Articles - John Corvino

Keep Talking

First published at 365gay.com on April 28, 2008 Back in the old days, there were those who supported gay rights and those who opposed them—vocally. There was also a third group whose opposition was so deep that they objected even to discussing the issue. For them, to debate gay rights would be to dignify depravity,… Continue reading Keep Talking

Class Dismissed

First published at 365gay.com on April 14, 2008 I’m sometimes criticized by fellow gay-rights advocates for being too accommodating towards our opponents. Why dignify gay-rights opponents with a response? The simple answer is that, like it or not, homosexuality is an issue on which many thoughtful and decent people disagree. Ignoring this disagreement won’t make… Continue reading Class Dismissed

The Sins of Sodom

First published at 365gay.com on March 31, 2008 Though it may sound perverse, I get excited whenever religious fundamentalists speak up during the Q&A portion of my public events. While fundamentalists are hardly a dying breed, they seldom participate in such functions. And though I find their silence generally pleasing, it does rob me of… Continue reading The Sins of Sodom

Sally Kern’s Free Speech

First published at 365gay.com on March 17, 2008 When Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern gave her now-infamous homophobic rant before a group of fellow Republicans, she remarked that “The very fact that I’m talking to you like this here today puts me in jeopardy.” It may have been the truest thing she said that day.… Continue reading Sally Kern’s Free Speech

Respecting Ex-Gays

First published at 365gay.com on March 3, 2008 People often ask me what I think about ex-gay ministries. I have no objection to them in principle, but serious problems with them in practice. I have no objection to them in principle because I believe we should give others the same respect that we ourselves demand.… Continue reading Respecting Ex-Gays

Gays on the Mezzanine

First published at 365gay.com on February 18, 2008 The late food critic Craig Claiborne used to tell a story of a woman who received a ham but didn’t own a saw. Although she had never cooked a whole ham, she knew that her mother always prepared hams for cooking by sawing off the end, and… Continue reading Gays on the Mezzanine

The Phelpses’ Logic (and Ours)

First published at 365gay.com on February 4, 2008 No one was surprised when the Phelpses announced plans to protest Heath Ledger’s memorial services. Known for their “God Hates Fags” message and their obnoxious funeral pickets—they now demonstrate against fallen American soldiers for defending our “doomed, fag-loving nation”—the Phelpses are nothing if not attention whores. What’s… Continue reading The Phelpses’ Logic (and Ours)

Are Our Opponents Like Segregationists?

First published at Between the Lines News on January 15, 2008 In terms of gay-rights progress, brace yourself for a difficult year. This is not because things are getting worse for gay and lesbian people. It’s because the national conversation on gay-rights issues is getting harder. One reason is that, as cliché as it sounds,… Continue reading Are Our Opponents Like Segregationists?

Bad Science I: Horny, but Not Human

First published at 365gay.com on January 7, 2008 When an article about “fruit flies” popped up on a gay website, at first I thought it was about straight women who gravitate toward gay men. (The other, uglier term for such women is “fag hag.”) Alas, the article was referring to actual insects, the annoying little… Continue reading Bad Science I: Horny, but Not Human

The Diversity Fallacy

First published at 365gay.com on December 10, 2007. I won’t have any transgender people at my Christmas party this year. Actually, I won’t have any non-transgender people either: I’m not hosting a party this Christmas. But in years past I’ve hosted many, and I’ve never had any transgender people attending, unless you count one former… Continue reading The Diversity Fallacy