Signorile has long written on the double and quite frequent "no" standard approach to outing gay public figures. In practice this has meant that the mainstream media figures often condemn those who out conservative gay politicians who vote for anti-gay legislation while being quick to out those who support gay rights.
Personally I don't think the ethics of outing is simple (and I don't think anyone else does either), but the predominant mainstream media ethic seems to involve, as always, preserving the status quo and the perceived rights of the powerful.
(ht KF)
