People still have a problem relating to others with severe mental illness (and addiction, for that matter.) The script they expect is, "I have learned that what I did wrong, I'm a better person now, and I'm ready to be trusted again." That's what they expect, what they demand. But this guy can't say "I learned" or "Here's my case for why I am ready to be trusted again." Not honestly. In my past (thankfully not recent…
Yes, but then isn't it clear that he isn't to be trusted (or how much he is to be trusted), and that's really what most people care about, they don't care why. I think that's part of why the mental health acceptance movement is quite tricky, and not super-successful.
Trusted to have a job? Get invited to dinner parties? Live without surveillance? Be in a position of responsibility over others, or to influence others?
It seems like we profoundly don't have answers to this from diverse groups like former felons, those with some record of prior bigotry/misogyny, mentally ill, those with divergent ideologies and more.