To celebrate my six-month blogiversary, I reposted the quotation from Camus with which I entered the blogosphere. To me, that quote helps define what blogging, especially for blogs, like this one, which invite comments, should be all about.
Camus feared the “long conversation of mankind” was coming to an end, in part, because people remained fixed in their ideologies, not willing to let themselves be persuaded by the arguments of others.
As gay conservatives, we see all too clearly such narrow ideologies, both in our gay identities and in our political leanings.
As gays, we are stigmatized by certain social conservatives who are unwilling to recognize that many of us strive to live our lives with the same — or similar values — as the most pious Christians. This past week, I have posted twice (here and here) on how they refuse to acknowledge the legitimacy of legislation enacted (or in the process of being enacted) which recognizes gay unions. It seems they have blinded themselves to the reality of many gay lives, those countless same-sex couples who seek (and do) live together in monogamous unions. They see gay people not by looking at the broad range of gay “lifestyles” but through a narrow definition of the “gay lifestyle” — and by a narrow reading of Scripture.
As conservatives, we are stigmatized by many on the left who assume that being a part of some minority, be it one of race, religion or sexual orientation requires one to adopt the principles of contemporary American liberalism, which includes strong and frequent critiques of all forms of American conservatism, even those which are not anti-gay. When we do not fit their narrow view of what a gay person should be, they dismiss our arguments and label us “self-hating.”
It seems that more often that not, neither wishes to engage us. Too many of them, on the social right as well as on the angry left, have become no more than what Camus would call, representatives of an ideology. They think like those around them, having created an abstract view of the world, leaving no room for individual distinction or philosophical difference.
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I know this is old news by now….but I’ve had a rough week of travel and I’m just catching up on things. Since I had posted about this story originally, I figured it was only fair to close the loop! (Hat tip: GP Reader Keith)
Bishop Sorry For Denying Gay’s Funeral Rites – FOX News.com

BoiFromTroy has the scoop here.
From BFT’s post…

Now I am no expert on theology, but it seems hypocritical for a church that protects from the law, ordains and buries known (often same-sex) child molestors (i.e. its own clergy) would deny a rite to a member of the faith. My understanding is that a man’s faith is between him and his deity(ies) and that we should “judge not lest we be judged”.

As first reported here at GayPatriot on March 2nd (via Sports Illustrated), Queer Eye for the Straight Guy has butched it up and made-over five of the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox.
Full story here from Canada.com – March 15, 2005
Following this unique makeover, perhaps the Fab Five will be using a new technique when they see a straight guy who is beyond repair…

The Red Sox may even have helped the Fab Five.
“They’re teaching us how to spit,” Kressley said.

In the wake of President Bush’s reelection with Republicans increasing their majorities in both of Houses of Congress, many on the gay left talk as if we are entering a new dark age for homosexuals. Otherwise sensible gay writers warn of censorship and increased discrimination while an openly gay Democratic legislator compares a proposed state constitutional amendment to slavery, lynchings and forced migrations.
At the same time, we see striking advances made for gays in our culture. Movies and television shows routinely feature gay characters and subplots. Connecticut is set to be the third state to recognize same-sex civil unions. The number of Fortune 500 companies offering domestic partnership benefits and including sexual orientation in their non-discrimination policies continues to increase. And all these things are happening during a Republican administration with Republican majorities in Congress and a more conservative federal judiciary.
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While my blog-league claims to be a lesbian, I too have been called a lesbian. (If there’s adequate interest, I’ll relate a story where a real lesbian insisted that I was a lesbian.)
Anyway, I’m trying to track down a quote for a post I’m working on. Does anyone know who said this (or something like it): “I’ve heard of women becoming lesbians for political reasons, but never of a man becoming gay for political reasons.” I want to get the quotation right, put it into context and identify the clever individual who initially made this observation.
Please e-mail me or comment if you have information about the source of the expression bolded above.
Thanks!
Dan (AKA GayPatriotWest): GayPatriotWest@aol.com

This one is for all you sports fans out there….
War of words: ‘Gay’ was not OK on NFL fan jerseys, ‘lesbian’ still banned – WashingtonBlade.com

At the time, ?gay? was one of more than 1,100 words and phrases deemed off-limits by the NFL, according to a list obtained by Outsports and posted on its site. The list included relatively tame phrases like ?Cocky? and ?Poor White Trash,? along with more eye-popping profanity including ?Ass Blaster? and ?Sperm Herder.?
Gay-affirming phrases like ?Lesbian? and ?Gay Pride? are also forbidden, as is ?Jesus Christ,? according to the list.

So, I’m guessing “homoerotic” probably is a “no, no” too?

There’s no story here….. but it seems like everytime I do a posting that has “Lesbian” in the title… the traffic spikes and the comments overflow.
So consider this an experiment.
Why? Because I’m a lesbian, of course.

Hey, I’ll give major kudos here to the Equal Rights Coalition in Indiana. Inviting Fred Phelps to participate in a debate on gay rights!?! Man… I wouldn’t be in the same room with him, but this is definitely a very smart and strategic step for the ERC to do. Just let the guy talk and talk and talk. My only hope is that the forum attendees keep their cool and just let Fred look like the fool he is.
If any of you out there are close enough to attend, consider yourself an official correspondent and let us know what happens!
Gay Group Hosts Fred Phelps – 365gay.com

Nope, not on the next Jerry Springer Show, but rather on the campus of your average man-hating, America-hating liberal feminist college. (Thanks to GP Correspondent Keith for the story!)
Wellesley Girls Gone Wild – BostonHerald.com

“While the party was not out of control, some people’s drinking was out of control,” said Hill. All the students are expected to recover and will appear before the college’s alcohol hearing board.
“It’s just about doing what you feel like doing, but because people party beforehand, it gets a little risque,” said a Wellesley senior who attended the party, but refused to give her name.

Isn’t this a great example for the subculture to be showcasing just when all the lesbians in the world claim they want to settle down and officially marry as part of the mainstream world?

PatriotPartner and PatriotPal, being the hard-core Yanks fans that they are, will get a chuckle over this item I just saw on SportsIllustrated.com.
According to SI… “Scruffy Red Sox first baseman Kevin Millar is reportedly in talks to appear on Bravo’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. So far the Fab Five is resisting the effort by pointing out that they are merely men, not magicians, dammit.”
I’m sure there are a lot of Yankees fans delighting in the fact that Carson will be giving switch-hitting tips to the Red Sox.

With all due reference to Bonnie Tyler (and Jennifer Saunders), I actually thought of writing this post after reading this somewhat dated column on Advocate.com by Neal Broverman.
While Neal deals with the lack of openly gay male celebrities in the entertainment industry….

In the game of ?Our Team Has More Out Celebrities,? the lesbians are kicking the gay guys? collective butts. With the hardships of Melissa, the days of Ellen?s life, and Rosie?s other world covered by the media and all those who consume their magazines, books, and newspapers, it?s easy for a gay man to develop a complex. Where are the faces making us more human? We love our out gals, but where are the guys?

He does make a very good point about someone outside the entertainment industry who could have been a gay role model, and why he wasn’t.
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