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Well, if we want to dictionary-off:
Random House:
- a pretense of having a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one does not really possess.
The American Heritage Dictionary
- the practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.
Collins English Dictionary
- the practice of professing standards, beliefs, etc., contrary to one's real character or actual behaviour, esp the pretence of virtue and piety
Oxford English Dictionary
- assuming a false appearance of virtue or goodness, with dissimulation of real character or inclination, especially in respect of religious life or belief.
But that's moot, because I believe the definition given by JWBear agrees with me more than him.
If simply pretending to be what you're not is hypocrisy then the word has no distinct meaning, it is simply a synonym for lying or misrepresentation. I have no doubt that Shirvell is a hypocrite on many fronts.
Now, denying or hiding homosexuality to avoid the repercussions of your own claimed beliefs would be hypocritical. But if it is your view that being gay is a sin and should in every way be suppressed then in every way suppressing your own homosexuality would not be hypocritical. Being unaware or unable to recognize your own homosexuality is not hypocritical.
To use the definition of hypocrite (as opposed to hypocrisy) from JWBear's preferred dictionary:
1: a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
2: a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings
Being gay, not telling people, and engaging in gay bashing does not inherently meet either of those definitions. That is not to say that many people in that situation aren't hypocrites but it is not enough to simply show that a person espousing anti-gay positions is himself gay. Failing to live up to your own ideals is not hypocrisy, except insofar as we define the word so broadly that it no longer has any useful meaning.
And if simply lying about some aspect of yourself is hypocrisy (to stop the definition JW provided after 7 words) then that is again to broaden the word beyond value as it is simply an synonym for lying.
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