throbbing

Michael Lucas

“Homosexuality in porn idustry spins around asshole. I call it anal fascism.”

Daddy and Papa

Johnny Symons, 2002. Daddy and Papa

Daddy & Papa explores the psychological and social impact of four gay couples who are making a controversial decision that turns out to be the most traditional thing in the world: to parent children. This is now well known that single parenting is a major part of our understanding of “American family.” About 26.2% of all children under 21 living in families have a parent not living at home. But the “average” American still assume a gay couple walking with their child on the street as a straight dad with dad’s buddy hanging out with dad and child. This is not a culture war, but rather a battle of culture versus nurture. Are children raised by same sex (male) parents harmed by not having a mother? Should gay white men be raising African American children? What is the effect of sexual orientation on the children? Symons shows that many of the issues are simply those of parents wanting to raise their children well, and the fact that these parents are gay men is almost irrelevant. Many of the issues discussed could also be applied to single men or women who want to adopt.

Buckaroo

Copeira

A heterosexual buckaroo is practically asymmetrical, and for a classical sensibility asymmetry hasn’t much appeal. Buckaroo’s HOMO version, however, could be no joke at all. It can turn really dirty, strangely nasty, truly ugly. The moment the first drop of blood appears on his lips or nose you see what I mean. There are moments that you can’t tell if it is now a real fight, a play or a dance. You attack only to be defeated. You start from horsing around and you end up in a real fight, and sometimes vice versa. This is a choreography full of groundwork, as well as sweeps, kicks, headbutts, elbow-strikes, slaps, punches, and body-throws.

“Objective Disorder”

DIGNITYUSA

Dignity USA President Marianne Duddy-Burke said she hoped the group’s presence during the pope’s appearances in Washington and New York would draw attention to efforts by gay Catholics to persuade the church hierarchy to moderate its teachings on homosexuality, which the church calls an “objective disorder” and an “intrinsic moral evil.”

Fra

Mychal F. Judge

In my own experience over the years, if I met a priest who is an exceptionally good pastor, loving and compassionate, I could be close to certain that I was dealing with a gay priest. The prime example of that was my friend, Father Mychal Judge.

“I think it was no coincidence that at the very moment Father Judge was dying while anointing a fallen fire fighter at the foot of the World Trade Towers, hierarchs were drafting the Instruction in Rome banning gays from the priesthood.”

John J. McNeill

Attitude

Richard Quest, CNN’s Anchor

I didn’t know that Richard Quest, who I have always adored, is a gay. And suddenly when I knew that, his mannerism seemed “meaningful” to me. Suddenly all of his artificiality, his flamboyance, his exaggerated style of speaking was polarized towards a certain super-signifier. Does he act gay on TV? It is not easy to say, since there are many other non-gay celebrities who do act gay (Tim Burton just jumped into my mind) and vice versa. For example I am not a big fan of Anderson Cooper, though I greatly admire him (the point is he is just not my favorite.) He has always been credited for introducing emotions to TV journalism. Has it anything to do with his possible gayness? What if just the same happen to Anderson Cooper – Quest’s colleague at CNN and one of the biggest targets of outing guerrillas. Would I look at him differently? I doubt it very much. But what is this fascination and adoration for people who are at ease with their queer orientation; people who this blog is basically about?

Whose World Is It?

George Segal, 1992. GLBT Monument. (Christopher Park, NYC)

“This sculpture by George Segal (1924–2000) honors the gay rights movement and commemorates the events at the Stonewall Inn opposite this park that gave rise to the movement. … On June 23, 1992, Mayor David N. Dinkins and Parks Commissioner Betsy Gotbaum helped unveil the monument in Christopher Park. The initial opposition and rancor which had greeted the project had subsided; the advent of AIDS, which had devastated the gay community in particular, added another poignant dimension to the monument and its mute figures’ impact. In March 2000, Stonewall Inn was designated a National Historic Landmark.”

Bow

This picture is cropped

Rembrandt von Rijn, 1642. David and Jonathan

“And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever.”

1 Samuel 41-42

Pais

Would Jesus Discriminate?

Matthew 8:5-13: “And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant [pais] lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.” So What?

Happens to Be

Mark Tewksbury

 Winner of the gold medal in the 100 m backstroke at the 1992 Olympics

Mark Tewksbury’s story of hurt, outrage and frustration, as a world class swimmer who happens to be gay, is also a story of strength, boldness and human rights. His journey from shame and fear to pride and courage as a gay man is especially inspiring because he is one of only a handful of world class gay athletes who have publicly embraced their gay identity.