No it is not just a footnote but a diplomatic blunder on a massive scale.
Nobody is stating anything against him being gay as a person only on the methodology behind the idiots in our government who thought sending a gay man as ambassador to an islamic country was a good idea, instead of someplace where his life would not be in danger because of his gay life style like Europe.
These threads are about a diplomatic department that does not have a clue about who they are dealing with on such a level that it is mind boggling.
His first assignment to Libya was in 2007...just an fyi before everyone puts their foots in their mouths.
His life was in danger because he was an American. His life was in danger because his bosses are so incredibly stupid they did not protect him with the full force of the US Military.