That's So Gay

Here's my question... If being gay is a choice, then why on Earth would anyone deliberately chose to be a member if the single most hated minority on the planet? Does that make sense to anyone?

"Yes, I'm gay. I want to be hated, persecuted, executed and beaten-up by straight people. I want my lifestyle to be judged by people who know nothing about me or the people with whom I choose to associate. I want you to tell me that the person I love is the wrong person to love. Tell me that God hates me because I'm gay, but loves me if I repent. I am evil because I love someone and want to express that love through sex. I am 'less than' because my love doesn't produce children who will go on to give money to a church that says I am evil." Yikes! What the hell is wrong with you people?

To date, I have 82 posts with the label "Gay;" 28 with the label "LGBT;" 53 with the label "The Gayest Thing;" 18 with the label "GLBT;" 16 with the label "Marriage Equality;" 5 with the label "Homophobia and 4 each with the labels "Gay Cinema" and "Coming Out." Of course, many of those cross-over.

So here's the thing:

Homosexuality is something that appears again and again in the animal kingdom (don't ask me to cite examples - there are far too many) and has been a part of human sexuality ever since the existence of humans. Of course, the Religious Right (which I continue to maintain is neither) and asshats like Anne Coulter and Bill O'Reilly will tell anyone who is willing to listen that being gay is sinful. On the other hand, every member of the Community will also tell you that he or she was born gay. Who should we believe? The homophobic "Christians" or the people who, through no choice, live the life?

Being gay in America, even today, means that you are "different." It means that you do not have the same rights as every other person on the planet and that who you love makes you a "bad" person.

Someday -- maybe not in my lifetime -- being gay won't be viewed as 'abnormal' or 'sinful' by the majority of people. But as long as lunatic fringe groups like NOM and Focus on Family exist, there will be people who, ignorant anything which happens in the real world, believe that being gay is 'wrong' and gays, lesbians, bi-sexual and transgendered persons will be labeled "perverts" and "sinners." To those uneducated, Tea-bagging morons I say "Get over it, already."

Hmmm... an Anniversary Rant. Who would've thunk? Maybe what they all need is an SGF:



More, anon.
Prospero

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A Sad Win

My friend Sean at Just a Jeep Guy has been posting some of his favorite comics, lately. Not too long ago, he was contacted by John Forgetta, the author of The Meaning of Lila, thanking him for helping to promote the strip.

More recently, he was contacted by John Lustig, author of Last Kiss. Lustig is a fine artist whose work you'd recognize immediately and whose single-panel strip often contains some very funny LGBT material and jokes. Lustig wanted to let Sean know about a contest he was running, in which the winner would get a chance to write with a rather well-known Sci-Fi author. What Sean didn't realize, was that the well-known Sci-Fi author was the notoriously homophobic Mormon, Orson Scott Card. Or, more precisely, he was unaware of Card's stance on LGBT rights. Card is an outspoken opponent of LGBT rights and a member of NOM, one of the many groups that helped pass California's Prop 8 last year (and whose infamous "Gathering Storm" commercials vilified the LGBT community with out-and-out lies about what same-sex marriage would do to children, families and even churches).

Of course, yours truly had to open my big mouth (or rather, type away on my keyboard) and express my concern that Sean would promote such a contest to his primarily gay readership. In response, Sean took down the post and researched Card's activities. Today, Sean posted this. And while I am sad that he felt he had to remove a post and possibly end correspondence with one of his favorite cartoonists, I am proud and pleased that he not only will no longer post Lustig's work, but sent him an email detailing precisely why.

My hat is off to you, Sean. I'm so sorry that things didn't work out the way you had hoped, and even sorrier that one of your favorite cartoonists disappointed you so, but as I said in my comments, "Thanks and keep fighting the good fight!" Today, you became one of my heroes.

More, very anon.
Prospero

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Naked Came the Homophobe

As much as I love my Dear D, his taste in movies isn't always the best. His favorite film is Rocky and his favorite actors include Stallone, Seagal and the subject of tonight's post, the "Muscles from Brussels," Jean-Claude Van Damme. And while I often chide D about what he thinks are "good" movies, I must admit his choices are often entertaining, if nothing else.

