Rick Mercer Rant

SHOULD, AS RICK MERCER SUGGESTS, ALL WELL-KNOWN HOMOSEXUALS OPENLY ADMIT TO THE PUBLIC THAT THEY ARE GAY?

It is, to say the very least, a highly controversial question and still a fairly controversial subject in general. It stands right on a dividing line. On one side, you have the possibility of being a good example to kids and of helping the world to get a little bit more open-minded. Yet, on the other side, you have an individual's right to privacy and his or her right not to put his or her personal life on display for everyone else to see (and judge, of course). As for Rick Mercer's point of view, his solution to schools' bullying problem is essentially to ask every homosexual in the public eye to basically parade their gay pride. Indeed, it comes through as a big request, but in spite of the controversial nature of his demand, I do get where he is coming from. If more famous personalities would show off their homosexuality and their pride, perhaps kids would look at them and possibly get used to and even come to accept gay kids in their school environment.

However, the only flaw that I can find in his theory is that, even if homosexuality becomes more “ordinary”, it will still account for a small percentage of the population and gays will still be tormented as are all minorities in our society. As much as gay people who take pride in who they are can become more common, it will probably never stop to be considered unconventional and thus be subject to teasing. There are more and more fat and obese people making it big (excuse the poor word play) in the world and there are a lot of red haired celebrities too yet, these two minorities still make bullying victims today in many schools. Even as people get older and mature, bullies do not disappear, they do not grow out of it, bullying just takes on another form, this one perhaps more subtle and psychological. I think the solution to bullying, if there is one, does not lie in trying to eliminate the possible targets, bullies always find something, rather it lies in trying to sensitize and monitor kids at a young age to try to irradiate the problem at its most fundamental source.

Rick Mercer

Accordingly, I do not think that all well-known homosexuals should have to outspokenly admit their sexuality to the public, or anyone for that matter. Who does Rick Mercer think he is to demand the exposure of something so personal? He himself did not mention in his own rant that he is gay while asking for every other member of the gay community to do so. Whether you want to tell the world or keep your sexual orientation to yourself is an entirely and exclusively personal choice. Nobody should be instigated to do so by someone who is not even able to follow his own principle.