Call me Pollyanna, but I see a definite bright side in the whole “Is Kagan gay/Did someone accuse her of bein gay?” to-do.
While the fact that the words “accusation” and “scandal” still suggest a strong stigma to homosexuality, the fact is that, today, in this notoriously homophobic country, we’ve reached a point where, at least for a position as high profile as this one, a candidate not only can’t be openly criticized for her “lifestyle” choice of homosexuality, but is also in fact a bit immunized by even the suggestion of said choice.
That is, if the right really wanted to challenge this nomination, they would have to come up with all the more substantial objections than ever to avoid the suggestion of homophobia. It’s far from perfection, but it wasn’t too long ago that someone could be openly or nearly openly disqualified from high office for even the hint of “softball playing.” (scroll down in this link for a Colbert video).
One can only hope that such a high profile maybe-lesbian in American politics will have a trickle down effect. Tolerance is becoming the norm, acceptance is growing like gangbusters. (At least, from the point of view of this 45-year-old it is – when I was in high school no one was gay, and “fag” was uncontested as a legitimate insult. Thus I even see the lesbian prom story as progress, as she was able to stand up and shout about it, even sue that bastids!).
Maybe, someday, even in my lifetime, one’s sexuality will become a non-starter altogether – that is, unless you’re looking for someone to have sex with.
