Hey, did we know MSNBC's Pete Williams was gay?

[bluedawg12]

I was responding to another thread over at GD about Pete and looked him up.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7925683&mesg_id=7925683

I just thought he was a former Cheney guy and now MSNBC pentagon correspondent and I found this on wiki.

"In 1991, while serving as Pentagon spokesperson during the Gulf War, Williams was outed as a homosexual by activist and author Michelangelo Signorile."

Boy this is one strange story??? :popcorn:


Petey in younger days.
Pete Williams as Assistant Secretary of Defense at a press briefing, 1991


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Williams

>>Pete Williams is an NBC News correspondent based in Washington, D.C. He has been covering the Justice Department and the U.S. Supreme Court since April 1993. Williams was also a key reporter on the Microsoft anti-trust trial and Judge Jackson's decision.

Prior to joining NBC, Williams served as a press official on Capitol Hill for many years. In 1986 he joined the Washington, DC staff of then Congressman Dick Cheney as press secretary and a legislative assistant. In 1989, when Cheney was named Secretary of Defense, Williams was appointed Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. He also served as spokesman to the Pentagon. While in that position, Williams was named Government Communicator of the Year in 1991 by the National Association of Government Communicators.<<

[jonnyblitz]

1. I remember when he was outed in 1991, yes. nt

[bluedawg12]

2. No kidding.

We're every where... even in the right wing.

[jonnyblitz]

4. I was gay in the military at the time and i remember the big stink

made over Signorile outing famous people and whether it was ethical or not.

[bluedawg12]

3. About activist and author Michelangelo Signorile

who outed Pete.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelangelo_Signorile

>>Michelangelo Signorile, pronounced (pronounced /ˌsiːnjəˈɹɪlə/; born December 19, 1960), is a gay American writer and a national talk radio host whose program is aired each weekday across the United States and Canada. He is a political liberal, unabashedly, and covers a wide variety of political and cultural issues.

Signorile is noted for his various books and articles on gay and lesbian politics, and is an outspoken supporter of gay rights. Signorile's seminal 1993 book Queer in America explored the negative effects of the LGBT closet, and provided one of the first intellectual justifications for the practice of outing public officials, influencing the debate and treatment of the issue among journalists from that point on. Signorile has argued in favor of outing from a journalistic perspective, calling for the "equalization" of reporting on homosexual public figures and heterosexual public figures. He has argued that the homosexuality of public figures -- and only public figures -- should be reported on when relevant, and only when relevant...

Signorile became a gay activist in 1988, after attending a meeting of the controversial grass roots protest group, ACT UP, in New York. Within days of the meeting he was arrested at a protest at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church at the Citigroup Center, where the Vatican's envoy and the author of much of the Vatican's recent positions against homosexuality, gay rights and the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, was to give a major speech. (Ratzinger would go on become Pope Benedict XVI, succeeding Pope John Paul II upon his death in April 2005). <<

..........

http://www.adherents.com/people/100_gay.html
The Gay 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Gay Men and Lesbians, Past and Present, Kensington Publishing Corporation/Citadel Press (2002), written by Paul Russell.

[jonnyblitz]

5. He was standing right in front of jackbeck, priyanka and I at

the big protest outside the Mormon temple a few weeks back in NYC.

[bluedawg12]

6. So, he's supportive now?

And protesting? Cool.

[jonnyblitz]

7. ha, signorile was there, not pete williams!!

sorry if i wasn't clear about who. :rofl:

[bluedawg12]

9. Eeep.

I got all hopeful. :rofl:

[IndianaGreen]

8. I support outing closeted hypocrites

C'mon Lindsey Graham, tell us how you really feel.

[bluedawg12]

10. Ya' know the ones who openly oppose gay rights or legislate against

gay civil rights, those folks are not neutral parties.

Lindsey and Pete, all in one night? :rofl:

[davidinalameda]

11. there's certain people I don't want on our team

he's one them

[LiberalFighter]

16. Would love to see the Pope outed!

[mondo joe]

12. I remember the outting. I supported it then, and now. Out everyone and anyone

who is complicit in attacking our rights.

[bluedawg12]

13. They can keep Goober!

:rofl:

[bluedawg12]

14. Didja HEAR! Dumbya after he leaves WH plans

Joining a folk band to bring joy!

[bluedawg12]

15. New life planned after WH years!

He likes them dark swarthy, sensitive.

[HillWilliam]

17. NNnnnoooonononononoooononono

I might be a redneck and a total non-fashion-plate, but some things are just plainole wrawng. They can keep Dumbya. And Graham (R-Closet). Now, any time Hugh Jackman want to hop the fence...

[bluedawg12]

18. LOL! Nothing less than Hugh?

Good call.

[HillWilliam]

19. If I was ever going to step out

and get my neck wrung over it, I better make it a good'n! :rofl: