Written: 1/16/2012

So, I’ve never really considered myself flamingly gay.  Yes, I”m sure I mask what I can to protect myself and keep my job, but I’m more “go with the flow” anyway.  Although I do have a really strange sense of humor, and sometimes I think that comes off as kind of stereotypically gay, even when I’m just amusing myself.

But, I have some strange interests, that I think kinds of mask my sexuality.  I don’t see them like that, they are just things that interest me and I enjoy, so I’m not really lying to myself or anyone, but I guess some could take them as me hiding.

Hockey!  I freaking love hockey, and specifically the Pittsburgh Penguins.  I’ve never really liked football, and well, I grew up with the Pirates, so I guess I kind of defaulted to hockey.  But I find it much more interesting than other sports.

Beer!  Also goes great with hockey.  But specifically, craft beer.  I love finding new kinds of beers, especially those from small breweries around the country.  I’ve discovered that Oatmeal Stouts are my favorite, and generally, winter is the best time for beer ever!  Although there are some really awesome summer beers as well.

Zombies!  I’m from Pittsburgh, and Monroeville specifically, so of course I have to love Zombies.

Graphic Novels and D&D!  (at this point, I’m just adding exclamation points to keep it going)  Aside from a few bloggers, and of course, Fanboys of the Universe, this tends to be more of a straight guy nerdy thing.  And yes, I’m totally okay being a nerd.

Geocaching!  I guess this falls more to a family thing.  But I like exploring new places and hiking and finding buried treasure.  Also: pirates.

Scuba diving!  There are actually quite a lot of gay scuba trips, but I think when most people think about undersea exploration, at least right now, they think about the most interesting man in the world.

Okay, so maybe the list loses some of its potency as it goes on, but, I guess the point is that I have a lot of diverse interests, and that people are more than just their sexuality (what you have between your legs, what you do between the sheets and what goes on between your ears).

All my best,

The King of Spades

Written: 1/16/2012

I love Glee.  I really do.  And I know it’s probably a sterotype, but it’s an awesome show.  Most of the music is great, and Brittney is laugh out loud funny.  Santana’s snark is spot on, and the story lines are so far out there, it’s great (Thank you, Sue Sylvester for marrying yourself).

Additionally, Coach Beast, is a fantastic role model, and a phenomenal educator.  She really cares about her students, and understands them in a way I don’t think the other characters on the show do.  I wish there were more episodes with her (and they need to bring back Lauren, Gweneth and Kristin Chennowith).

Another great aspect is the scope of gay male characters on the show: three main characters (plus a new Warbler who I can’t remember his name, but he’s a weasel trying to steal Blaine), Blaine, Kurt and Karovsky.

Kurt is the feminine, kind of flamboyant gay kid.  Blaine is dapper, boxes, and you wouldn’t know he was gay unless he said anything.  Karovsky was a bully, and it turned out it was self-hatred, him being closeted himself.  He left the school, but we’ve seen him since, and I think we’ll see him again.

I’m so glad there are lots of examples for varying types of gay men to see.  So often, gay men portrayed on network shows are most like Kurt.  We don’t get enough Blaines and Karovsky (after coming out, just being a gay football player).  And I think that that hurts the cause.  My next post is about my strange, diverse list of interests.  And many items don’t fit into the stereotypical gay interests.  So I think it’s important include gay guys from the whole spectrum, but then again, I’m not in charge of a television network.

All my best,

The King of Spades

Written: 1/16/2012

The Catholic Church (the church mind you, not most of the people that I know) has a special place in my heart for their continued hatred of my very existence, especially when coupled with their own misdeeds.

However, if you followed the Prop 8 battle in California, you probably kept hearing about the Mormon influence.  Millions and millions of dollars crossed over from Utah to fight marriage equality (and it worked, although it may ultimately lead us to a win at the Supreme Court with AFER at the helm, but time will tell).  “8,” is the documentary about the Mormon influence, and a lot has been written about the subject.

Prop 8 trial tracker writes about it:

I didn’t know much of anything about the Mormons until I got involved in gay rights advocacy. Then I noticed their name popping up time and again, reaching a culmination in their abominable support for Prop 8, which quite literally took rights away from millions of gay people. And to add salt to the wound, Prop 8 was going down until the Mormons stepped in and saved the day.

There’s a reason that some people have issues with Mormons. It’s because the Mormons have issues with us. The day the Mormon church stops being one of the largest purveyors of hate and bigotry in America today is the day the Mormons earn the right to complain about how they’re treated by their own victims.

It’s a tough issue, one of my favorite bosses was (I saw was since I no longer work for him, he’s still alive, and as far as I know, still Mormon) Mormon and he was incredibly fair to work with, and we have had fantastic conversations (he’s also a history/law professor, and very, very intelligent, so great to chat with).

So I always find it hard (with Mormons and Catholics) to separate how the organization views things with how my friends and acquaintances do.  I know it’s something I need to work on, but its a knee-jerk reaction to protect myself.

Update: This is still really hard for me, and something I work on, but it is so hard sometimes to separate the good people I know from the vile organizations they put their stock in.

All my best,

The King of Spades

Written: 1/16/2012

“Reparative” or “ex-gay” therapy is total bullshit.  It’s harmful, bigoted and preys on people’s irrational fear to make a buck while trying to indoctrinate children (and adults) that there is something wrong with them.

And to prove it, the head of Exodus International even knows that it’s bullshit.  Check it out here.

Remember, you can’t change your sexual orientation (although it may ebb and flow throughout your life, but you can’t do anything to force it), you were born that way and you’re exactly the way you should be.

All my best,

The King of Spades

Written: 1/16/2012

It’s a long article, but Dan Savage picks apart Santorum as he tries to backtrack and say that he is pro-LGBT rights.  Which is a laughable claim at best, but check it out, it’s a great read.

Update: Just remember folks, it’s not that Santorum hates you and wants you to disappear, it’s just a policy difference.  Enshrining hatred and bigotry into the Constitution doesn’t mean he hates you, nor does the reinstatement of DADT, stopping gay adoptions and forcing all gay married couples to divorce.  It’s just a policy difference.

All my best,

The King of Spades