johncorvino - John Corvino

Adam Lambert’s “Loss”

First published at 365gay.com on May 22, 2009 At the risk of stating the obvious, let me say that Adam Lambert is going to be just fine. I’ll say it anyway because, barely minutes after Kris Allen was announced as the “upset” winner of American Idol, my Facebook feed was loaded with status updates declaring… Continue reading Adam Lambert’s “Loss”

Growing Older, Gratefully

First published at Between the Lines News on May 21, 2009 This column hits the internet on the eve of my fortieth birthday. Forgive a middle-aged columnist for indulging in some reminiscing. Little reminders of my age keep creeping up, like the fact that I had to re-word the last sentence after initially writing “This… Continue reading Growing Older, Gratefully

Hoping for a Warmer Mother’s Day

First published at 365gay.com on May 9, 2009 Sunday will be Mother’s Day, and I’ll be thinking about various mothers in my life. My own mother, with whom I have a great relationship. She and my father live in another state and will be coming to visit me several days later. My two grandmothers, who… Continue reading Hoping for a Warmer Mother’s Day

Gay Marriage and The Bigot Card

First published at 365gay.com on May 1, 2009 Maggie Gallagher at the National Organization for Marriage—producers of the unintentionally hilarious “Gathering Storm” ad—has been mentioning “footnote 26” of the Iowa marriage decision quite a bit lately. For example, she tells conservative blogger Rod Dreher that same-sex marriage requires “the rejection of the idea that children… Continue reading Gay Marriage and The Bigot Card

Miss California’s country

First published at Between the Lines News on April 30, 2009 So a contestant for what is in large measure a popularity contest says something unpopular and doesn’t win. Why am I having a hard time getting worked up over this? I’m talking about Carrie Prejean, Miss California USA, who when asked by Miss USA… Continue reading Miss California’s country

Gathering Storm

First published at Between the Lines News on April 23, 2009 Leave it to the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) to try to rain on our parade. I’m talking about NOM’s “Gathering Storm” ad [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp76ly2_NoI] , in which various characters warn that recent gay-rights victories are threatening their fundamental liberties: “There’s a storm gathering. The… Continue reading Gathering Storm

A “Gay” Spring

First published at 365gay.com on April 10, 2009 Spring arrived for gays this year, not with daffodils and cherry blossoms, but with Iowa and Vermont. First Iowa, where the state Supreme Court unanimously struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. (Don’t adjust your screen. The words “Iowa” and “unanimously” are really in that sentence.)… Continue reading A “Gay” Spring

The Trouble with Common Ground

First published at 365gay.com on April 4, 2009 Readers of this column occasionally complain that I’m too nice to our enemies. They may have a point. I’m an easygoing person by nature. It’s not a deliberate strategy; it’s just who I am. Most of the time, the trait serves me well, though there are times… Continue reading The Trouble with Common Ground

Transgender Day of Visibility

First published at Between the Lines News on April 2, 2009 March 31 is Transgender Day of Visibility. I’m supposed to participate in a panel that day. I’m a bit apprehensive. Like many gay people, I tend to tiptoe around transgender issues. This surprises some straight people I know. They say, “But as a GLBT… Continue reading Transgender Day of Visibility

Why Not Plural Marriage?

First published at 365gay.com on March 23, 2009 Recent discussions of various civil-union proposals have revived some familiar questions, including “Why limit such recognition to couples, as opposed to larger groups?” and “Why limit it to romantic/sexual couples, as opposed to other interdependent relationships?” Such questions come from various quarters, including both friends and foes… Continue reading Why Not Plural Marriage?