An Arizona sheriff built a strong reputation as a conservative icon for his appearances with John McCain and public opposition to the Obama administration. He’s running for a competitive GOP nomination in a conservative congressional district and had garnered a lot of support.

That changed this weekend, when Paul Babeu had to admit publicly that he was involved in a same-sex relationship with a Mexican immigrant. The man says Babeu had threatened to have him deported if he said anything about their relationship.

As a result of the announcement Babeu has already stepped down as state campaign co-chair for the Mitt Romney campaign. He says he’s still vying for the GOP nomination, but in an extremely religious and conservative district, it’s becoming less likely that he’ll have the same support. 

Babeu previously avoided a public stance on gay rights, but came out in favor of them on Saturday.

“I can be a supporter and get out there and help articulate as we progress as a culture and a society, that there should be individual liberties and there should be individual freedoms,” Babeu said. “For any other person to define somebody else’s relationship and say it not OK, that is not who we are as Americans.”

I don’t agree with the things this man allegedly said to his partner, and he has denied saying them, but I’m shocked at how a person can lose all credibility in the public eye simply for being gay. Some parts of this country have some serious work to do.