Stronger candidate: Out of the closet gay man vs. a closeted gay man

[SATW]

Out. Anyone adult who is in the closet in 2016 is probably a religious nutcase.

Just saw this: I'm hardly a religious "nutcase." I do have strong Jewish beliefs, but I'm not some religious crazy and neither are most people in the closet. Life is better for LGBT in most parts of the US now but not for everyone.

[Progressive]

I feel like many of you aren't grappling with the question in the spirit that the OP was asking it.  Sure, if someone is actually in the closet, then that might create all sorts of personal problems for them, and possibly make them a worse politician.  And there's always the possibility that over the course of the campaign, someone would out them against their will, and that could have all sorts of other negative consequences.

But I didn't read that as the question being asked.  I was reading it as cases like Booker or Crist, where there's a good chance that the politician in question isn't gay at all, but either because they're perpetually single or because their mannerisms "aren't masculine enough", many assume that they're closeted gays.

So I would instead ask the question like this: If you had a candidate who is actually *not* gay, but who many assume to be a closeted gay man because of the reasons I just mentioned, do they pay a bigger political price than an actual out-of-the-closet gay man does, assuming that the two hypothetical candidates are otherwise equally politically talented?

Yes. Precisely. I did not word my post very well. What I really meant was does an openly gay candidate pay a bigger "political price" for being openly gay than an individual a la Cory Booker, Charlie Crist, Marco Rubio who are the target of persistent "gay rumors"

[kyc0705]

FULL and upfront about his sexuality is the only way to go.  He's got to be out, proud, and inspiring for gay kids.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Being in the closet hasn't hurt Lindsey Graham.

[America Needs R'hllor]

Being in the closet hasn't hurt Lindsey Graham.

Aaaand that's what the poster was talking about.

[Thank you for being a friend...]

Why do people think Lindsey Graham is gay?  Until a person comes out, nobody knows.

[Kingpoleon]

Out. Anyone adult who is in the closet in 2016 is probably a religious nutcase.

Just saw this: I'm hardly a religious "nutcase." I do have strong Jewish beliefs, but I'm not some religious crazy and neither are most people in the closet. Life is better for LGBT in most parts of the US now but not for everyone.

I never realized you were an adult or in the closet.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Why do people think Lindsey Graham is gay?  Until a person comes out, nobody knows.

Unfortunately, many think waiting for the right person means you're gay.  All we can truly say about Graham is he has more self-control than our President-elect. Why that is the case is pure speculation.  As someone who will have their first marriage at age 51, I'm not tolerant of the idea that waiting means you're gay.