Earlier this year, former Republican congressman, Aaron Schock had an announcement to make. After years of speculation by the media, the former Illinois representative was coming out.
Telling the world that you’re gay is a major milestone in any gay person’s life, let alone that of a figure so firmly in the public sphere. However, Schock’s announcement was particularly significant because for most of his career he campaigned ardently against LGBT rights.
Curiously, his story is not that unique. Several other “out” figures around the world have taken political stances or sided with parties that appear at odds with their own personal interests and those of their LGBTIQ peers. What motivates these people and how can we, as a community, engage with these paradoxical figures?