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Ms. Queerty is April’s Fool for OUTING GMA’s Robin Roberts as a Lesbian
Melanie Nathan – April 01, 2011
If a Blogger has little to say, you may find a new April 1st cliche;
with the following words they will begin:
“This is no April Fool’s joke!”
Its the real thing!
And so began the morning for the consummate “unknown” – Ms. Queerty where it was declared today that the ‘non April Fool’ joke would be Robin Roberts of Good Morning America, the early morning national TV show on ABC TV.
Queerty ‘OUTS’ Robin Roberts as a Lesbian in the name of April Fools Day…..
So Queerty is angry with Ms. Roberts because she has apparently accepted a gig with anti gay Chick-fil-A; and he screams: “Why The Hell Is Lesbian GMA Anchor Robin Roberts Teaming Up With Chick-fil-A?” Is that the way to OUT someone who has never publicly stated they are a lesbian or gay”
Out of Anger or Out for Revenge? With April Fool as an excuse for a fool?
Say Ms, Queerty: “This is no April Fool’s joke: Robin Roberts, a Good Morning America co-anchor, is headlining a leadership conference put on by Chick-fil-A. What is this lesbian smoking?”
Now while we all believe Ms. Roberts is entitled to her privacy – whether a lesbian or not ought not matter when it comes to matters such as this. Indeed no one should support Chick-fil-A, lesbian, straight nor four legged critters like those who OUT people who they do not even know!
Surely Ms. Queerty your work would have been well done had you written the same piece without purporting to hold the key to the sexuality of those who do not do your bidding!
PS and And piece goes further – “it’s not even as if Roberts is just playing the field: To our knowledge, while she is clearly comfortable leading an event for an anti-gay corporation, she’s never headlined an event for The Trevor Project, NGLTF, or even GLAAD — and they’ll let anyone come to their awards show. Roberts has, however, helped reintroduce the violent Chris Brown to America by agreeing to interview him this month not once, but twice.” exerts a presumptive on the part of the ‘Queerties’ that Ms. Roberts ever received any invitation from the Gay.orgs or that they were even in the business of sending invitations to people that had never come OUT or may not be lesbian or gay, for that matter.
UPDATED and in response to comments – My Views on outing : It is not often I take on other Bloggers…..
I do not think anyone should be outed ever – unless they do so themselves purposely – or via public displays of hypocrisy such as asserting anti gay speech and then spending vacations with rent-a boys! If an OUTER believes someone like Robin Roberts is supporting an anti gay organization - one should ensure that the about to be OUTED is aware of such before writing such an awful article as Queerty did.
What I think would have been fair, is if Queerty would have called on MS. Roberts first for a comment and discerned if she knew this to be the case. Many do not read the Bloggers such as us – who published so much about the Targets and Chick- Fil-A. It is assumptive to think that everyone is aware of their anti LGBT stance.
Imagine; an astute blogger could have used the opportunity to ask Ms. Roberts whether or not she was comfortable using the opportunity to stand up to anti-homosexuality — and if she is indeed lesbian and indeed willing -perhaps she would have liked to have used the opportunity of coming out in a productive manner by denying or resigning the gig of Chick- fil- A!
AND did anyone care to examine her contract to see if she has a contractual obligation that may be out of her control re sponsorship of ABC sponsors? I have not had time to look into that part!!! So please when and if we out people – lets do it fairly and responsibly if at all!!!
By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
Facebook Melanie
twitter @oblogdeeoblogda
15 Responses to Ms. Queerty is April’s Fool for OUTING GMA’s Robin Roberts as a Lesbian
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Patrick
August 7, 2012 at 3:09 pm
As a straight man I don’t feel it EVERY OK to out someone. I don’t see why the gay community has the obsession with outing people who don’t wish their PRIVATE lives made public, even if they are gay bashers in public you should leave it up to their lovers, families and friends to confront them on their bashing not all you people who don’t know them. You may ask why did I read this article, simple to see how bad the writers were destroying another life so they could add “one more gay to the world”. That really seems to be what this is all about. And don’t even bother writing me a reply because I have never been to this website and don’t think I ever will be again. I am sure that makes many of you happy, I know I am happy with the thought of never seeing this site again
helen glover
March 3, 2012 at 12:04 am
so what is the answer is she gay or not
Mary
February 26, 2012 at 7:30 pm
This entire blog post is odd. I live in NYC on the west side near Ms Roberts and she has been totally out of the closet long before Mr. Queerty’s ever wrote his story. She has never hid her sexuality and is seen about town with her partner all the time. Just because she hasn’t publicly announced it on GMA doesn’t mean she’s in the closet or has ever denied she is gay. I’m sure if a reporter asks her, she’ll answer honestly. By the way, same goes for Sam Champion. He’s never once hid his sexuality and has never said he’s not gay. He is also out and about with his boyfriend all the time attending society events. Both these people are not in the closet by any means.
