpire Dale Scott comes out as gay in quietest way possible 

Twenty-five years after Dave Pallone had sex with every boy in West Hollywood came out of the closet, MLB umpire Dale Scott used a photo with his husband in a small magazine to publicly acknowledge his sexuality for the first time.

Kudos!

Read how Major League Baseball has been treating him since HERE.

Country Star Ty Herndon: 'I'm an Out, Proud and Happy Gay Man'

Congrats to the cute country crooner. Read HERE.

Arizona State Offensive Lineman Edward 'Chip' Sarafin Comes Out

David Mixner and I are especially proud of this one!

Via Deadspin:

In an interview with Compete Magazine, Arizona State [walk-on] offensive lineman Edward "Chip" Sarafin revealed that he is gay. Sarafin is currently a backup lineman on the Sun Devils football team, and is pursuing a master's degree in biomedical engineering. In the article, Sarafin explains that he has actually been out to his teammates since last spring: Of his own coming out, Sarafin began telling his teammates last spring. "It was really personal to me, and it benefited my peace of mind greatly. Sarafin says that he told his teammates mostly for himself and because he wanted them to hear it straight from him instead of the college rumor mill that all players find themselves subjected to at some point.

Congrats, Chip -- the bears'll love you!

Read the full interview HERE.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

For those who think the days of Troy Aikman Rock Hudson-style sham marraiges in the world of sports and entertainment doesn't exist anymore, you might want to check out the latest on Federico Díaz, the "totally straight" Uruguayan actor and model who was recently linked to Ricky Martin. Read HERE.

We've Come a Long Way, Baby

This was definitely not my experience when I was being accused of being gay by my freshman tennis teammates back in 1981-82!

Via The Advocate:

When senior Matt Dooley began coming out to his teammates and coaches on Notre Dame's varsity men's tennis team last month, he was understandably nervous, as the first openly gay student-athlete at the Division I school, who had several times attempted suicide to combat his internal struggle. But according to a touching op-ed in OutSports, Dooley says his teammates were nothing but supportive. And now, the University has released a powerful video documenting Dooley's journey and the supportive, heartfelt reactions from his coaches and teammates. Produced by Fighting Irish Digital Media, the video presents a compelling example of how to react when a teammate comes out as gay.