Dana Chivvis

Other reporters had figured it out, too. Liz and Melissa decide to run with the story, that a gay girl in Damascus was actually Tom, a white dude living in Scotland. But before they can publish, Tom beats them to it. He confesses in a post on a gay girl.

Other reporters had figured it out, too. Liz and Melissa decide to run with the story, that a gay girl in Damascus was actually Tom, a white dude living in Scotland. But before they can publish, Tom beats them to it. He confesses in a post on a gay girl.

It's less picky than a gay girl in Damascus.

It's less picky than a gay girl in Damascus.

Tom writes the quintessential non-apology apology, says that while the narrative voice might have been fictional, he was describing a very real situation on the ground in Damascus, and he doesn't think he harmed anyone. Maybe you saw the whole thing coming, internet scams being what they are these days. Maybe you're thinking, hey, this whole story is a scam.

Tom writes the quintessential non-apology apology, says that while the narrative voice might have been fictional, he was describing a very real situation on the ground in Damascus, and he doesn't think he harmed anyone. Maybe you saw the whole thing coming, internet scams being what they are these days. Maybe you're thinking, hey, this whole story is a scam.

I can't believe I paid no dollars for this. But calm down a second. There's more. Liz and her editor, Melissa, published their story on Sunday, six days after Amina was supposedly abducted. Their headline is, A Gay Girl in Damascus Comes Clean. After they post their article, Liz and Melissa are talking with a more senior editor. Everyone's pretty happy with the story.

I can't believe I paid no dollars for this. But calm down a second. There's more. Liz and her editor, Melissa, published their story on Sunday, six days after Amina was supposedly abducted. Their headline is, A Gay Girl in Damascus Comes Clean. After they post their article, Liz and Melissa are talking with a more senior editor. Everyone's pretty happy with the story.

But there's something still nagging at Liz, a detail she can't get out of her head. It has to do with that other lesbian she interviewed, Paula Brooks, from lesgetreal.com.

But there's something still nagging at Liz, a detail she can't get out of her head. It has to do with that other lesbian she interviewed, Paula Brooks, from lesgetreal.com.

Liz had emailed with Paula Brooks. Paula had sent Liz a photo of her driver's license as proof of identity. But Liz had only ever spoken with Paula's dad.

Liz had emailed with Paula Brooks. Paula had sent Liz a photo of her driver's license as proof of identity. But Liz had only ever spoken with Paula's dad.

So instead of celebrating a great scoop, outing Tom as Amina, Liz dove straight into investigating Paula Brooks.

So instead of celebrating a great scoop, outing Tom as Amina, Liz dove straight into investigating Paula Brooks.

Bill told Liz he'd had some lesbian friends who were mistreated and he wanted to help. He also wanted a platform where he could write in support of repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The real Paula Brooks, Bill explained, was his partner, who didn't know he'd been using her identity online to pose as a lesbian.

Bill told Liz he'd had some lesbian friends who were mistreated and he wanted to help. He also wanted a platform where he could write in support of repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The real Paula Brooks, Bill explained, was his partner, who didn't know he'd been using her identity online to pose as a lesbian.

And having a flirtation with Amina.

And having a flirtation with Amina.

For the uninitiated, a sock puppet hoax is when someone uses a false identity online. The day after they published their story about Tom being a Mina, Liz and Melissa published another one with the headline, Paula Brooks, editor of Les Get Real, also a man.

For the uninitiated, a sock puppet hoax is when someone uses a false identity online. The day after they published their story about Tom being a Mina, Liz and Melissa published another one with the headline, Paula Brooks, editor of Les Get Real, also a man.