Outing a Wrong

It didn’t take long for Michael Heath, executive director of the Christian Civic League, to issue a mea culpa for his ill-conceived plan to solicit and share information about the sexual orientation of Maine’s legislators and their staffs. Less than 24 hours after his intent, first revealed in an online newsletter last week, was widely revealed by the media, Mr. Heath said “he went too far in the heat of the moment” and that his organization would no longer try to find out what lawmakers and bureaucrats were gay.

The immediate outrage and condemnation that immediately met the league’s recent request to its members to seek out information about the sexual orientation of Maine’s legislators and other political leaders was understandable and correct. What was quickly labeled “a witch hunt” was clearly wrong and would have fostered hatred and intimidation, so Mr. Heath’s apology and assurance that his organization would not be taking tips about the sexual orientation of those who work in the State House is welcome.

While he has issued a formal apology, Mr. Heath continues to assert that the sexual orientation of the state’s leaders remains relevant. He said knowing a lawmaker’s orientation, when they consider controversial issues such as gay rights and definitions of marriage, is akin to knowing whether a lawmaker considering a ban on bear baiting is a hunter. Asked how the public would get this supposedly important information about these leaders’ sexual orientation, Mr. Heath said it would not be him who provides it. This leaves the troubling possibility that this episode, although appearing short-lived, is not over.

In effect, Mr. Heath apologized for his approach, not his intent. He should go a step further and assure the public that there will be no future efforts to “out” homosexuals, no matter what their capacity in state government or other realms.

Perhaps Mr. Heath had a change of heart after reading his own organization’s mission statement which emphasizes a positive approach, “to have a redemptive impact upon the development of public policy in Maine … and to reflect, in all ways, a genuine Christian compassion and respect for all people.”

What was nearly as troubling as the outing effort itself was the tactics that were to be used. Mr. Heath called for “tips, rumors, speculation and facts” about the sexual orientation of legislators, aides, bureaucrats and lobbyists to be posted to the league’s Web site. In considering whether to publish tips, the group would consider the reliability of the source, talk to the official in question and pray.

Mainers should pray that this was a short-lived campaign that has been put to rest.