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Princess Diana's Butler Is Gay. Who Cares?

The problem is hypocrisy, not sexuality: columnist

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 26, 2008 1:20 PM CST

(Newser) – A British tabloid had a field day this weekend outing Princess Diana's butler Paul Burrell, who has parlayed his notoriety into hosting a TV show on etiquette called "American Princess." But for one columnist, the allegations that Diana's married-with-children confidant trawls saunas for sex demonstrate a sea change in public perception: Increasingly, being gay isn't shameful, but lying about it is.

Philip Hensher, writing in the Independent, feigns surprise that a man whose career consisted of "expertly choosing what cocktail dress she was going to put on" was in the closet. But from Larry Craig to Burrell, recent outing stories all have a similar tenor: moral revulsion not for the sexuality but the deception. It's quite right to disdain them, Hensher writes, for lacking the "ordinary bravery" of millions of out gay men and women.

Paul Burrell, Princess Diana's former butler, looks at a long, formal dinner dress in oyster duchesse satin, with a bolero jacket by Victor Edelstein that belonged to the Princess of Wales, in New York Monday Aug. 13, 2005. Burrell is returning as a judge for the second season of the...
Paul Burrell, Princess Diana's former butler, looks at a long, formal dinner dress in oyster duchesse satin, with a bolero jacket by Victor Edelstein that belonged to the Princess of Wales, in New York...   (Associated Press)
Former butler to Britain's Princess Diana's, Paul Burrell, appears during a television taping in New York, Monday Aug. 13, 2007. Princess Diana's rock and confidant, Burrell is listed to testify Monday Jan. 14, 2008, at the inquest into the death of the princess and her companion Dodi Fayed. (AP Photo/Richard...
Former butler to Britain's Princess Diana's, Paul Burrell, appears during a television taping in New York, Monday Aug. 13, 2007. Princess Diana's "rock" and confidant, Burrell is listed to testify Monday...   (Associated Press)
Princess Diana's butler and confidant Paul Burrell, right, is driven away in a taxi after giving evidence at the coroner's inquest into the death of the late Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed at the High Court in London, Monday, Jan. 14, 2008. Princess Diana's former butler injected an element of...
Princess Diana's butler and confidant Paul Burrell, right, is driven away in a taxi after giving evidence at the coroner's inquest into the death of the late Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed at the High...   (Associated Press)
Princess Diana's butler and confidant Paul Burrell poses for photographer during a lunch break at the coroner's inquest into the death the late Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed at the High Court in London, Monday Jan. 14, 2008.  Princess Diana gave no indication that she intended to marry Dodi Fayed...
Princess Diana's butler and confidant Paul Burrell poses for photographer during a lunch break at the coroner's inquest into the death the late Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed at the High Court in London,...   (Associated Press)
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