Gay Lawmaker Votes Against Pro-Gay Bill, Says He Was Representing His Constituents

A gay North Dakota lawmaker who was outed after sending explicit photos on the gay dating site, Grindr, voted against equal rights for same-sex couples. He says that he's glad he's "out" now and that he voted the way he felt his constituents wanted him to, according to Pink News.

I find this story fascinating.

Think about it.  Let's assume -- I don't know it to be the case, but, again, let's assume, that this politician is personally supportive of equal rights for same-sex couples, but at the very least, he voted against legislation that would clearly benefit him personally, casting a vote on behalf of the people he represents.

Now, perhaps, one might suggest that he voted against it not on behalf of his constituents, but because he was, at that time, still in the closet.

But I'm just saying -- giving him the benefit of the doubt that he's telling the truth (because why would a politician lie?) -- this is the kind of guy we want to have in our leadership roles.

So, bravo, I say; unrelated to my feelings on the legislation, but because he voted the way the people he represents would have wanted him to vote.

Conversely, I'm not sure exactly what value a gay man being "outed," particularly by someone within the gay community, has for the gay community.  I mean, whoever did it is either trying to shame him for being gay or they're trying to shame him for voting against his constituents wishes rather than for his own personal values.  Whichever one it is, I don't agree with it at all.

The legislation, which would have added sexual orientation to the state's anti-discrimination bill, failed.