M. Charles Bakst: Asking a politician if he is gay
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6.16.99
M. Charles Bakst: Asking a politician if he is gay |
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Related: Eyeing Congress, liberal Cicilline talks up diversity The purpose of this column was to introduce readers to Rep. David Cicilline, who is one of the most interesting members of the General Assembly, on the verge of deciding whether to run for Congress. He is interesting because of the passion of his views and the variety, or combination, of aspects of his background. For example, it is not every day that you run into someone who is both Italian and Jewish. I might have written this column at any time, but the way it actually happened was that I was invited to the annual Seder of Hope at the Jewish Community Center. It is for people whose lives have been touched by AIDS. When I walked into the room, I immediately came upon a table sponsored by Cicilline, and someone there invited me to sit down. Shortly thereafter, I asked Cicilline how serious he was about running for Congress. "Very," he said. As the evening unfolded, it occurred to me that it might be interesting to capture some scenes from this Jewish setting and then interview Cicilline the next day at his law office on Federal Hill, which is an Italian setting, and I made some notes about the Seder and his participation. The interview went well. Cicilline is articulate and has strong views on many subjects. Among other things, we discussed his liberalism, his law practice, his relations with legislative leaders and his outspoken views on gay rights. After 45 minutes of this, I told him I was going to bring up something else, which he could address at length or which he might prefer not to address at all. I told him that some people tell me he is gay. Is he? I had no hesitation in asking the question. If he found it embarrassing or awkward, the subject could be easily dispensed with, and, of course, it was just the two of us there — no aides, no audience and it was not being broadcast on TV. Cicilline was quick to respond to the question and to some subsequent questions. He seemed, I thought, relieved to have been asked. He said he figured that if he ran for Congress someone would inquire. Indeed, in follow-up conversations, he made it clear he wanted the column, in the overall context of sketching his life, to mention his gayness. Some people seem to think I was determined to "out" Cicilline and that that is why I went there. This is not true. First of all, although I knew I would pose the topic, I also guessed he would prefer not to address it, which is what had happened with another politician I had been told was gay. Moreover — and very importantly — it is the politician's choice. I'm not sure what the term "out" or "outing" literally means; I think it is used loosely. But to me it has the connotation of "exposing" someone's orientation without their permission or against their will. I am not in that business. But if there are reasonable grounds for asking and it can be done in a discrete way, I'd do it. In this instance, for example, it might illuminate Cicilline's views on liberalism and tolerance. And it certainly was newsy that someone would eye a seat in Congress and acknowledge being gay. I don't believe any openly gay nonincumbent has ever been elected to Congress from New England; I'm not sure I'd ever heard of such a candidate around here. (Barney Frank, for example, was not "out" when he first ran.) That an openly gay pol would consider running for Congress from Rhode Island in 2000 tells us, hopefully, that things are changing for the better. As it now turns out, Cicilline will not be running, but he says it has nothing to do with any adverse reaction to the column on his being gay. In fact, he indicates he got a positive response. State Rep. Mike Pisaturo, who also is gay, may yet run. |
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