Privacy and the ethics of outing

This essay argues that, in the absence of a compelling justification, outing is immoral as a violation of privacy. Reasons for respecting privacy involve fundamental interests which encompass information about gay and lesbian sexual orientation. Utilitarian defenses of outing are criticized, as is Richard Mohr's analysis of privacy and defense of outing in the name of dignity. Mohr's claim that gay or lesbian sexual orientation does not fall within the scope of the right to privacy is rejected.