Mitt Romney apparently has leaned anything from the Richard Grenell debacle.  While attempting to do damage control, Romney dug his hole deeper by referring to being gay as a "sexual preference."  That term along with "lifesyle choice" are the favorite terms of the Christofascist because the clear inference is that they involve choice.  Orientation, on the other hand is immutable and not changing - exactly what makes discrimination based on sexual orientation in the same league as racial discrimination.  The target of the discrimination cannot change the trait despised by the one engaging in discrimination.  Think Progress looks at Romney's additional self inflicted wound. Here are highlights:

Mitt Romney spoke out about the resignation of ex-foreign policy adviser Richard Grenell during an appearance on Fox News this morning. In doing so, the former Massachusetts governor failed to condemn the homophobia that helped convince the openly-gay foreign policy expert to leave the campaign less than two weeks after he first joined it.

Romney’s remarks represent the campaign’s failure to actively take on the social conservative wing of the Republican party on equality issues. Rather than publicly defend Grenell from groups who labeled him a “homosexual activist,” the candidate instead chose to muzzle his foreign policy spokesperson, asking him to remain silent on a recent conference call.

As one Republican told the New York Times, “It’s not that the campaign cared whether Ric Grenell was gay. They believed this was a nonissue. But they didn’t want to confront the religious right.” Romney’s response to Grenell’s resignation demonstrates that he himself also fears alienating these extreme elements.

Andrew Sullivan calls out Romney as is appropriate:

Sexual "preference" is about whether you are attracted to blondes or brunettes, twinks or bears, older or younger, etc. Being gay is a sexual and emotional orientation. It is not a choice. It is a fact. Like your craven cowardice in the face of raw bigotry.