Have we developed a new national policy of "Don't ask, don't tell"? The military policy of a few years ago is openly mocked, but it has been quickly reworked and reapplied. Now you can be anyone you want to be, hold any role you want to hold, be popular in the public eye - just don't tell us what you really think about homosexuality if it isn't approved by the LGBT community. We won't ask, please don't tell us if it is something with which we disagree.
You are absolutely fine, as long as there is no proof of holding any beliefs which challenge the newly developing societal norm.
I find it hard to believe that any A&E executive was even slightly surprised by Phil Robertson's views expressed in the GQ article. Seriously, they didn't think that their self-proclaimed "Bible-thumper" from the sticks held to a progressive re-defined Christianity? Everyone of them knew, and most likely held their collective breath hoping no one would ever ask, and no one would ever tell. Even if the executive who issued the suspension was so clueless to have no idea about the "vile" "outdated" "stereotypical" "homophobic" views of their star, there was a group of motivated people who had developed a pretty good guess of his views of the matter, and they were just waiting...The activist groups which jumped on this within moments clearly knew what to watch for. They clearly knew that this Christian family undoubtedly clung not only to their guns, but also their faith. And not just any faith, but a pretty traditional one - all the activists needed was one video clip, one paragraph in print, one GQ interview. The Robertsons just had to step out of the closet.
All was fine as long as the family abided by the new "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The message seems to be getting clearer - keep your beliefs in your closet!
