Article: "Coming Out: Meaningful Political Statement or Performative Martyrdom?"

[BLueRibbon]

A guest article on brianribbon.com, written by John Tawvnik.

While it is impossible to determine the actual frequency of MAPs deciding to come out, that is, to expose their sexual orientation to others, whether family, friends, a mental health professional, or to the general public, it is clear that there is some amount of MAPs who are taking this action. Seeing as how this can seriously affect the life of the individual coming out and their relationships with others, the utility of this action in both the personal and political sphere must be interrogated.

https://www.brianribbon.com/guest-artic ... -martyrdom

[Officerkrupke]

The part about community surveillance is too true. People have tried to dig up info about me using my personal email. All I know is that I’m widely known, and that traveling to another town doesn’t seem to change the fact that everyone knows.

[BLueRibbon]

How did you get outed?

[Jim Burton]

How do you know "everyone knows"? Relevant because this statement has been made before and shown to be unsupported.

[Officerkrupke]

How did you get outed?

Staring at some kids

[Jim Burton]

It's dangerous to consider this as being outed. And no, the people in the next town will not know, unless there is solid circumstantial evidence of information sharing, and even then the risk is low.

[Officerkrupke]

It's dangerous to consider this as being outed. And no, the people in the next town will not know, unless there is solid circumstantial evidence of information sharing, and even then the risk is low.

Well the people in my city know, and I get comments about “the pedo/pedophile” when people see me. Happens once or twice a day , if not more.

[Jim Burton]

Could it be that you are listening too much, and seeking confirmation?

[Officerkrupke]

Could it be that you are listening too much, and seeking confirmation?

Maybe. But it’s a common pattern. Started last July/ early August.

[PorcelainLark]

While I don't think everyone should come out, I think I'd offer some counter points.

For one thing, I think keeping it a secret can put you in some precarious positions; say you don't know whether a person knows you're a MAP, and they invite you to anti-MAP vigilante group - you can go along pretending you're not a MAP or you can refuse and raise their suspicion. Either way there's risk. An open MAP doesn't have to put themselves in risky positions in order to conceal their own identity.

As for the political aspect, I don't think pedophilia has to be analogous to homosexuality to say coming out can be helpful politically. I think forcing people and the system to deal with pedophilia, make prejudice more complicated: if you have a situation where a non-offending MAP is being harassed, and the MAP manages to get the authorities penalize the harassers, it makes people think twice about doing it again. Making use of our rights, and defending them, as MAPs, is important.

Although I agree, certainly it's not a decision to be taken lightly.