People outed for the greater good.

April 22, 2009 8:37 PM

I am writing an article on people who expose an aspect of their identity that is not-accepted by their larger group and are sanctioned for it. But, I need some individual stories so that I can show that people have been sanctioned for being different and trying to create change before. I know this is a common theme in literature, but finding people who failed to make significant change is difficult.

I am looking for true stories/accounts of individuals who exposed a hidden aspect of themselves (Sexual or Gender Deviance, [transgendered, etc] Identity, [Hutu in Rwanda, Jew in Nazi Germany], Status, [rich student in public school], affiliation [labor organizer in a historically non-union shop] etc who because they exposed the hidden aspect of their identity to create positive change was exposed to violence or some other downfall. I know of a few stories of individuals who overcame the pitfalls of difference, but I would like to find some accounts that show that without support not everyone can change the community around them. I would prefer stories of common people and not historically famous figures so that when I tell them people will not know the ending before I can make my point.

posted by elationfoundation to writing & language (14 comments total)

How about Republicans in Hollywood? For many actors and writers, admitting to being conservative has ended up being career death.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 9:02 PM on April 22

The story of Purim involves a woman who becomes the queen of Persia by concealing her Jewish heritage & culture. She reveals her Judaism at a critical juncture in order to save her people (the Jews of Persia), but only at great personal risk. I'll leave it to you to determine whether you would classify this story as "true" - hard to say.

Oh I just noticed that you didn't want historically famous figures - sorry.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 9:18 PM on April 22

This American Life has an episode about that sort of narrative, but it's only a single story.
posted by aheckler at 9:18 PM on April 22

I can't think of any individuals of the top of my head, but I know there are several stories like this from homosexuals who came out (or were found out) in the U.S. military. Books were written too, but I can't think of them right now
posted by Think_Long at 9:30 PM on April 22

This question is difficult because of the fact that most of the people we will have heard of will be the famous ones, even if they are famous for having been persecuted.

A rich vein of American stories along these lines is the issue of racial passing.
posted by idiopath at 9:42 PM on April 22

Don't Ask Don't Tell policy of the US Military
posted by cmchap at 9:55 PM on April 22

The Latham Diaries is a book which records an Australian politician's (Mark Latham) rise through the ranks of Australian politics, and then his spectacular fall.

He claims in his book that his failure to become PM was due to many in his own party not liking him as a result of his maverick attitude and his new ideas and attempts to enact change, both within the Party and Australian society generally. In addition to these claims of internal sabotage, Latham also claims that the Australian media elite also didn't like him for much the same reasons and that this opposition to both himself, his style and his ideas cost him dearly in his campaign to become Prime Minister.

Those who have read it are often split as to whether this claim is true or whether he should shoulder some of the blame himself, though. I'm personally in the latter category; I think that while he was a maverick with new and sometimes interesting ideas to enact grand social change, ultimately he was just a guy who didn't realise he was a politician working as part of a team. So depending on your own reading of his story, you may or may not find his story applicable.
posted by Effigy2000 at 10:00 PM on April 22

I suggest you to read posts with "come out" subject in gay communities. Not sure which community can be recommended because I only know some of them in Chinese. Anyway, you may try this way to find true stories of common people.
posted by yezimary at 10:36 PM on April 22

Harvey Milk
posted by mezamashii at 10:45 PM on April 22

You could look at Orwell's Burmese Days. The protagonist is a Colonial who despises the Colonials. He is eventually exposed, humiliated and ostracized.
posted by evil_esto at 2:23 AM on April 23

This poem also expresses that idea, though it doesn't refer to a true story.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 9:09 AM on April 23

You might want to contact the Atheist Community of Austin. I have heard/seen on their podcast/TV show, that several members have experienced various degrees of prejudice &/or negative feedback from "coming out" as atheist. I'd direct you to a specific TV episode or podcast, but I can't access any of that at work. But the links provide should help you contact people.
(I don't know him personally, but the current president of the ACA, Matt Dillahunty, is always talking about the issue you're interested in on the TV show and podcast. And he seems very responsive to queries of this sort.)
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 12:56 PM on April 23

Maybe this isn't close enough, but what about the West Memphis Three? They were convicted of murder based on the coerced "confession" of a mentally challenged member of their group, and on the fact that they listened to heavy metal music and wore lots of black.
posted by scarykarrey at 1:11 PM on April 23

Check out the book Leadership on the Line. It's about the pitfalls and dangers people face when they attempt to change a society or institution - these dangers range from social snubbing to assassination.
posted by lunasol at 12:29 AM on April 24