Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Uncomfortable discussions...


Isn't it odd that my wife doesn't talk about "all-things-gay" with me for months at a time, leaving that subject on the shelf as a book to get to someday, and then all of a sudden a certain distinguished senator from Idaho has a certain not-so-distinguished experience in a Minnesota airport toilet stall, and out of the blue she's curious about "gay" behaviors in public restrooms? And she's asking me lots of questions about what goes on in those places (other than my desires to get in and get out as fast as possible) and did I know the secret toe-taps or how I place my bags may be sending messages to others that I'm available? (Thank you, Media, for opening up more bad press about the perversions of being gay).


Why can't we have a normal conversation about things like... like what I'd like for Christmas, like a 2008 wall calendar for my office? Huh? (see http://www.mormonsexposed.com/) After all, it's for charity, right? I'd be helping a great cause, no?


I guess not... :)

13 comments:

Abelard Enigma said...

I so want that calendar!

MoHoHawaii said...

... more bad press about the perversions of being gay.

It's actually about the perversions of the closet. Cruising for furtive encounters in restrooms is virtually unknown among gay men who live their lives openly.

Beck said...

Abe: With your current "pon farr" going on, I shouldn't have brought that website to your attention... so don't drool too much! :)

Beck said...

MOHOH: Good point! I totally agree and don't mean to imply otherwise. I was only pointing out the comments from the local media and folks on the street, and my own wife all trigger the association of all gays, closeted and frustrated, or open and non-angsty or anywhere in between all in the same "perverted pot". It's just another distorted stereotype to confront.

Of course, I venture to say, that you don't mean to imply either, that all closeted gays, such as myself, are "cruising for furtive encounters in restrooms"! :)

Kengo Biddles said...

I know it's not work appropriate, so I ain't even touching it!

Beck said...

Kengo: Who says you have to post it at the office? :)

Sorry, I couldn't resist... :-)

John Gustav-Wrathall said...

Believe it or not, I actually got an email from ABC News, asking if they could interview me in relation to the scandal.

I guess thanks to my book on the YMCA, I am considered an "expert" on anonymous sex in public places. Lovely. The reporter seemed to think the Minnesota connection was a bonus.

I hope your wife wasn't on a fishing expedition to see if you knew a little "too much" about all of this sordid stuff.

If she's really curious, you could refer her to me. After all, I'm an "expert."

Beck said...

JGW: So what did you do? Did you grant an interview? Isn't it interesting how the media gravitates toward gays and perversion instead of distinguishing that some are just plain perverts who want anonymous sex be they straight or gay? Isn't it interesting how anti-gay the "discovered" one becomes when questioned by the media? And isn't it interesting that you are labeled an "expert"?

Frankly, having an "expert" at my beckoning call for future questions from my wife, is a great comfort! :)

Seriously, I don't think she was shopping to see how much I "know" about these things as much as being curious that such things occur in the public restrooms. I don't think she was being malicious in "exposing" myself (no pun intended). It just peaked her curiosity.

I just wish there could be a story where a very gay man did amazing things and the media caught on to the story with just as much ferver and her reaction and interest would be just as peaked. The discussion could follow about how wonderful and normal and amazing such a man may be - and even though being "gay" shouldn't trigger a response either way, nor a reason for such a response - in her heterosexual mentality, it still would register as a factor - and wouldn't that be nice?

John Gustav-Wrathall said...

After the initial contact from ABC, I didn't hear back from them (and frankly, was somewhat relieved). Dealing with the media makes me super nervous. I'm guessing they have a list of contacts and experts, and given their deadlines, they just interviewed the first one they were able to catch live.

It is the nature of the media to exploit people for whatever they think is newsworthy. It's the same when a Mormon is in the news...

I honestly think the way this Craig scandal is unfolding in the media is quite vicious and homophobic. I guess it becomes OK to be homophobic when the left indulges in it along with the right. Meanwhile, right wingers are hoisting the gallows to hang their former friend. Easier to focus on a man's airport indiscretions than on the actual business of governing a country that has some serious, serious problems right now.

John Gustav-Wrathall said...

The calendar is just weird...

But this is way weirder...

Beck said...

That IS weird... but the calendar, though silly, is still cute! :)

MY VIEW said...

I have had the misfortune of talking to the guy who thought up this calender and after a couple conversations with him his motive are well are less then charatible. He has an agenda and an ax to grind. I've also talked to some of the models. A couple of them I think are having second thoughts about what they did but realize there isn't anything they can do about it. Some bristle with the amount of attention that the calender is gaining among the gay community. The guy who is behind the calender has created fake myspace profiles for all the elders. Some of them do have an ax to grind with the church other really didn't think about it until they were done. I do think they were taken advantage of.

simon said...

well written, interesting, and beautiful blog.
I thought about including a link to your site on my blog.

if you ever get the chance, come visit me back

Best,
Simon

my blog is www.BrawnyHunk.com (not nearly as superficial as it sounds ;-) )