Tim while I agree with much of what you have posted I think that the issue at heart here is the notion of the original poster putting out a deliberate challenge.
He's actually wanting to provoke the kind of reaction that underlines all the irrational phobias on the subject. And it's that kind of attitude which will get him and others of a similar ilk (ie provactive activists not homosexuals) an extremely bad name.
He's already saying to the world that he's not going to fit in and the rest of the world will have to dance to his tune. That's fine and dandy but go and do it somewhere where attitudes like that can be tolerated (and coped with) more easily.
As I said in an earlier post - as an ex IOT flt cdr if he had fronted me on day one with that kind of attitude I would be writing him up for the chop.
Still think that the whole thing is a wind-up