And, as much as I'd like to, I cannot deny JCVD's physical attributes. He is a rather magnificent specimen of male perfection: a stunningly muscled body combined with gorgeous facial features and unparalleled Martial Arts prowess, Van Damme is the epitome of macho male hotness, as evidenced by the picture I've posted here. And while he may not have (for me, at least) the hotness factor of my personal obsession, I wouldn't kick the man out of bed for eating crackers, if you know what I mean.

Still, I have issues with the Belgian heartthrob. He has been quoted as saying he doesn't like that he has gay fans, and hates that they look at his ass. Really? Then why show it off, so often?

Whether it's displaying his wall-crawling splits in any number of movies, or his totally naked backside, Monsieur Van Damme seems to have no problem with showing off the body with which God and Nautilus have gifted him. So why should he worry about who is looking at? If it were yours truly, I would have no problem with being worshiped by anyone, male or female.

As an actor who prides himself on his body, why should he care who lusts after it.? He must know that 99% of the people who who may long for a tumble in the hay with him have 0% chance of actually doing so. And if those people are willing to plunk down their hard-earned money to see his movies might fantasize about having sex with him, so what? It's hardly likely that they will ever do so, so what should it matter to him? And if it bothers him so much that gay men are lusting after him, why then would he continue to appear in as little clothing as possible, often oiled up to show off the kind of body most of us can only imagine having? Methinks the lady doth protest too much, to quote a certain genius.

Van Damme's latest film, scheduled for release in the Spring of 2010, is the sequel to Universal Soldier, the first film in which we got a glimpse of those powerful glutes. In Universal Soldier: Regeneration, JCVD reprises his role as a robotic soldier, this time fighting against UFC star Andrei Arlovski (Damn!) and former 80's hunk, Dolph Lundgren:

If it weren't for Van Damme's open disdain for the gay fans who made him a star to begin with, I might actually consider renting Universal Solder: Regeneration when it comes out on DVD. As for now, I'll simply list him among the homophobes whose coffers I refuse to add to.

More, anon.
Prospero

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Hollywood's Closet

That's Hollywood's most sophisticated leading man, Cary Grant (right) with his long-rumored lover, cowboy star Randolph Scott, sharing a dip in the pool at the house they shared before studio execs forced them to separate. These days, the thought of being forced by my employer to break up with my partner makes my blood boil. Of course, in the 40's and 50's, even the merest whisper of one's homosexuality could land one in jail (or worse).

Sadly, it's not much better today. Openly gay actor Rupert Everett takes every opportunity he can to blame his coming out for his faltering career, though I suspect it's really the bad movies he's in, that are to blame. Still, there is such a double standard in Hollywood when it comes to LGBT performers, it makes me want to scream.

Yes, there are loads of openly gay celebrities: Nathan Lane; Neil Patrick Harris; George Takei; David Hyde Pierce; Ian McKellan; Meredith Baxter; Dan Butler; Amanda Bearse; Portia di Rossi; Ellen Degeneres and Jane Lynch to name a very few. But, there are plenty more who, though seen publicly with their partners in gay venues, simply refuse to publicly come out: Queen Latifah; Jodie Foster; Anderson Cooper; Johnny Mathis and many others.

While I certainly agree that coming out is a personal choice (and I hate bloggers like the repulsive Perez Hilton, who consistently try to out celebrities without their permission), I think it is more important now then ever, for those celebrities to openly admit thier sexuality and help the rest of the country move on in the fight for LGBT rights. The more 'Straight America' sees of 'Gay America,' the better. As much as the American LGBT community clamors for equality, the more important it is for us to reveal ourselves as perfectly normal members of society, doing the same jobs and living in the same world as everyone else.

To those celebs still in the closet, whether by personal choice or on the advice of their (probably gay) agents, I say break free from your shackles and show the world that we are as vital to modern society as anyone else. Hate is a learned emotion and the best way to fight it is to admit you are a victim of it.

Come out, come out, whoever you are!

More, anon.
Prospero

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