Page "Outing" Paragraph 8

After the Stonewall riots of 1969, swells of gay-libbers came out aggressively in the 1970s, crying out: " Out of the closets, Into the streets!

" Some began to demand that all homosexuals come out, and that if they weren't willing to do so, then it was the community's responsibility to do it for them.

One example is the outing of Oliver Sipple ( who saved the life of U. S. President Gerald Ford during an assassination attempt ) by gay activists, most prominently Harvey Milk.

The negative impact the outing had on Sipple's life later provoked opposition.

Some argued that privacy should prevail, and felt it was better for the movement to protect closeted gays, especially in homophobic religious institutions and the military.

Despite their best efforts, many gays and lesbians were still unwilling to come out.