First published at 365gay.com on August 21, 2009 A friend writes, “I’m coordinating a safe-space training at [an urban public university]. One participant stated that she felt she was a strong ally, but her religious beliefs dictate that homosexuality is a sin. What should I do? Can I deny her a safe-space sticker, or ask… Continue reading ‘Safe’ Doesn’t Mean ‘Shut Up’
Tag: ethics
The Right’s Immoral Take on Gay Marriage
First published at 365gay.com on August 14, 2009 Anyone who knows Jonathan Rauch will tell you he’s not a sappy, emotional sort of guy. Rauch, a senior writer for National Journal magazine and a contributing editor of The Atlantic, is known for his measured, logical (and occasionally quite witty) prose; those of us fortunate enough… Continue reading The Right’s Immoral Take on Gay Marriage
Robert George’s Reality
First published at 365gay.com on August 7, 2009 Robert George’s recent piece in the Wall Street Journal, “Gay Marriage, Democracy, and the Courts,” [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052970204619004574322084279548434.html] contains both sense and nonsense—but more of the latter. George, a Princeton professor of jurisprudence and founder of the American Principles Project, is a preeminent conservative scholar. In the op-ed, he… Continue reading Robert George’s Reality
Luxury vs. Charity
First published at Between the Lines News on July 9, 2009 Some years ago I attended a seminar on charitable giving in the GLBT community. The event was aimed toward affluent donors, and judging by the cars in the parking lot, it hit its target. (I drove an old Nissan at the time, and was… Continue reading Luxury vs. Charity
Coming Out Skeptical
First published at 365gay.com on June 19, 2009 I’m a big proponent of being out, not just about being gay, but about any personally significant trait whose revelation subverts problematic assumptions. For me, that includes being out as an atheist. “Atheist or agnostic?” I’m often asked. For practical purposes, I’m not sure that there’s much… Continue reading Coming Out Skeptical
Why it Matters that Adam Lambert Came Out
First published at 365gay.com on June 12, 2009 So, Adam Lambert comes out in the latest issue of Rolling Stone, and you’re thinking, “What’s next? Rolling Stone announces ‘Water is wet’”? I get where you’re coming from. But there are deeper lessons to be gleaned. First, notice how Lambert comes out—in a music magazine, with… Continue reading Why it Matters that Adam Lambert Came Out
That’s How I Was Raised
First published at Between the Lines News on June 11, 2009 A recent New York Times Magazine article spotlighted a shocking vestige of our nation’s racism: segregated proms. It focused on one school in Georgia’s Montgomery County, though the practice is common across the rural South. I say “shocking” even though I personally wasn’t surprised.… Continue reading That’s How I Was Raised
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