Outing

Outing is the act of revealing another person's LGBTQ+ status, whether their sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status, without that person's permission. It can be deliberate or accidental, but either way it takes away a person's right to decide who knows and when. Outing is widely considered a serious ethical violation because the consequences can be severe: family rejection, job or housing loss, harassment, violence, and in some countries legal persecution. Coming out is a deeply personal process that belongs to each individual on their own timeline. The only person who should share someone's identity is that person themselves.