A welcome change…

by Matt | September 13th, 2007 |

Michael Rogers, the activists famous (or infamous) for his “outing” of closeted elected officials and Congressional staffers, has announced that he will no longer report on staffers or aides instead focusing solely on elected officials and candidates for elected office.

Many of my closest readers may remember the controversy over Republican Representative Patrick McHenry (NC-10) and his campaign staffer Michael Aaron Lay. After that controversy I swore off on reporting news of “outings” on staffers and aides. I came to the conclusion that staffers and aides were held at a much lower public scrutiny; they aren’t the ones elected to office by the public and aren’t as answerable to the public as are elected officials or candidates.

I welcome Rogers’ change in his stance. It is the same stance I took during the controversy with 18 year old Tyler Whitney (in this instance it was both Whitney’s age and position as a low-level staffer that sparked my stance against his outing).

Michael is a good friend and colleague and I respect him immensely. I’m glad to see that his work is taking a better - and more defensible - approach to truth-seeking and in ridding our government of hypocrisy.

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MattAbout the Author: Matt
Matt, 22, is an LGBT journalist, activist and youth advocate currently living and working in Charlotte, N.C., where he serves as the Editor of Q-Notes, the Carolinas' LGBT news source. A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Matt attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is still continuing to pursue his bachelors degree. He is the Owner & Editor of InterstateQ.com and has been active in LGBT advocacy work since the age of 14.

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