Category: Articles

The Meaning of Transgender

First published at 365gay.com on April 15, 2011 A friend recently asked, “Do you ever have doubts about the whole transgender thing?” My friend has a habit of referring to anything she hasn’t wrapped her mind around as a “thing,” which has the unfortunate effect of making whatever it is sound like a trend or… Continue reading The Meaning of Transgender

Is There One ‘Real’ Kind of Gay Sex?

First published at 365gay.com on April 8, 2011 This column is about anal sex. So if you don’t like reading about such things, stop reading now. Many years ago I lived next door to a young born-again-Christian rock singer. (He probably would dislike reading about anal sex. Glad you’re still here, though.) While Jason strongly… Continue reading Is There One ‘Real’ Kind of Gay Sex?

Why I’m Proud that Detroit is my Home

First published at 365gay.com on March 25, 2011 I’ve been in Mexico for the last few weeks. I’ve met people from all over North America, who occasionally ask me where I’m from. In the past, such conversations have often gone like this: Me: “I’m from Detroit.” Stranger: “No, really, where are you from?” Me: “Detroit.”… Continue reading Why I’m Proud that Detroit is my Home

Are we Defined by our Sexuality?

First published at 365gay.com on March 18, 2011 Why does “love the sinner; hate the sin” ring so hollow in the gay-rights debate? One reason, as I’ve argued before [http://www.365gay.com/opinion/corvino-why-%E2%80%9Clove-the-sinner%E2%80%9D-rings-hollow/], is that part of loving the “sinner” is making an effort to understand him—something our opponents seldom do. If they did make that effort, it… Continue reading Are we Defined by our Sexuality?

Will Gay Marriage Undermine Monogamy?

First published at 365gay.com on March 11, 2011 Recently I received the following inquiry via my website [http://johncorvino.com/]: “As a single older closeted gay man. I don’t understand how we can ask for marriage rights when so many gay couples don’t even understand monogamy. Care to explain?” My first reaction was, “No, not really.” That… Continue reading Will Gay Marriage Undermine Monogamy?

Gay People Have Work to do

First published at 365gay.com on March 4, 2011 Let me begin with a huge Thank You to readers who weighed in thoughtfully on last week’s column [http://www.365gay.com/opinion/corvino-is-it-time-for-the-gay-moralist-to-retire/], which pondered the changing attitudes of audiences at my “Gay Moralist” lectures. Although I have a general policy of not chiming in on the comments thread—partly because of… Continue reading Gay People Have Work to do

Is it Time for the Gay Moralist to Retire?

First published at 365gay.com on February 25, 2011 It is a strange, challenging, and encouraging time for me as the Gay Moralist. For almost nineteen years I have been giving my talk “What’s Morally Wrong with Homosexuality?” at universities around the country. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SutThIFi24w&feature=player_embedded] I sometimes quip that the talk is old enough to vote, and… Continue reading Is it Time for the Gay Moralist to Retire?

Love, Partnership, and Valentine’s Day

First published at 365gay.com on February 11, 2011 When I floated the idea of writing a Valentine’s Day column, my friends’ reactions ran the gamut—from suggestions for themes (“Talk about what makes a successful relationship!”) to wariness (“Are you sure you want to reinforce this Hallmark holiday?”) to sheer disgust. (“Ugh. Please don’t.”) Either because… Continue reading Love, Partnership, and Valentine’s Day

Help a Hero

First published at 365gay.com on February 4, 2011 You may not know Frank Kameny’s name. You should. Frank Kameny has sometimes been called the “Rosa Parks” of the LGBT movement. Like most analogies, this one is imperfect. Parks’ civil disobedience was backed by an organized movement; Kameny had to forge a movement. Parks is in… Continue reading Help a Hero