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I keep seeing and hearing comments to this effect, that this sort of scandal sets gay rights back, and I find this to be an extremely problematic viewpoint. A central issue of fighting for equal rights for sexual minorities is that what we do in our own bedrooms is our own business, and shouldn't make us secondary citizens, or less deserving of respect, fairness and human dignity. The idea that Sam should uphold the most vanilla image of a gay man possible in order to pander to biggots does nothing to advance tolerance in our society.

I don't care what sort of private consensual sex activities Sam Adams takes part in, and, while I think it was wrong and unwise for him to lie to the public, it's understandable that he would do so, as the issue is irrelevant to his qualifications as mayor. Ideally, he should have said that it was none of our business, but a lie about something this irrelevant should not require his resignation.

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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