Is reputation more important than love?

I'm sure there are a lot people out there in secret relationships putting unnecessary strain on hiding how they feel about each other from the public. No one should be ashamed of being in love with a person. Why should others get to express love while some have to hide it? Even if someone personally thinks you're amazing, they may not hang out with you simply based on who your friends are. Embarrassment is the greatest tool for a break up. We all have our closets and insecurities and to reveal them to another human being shows our greatest weakness. Does it take longer to recover from a broken heart or a bad reputation?