Bridgette P. LaVictoire
February 26, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Mary,
The author of this particular article is no longer with LezGetReal, and honestly, it is a very old article. Unfortunately, the confusion about the subject matter is a common feature of this particular author’s style.
alba
April 2, 2011 at 1:37 pm
If Ms Roberts was ignorant of Chik-a-Fil, she really shouldn’t be in the news business. Go ahead and call Roberts yourself, Melanie. See if you can be more convincing with her than you are with us. I don’t think Queerty outed Roberts as a lesbian; they outed her as a hypocritical whore who’s happ[y to betray people for money.
Madison Reed
April 2, 2011 at 1:19 am
Chick-Fil-A CEO Dan Cathy has a right to free speech, but his activities inspire and spin off crimes against our innocent LGBT brothers and sisters – and we have a right to enjoy our life, liberty and happiness without fear or threats from these people. So even association with such entities puts you into the same category – in fact it makes you worse than they are. This is the way I see it.
Lorion
April 2, 2011 at 12:58 am
Very odd piece. Can’t hardly tell if you agree or disagree with outing. Having read bunch about Cickfila lately, however, anyone one who would advertise them in any way can be called anything you want. Hope she has a great time and is thoroughly ashamed of herself next time she uses the word Pride
Melanie Nathan
April 2, 2011 at 1:19 am
Yeah but the point is how do we know she is a lesbian for sure ??? AND 2 how do we know she knows they are ant-gay without have had dialogue.. She may only read mainstream press. Thats why find out first before OUTING
Melanie Nathan
April 2, 2011 at 5:21 am
I do not think anyone should be outed ever – unless they do so themselves purposely – or via public displays of hypocrisy such as asserting anti gay speech and then spending vacations with rent-a boys! If someone is supporting an anti gay organization – one should ensure they are aware of such before writing such an awful article as Queerty did. What I think would have been fair, is if Queerty would have called on MS. Roberts first for a comment and discerned if she knew this to be the case. Most people do not read the Bloggers such as us who published so much about the Targets and Chick-a-fil. It is assumptive to think that everyone is aware of m their anti lgbt stance. Imagine an astute blogger could have used the opportunity to ask Ms. Roberts whether or not she was comfortable using the opportunity to stand up to ant-homosexuality — and if she is indeed lesbian and indeed willing -perhaps she would have liked to have used the opportunity of coming out in a productive manner by denying Chickafil! AND did anyone care to examine her contract to see if she has a contractual obligation that may be out of her control re sponsorship of ABC sponsors? I have not had time to look into that part!!! So please when and if we out people – lets do it fairly and responsibly if at all!!!
Smithie
April 2, 2011 at 1:26 pm
Melanie, you don’t support any outing? What if an ex-lover of David Bahati were to come forward with evidence of their homosexual relationship. Would the lover be justified in outing David Bahati, given that such an action would weaken Bahati’s anti-LGBTQ… campaign? What if the lover were Ugandan, and it were a matter of self-protection?
Smithie
April 2, 2011 at 1:29 pm
Sorry, I misread your post, and thought you were saying we should even protect the hypocrites and dangerous closet cases! But who decides (or how does one judge) what qualifies as sufficient harm to justify outing?
Melanie Nathan
April 2, 2011 at 1:36 pm
Yes, No i would be the first to go after the Hypocrites. I would be first in line to OUT Bahati if I could – mmm imagine him and Scott Lively caught in the act – I would OUT them both in a heartbeat – but please lets NOT start any rumors here.
Madison Reed
April 2, 2011 at 12:53 am
Melanie,
When people under the guise of being trusted American citizens commit acts of treason against the People of the United States they can be stripped of their citizenship. Similarly, I believe, anyone who supports anti-gay activity who is also gay but hides it, should not be surprised if they’re stripped of their privacy relating to their sexual orientation. Both types of people cause irreparable harm – and sometimes death – to innocent people. By protecting the privacy of these types, we actually become an accomplice to crimes against the innocent.
Andy Knaster
April 2, 2011 at 2:24 am
The analogy of treason is absurd. A person that commits treason has broken the law. A person that is gay and also supports an anti-gay company is certainly hypocritical. However, hypocrisy does not justify doing immoral and unethical. Childish retribution does harm to the quest for equality because it gives ammunition to those opposing equality. It enables them to state that gay people are judgmental, vindictive, and narrow-minded. Should a gay actor be outed for doing a movie that has him or her in a straight relationship? Don’t their actions stand in opposition to their sexuality? What gives the mean-spirited Ms. Queerty the right to be judge, jury, and executioner? To borrow from the invalid analogy that you used, even a person accused of treason is entitled to a fair trial by a jury or his or her peers that is presided over by an impartial judge. Ms. Queerty is a self-appointed representative of the LGBT community. This violation of a person’s privacy is reprehensible and inexcusable. To use the old adage, “two wrongs don’t make a right.
Smithie
April 2, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Melanie, thank you for this piece! I always thoroughly enjoy your posts.
Madison & Andy,
both of your comments are really interesting. Rather than viewing the treason example in its legal capacity, what if we view it morally: acting against others in your society is morally reprehensible. Similarly, a homosexual supporting homophobia is acting against hir society / moral community.
What I wonder is how far we should extend the criteria of an action causing harm being a grounds for outing an individual. Merely being in the closet perpetuates heteronormativity, affirms shame over sexuality, and fails to provide the moral community with support and recognition being out would entail. Should everyone then be outed?