Apparently French Neo-Nazi politicians have a lot in common with many far right Republicans here in America. Both take extreme anti-gay positions even as one - French Front National ("FN") vice president Florian Philippot - is outed as gay and self-loathing closet cases like Rick Santorum, Ken Cuccinelli and others rant about what they secretly intensely desire - hot gay sex. As The Telegraph reports, Philippot was outed by a French gossip magazine. Many French politicians show their hypocrisy by lamenting the invasion of Philippot's "privacy" even as his political party takes horrifically anti-gay positions, including opposition to gay marriage. Why is it fine to trample on the civil rights of others, especially gays and those hated by FN, but off limits to expose Philippot's glaring hypocrisy? Here are article highlights:
A French gossip magazine sparked outrage across the political spectrum on Friday by "outing" the far-Right Front National's vice president, Florian Philippot, as homosexual.
The rare breach of Gallic press protocol is an embarrassment for the FN, whose attitude towards homosexuals has historically ranged from ambivalent to downright homophobic.
Closer, which scored a global scoop in January by publishing photos of French president, François Hollande, visiting his secret lover Julie Gayet, on Friday released pictures of Mr Philippot with his boyfriend, an unnamed TV journalist, on a trip to Vienna last week.
"At last a real weekend away from Paris," it headlined, followed by an inside article entitled: "Yes to love for all" – a play on words with France's recent Marriage for All bill legalizing gay marriage.
Politicians across the board slammed the revelation as an unacceptable breach of Mr Philippot's private life.
FN leader Marine Le Pen denounced what she called "a very grave violation of individual liberties".
However, Closer's editor, Laurence Piau, defended her decision to "out" the politician as in the public's interest.
"Florian Philippot is a high-profile figure, he's the most invited guest on morning media shows after Marine Le Pen and the FN is a party like any other, if we believe what has been said of late," she told Europe 1 radio.
Noting that heterosexual public figures received just as much private scrutiny, she said: "How can you imagine that the number two of the Front National, who could take power if you believe what the FN says, could take up his post without every mentioning his family, his private relationships, without having a wife, or a girl or boyfriend? How is that possible in 2014?," she asked.
Above all, Closer's editor said the magazine's revelations could explain Miss Le Pen's decision not to participate in marches against gay marriage, which took place across France last year.
Other prominent members of her party, notably her niece Marion Maréchal Le Pen, an MP, were present in the "Demos for All" protests, some of whose supporters are virulently homophobic.
As I have made clear before, I fully support "outing" politicians who either personally or whose political parties strive against full legal equality for LGBT individuals. If these individuals want their private lives kept private, then they and their affiliated political parties need to get out of the private lives of others. Are you listening Rick Santorum?
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