Two differing versions – naturally – over at Volokh.
EMAIL OF THE DAY: “I have just read your piece on ‘outing’ in the TNR. As a gay man who recently ‘came out’ in his late fifties and who is well acquainted with the ‘psychological torments’ you speak of, I should like to say that I think you are wrong. I suspect that being outed might well – after the initial shock – come in the end to be a relief for people like Congressman Schrock. Honesty in one’s life is important for one’s own mental health.
And honesty in one’s life is also important where the welfare of others is concerned. If Mr Schrock had simply kept his conflicts to himself, then ‘outing’ would definitely be unjustified. But this was not the case: he was actively harming the lives of others, and the hatred he doubtless felt for himself does not justify this, whatever the sympathy one may feel for someone in his situation (and I do feel sympathy).
I share your dislike of ‘Gollum-like’ characters sidling up wanting to know whether one has the ‘goods’ on some unfortunate, but the unpleasantness of such people has little to do with the issue at stake.” – more feedback on the Letters Page.
The Dish 