What a difficult step that must have been

ABCNEWS.com : N.J. Governor to Resign Amid Lawsuit

Adultery (at least in the modern conception; Biblically, the only way to commit adultery is with a married woman, since the man can theoretically have more than one wife) is a political hot-potato, and sexual misconduct with someone under him is doubly so. Still...

I think it's incredibly sad that any man or woman in our society would spend years adrift, never feeling that one can be true to oneself, all because it is not acceptable (even now, but even less so in the past) to be gay.

A lot of people, unfortunately, 'come out' after living separate lives that are not based on truth. I once knew a couple where both, with teenage children, came to realise that each was gay and that in order to be happy, the marriage should end. They did a remarkable job of seeing the kids through a difficult time, and it was an amicable split--but one that didn't have to be. Sometimes there may be a marriage of convenience. Some genuinely believe they can 'change', and even may pursue questionable 'therapy' to do so. Some struggle through other relationships that are never 'quite enough'. And unlike one accusation that was once levelled against me, it isn't the failure of the partner, who isn't 'woman enough'--it's that in the end, it isn't true to a person's nature.

Being gay or straight doesn't make you any less moral. We all have failings. I would hope that the Governor's actions would be seen akin to Bill Clinton's, and that his being gay is incidental, but I doubt it. For what it's worth, I respect him for finally trying to get his life on track, and I can say I probably understand better than most what his wife and family are going through, and I hope everyone involved gets proper counseling to help ease the problems that will undoubtedly arise.