"Savage Love," Dan Savage's sex advice column, is working overtime on the "savage"-;in the Chicago Reader issue of 4/6, Dan devotes the whole shebang to lesbian love and why some women seem to be able to switch their sexuality to straight. The column starts with references to our loosest biological cousins, the bonobos ( miniature chimps ) and their lesbian relationships. Dan concludes, fortunately, that "dykes aren't chimps" but does agree that perhaps more women are bisexual than is readily apparent, which would account for possible switch-hitting.
The same issue of the Reader features a story on Chris Mazza, the controversial feminist writer who, in her 1997 book ChickLit @: No Chick Vics ticked off Congressman Peter Hoekstra with its depiction of various sexual practices, including lesbianism. He attempted to attack the NEA for its "obscene" works of art in supporting her. Her latest novel, Girl Beside Him, published by FC2, depicts sexual abuse of a child. The NEA was not cowed by Hoekstra and it has awarded several more grants to FC2.
The Chicago Sun-Times ( 3/21 ) reports on another annoyed politician-;Illinois House minority leader Lee Daniels—was put into a fictional scenario by Rep. Fack Franks ( D, Woodstock ) . Franks, speaking of HMOs, suggested that Daniels going in for a phalloplasty ( an operation to make his sexual organ longer ) got a lobotomy ( removal of the part of the brain to treat psychosis ) instead. One would be hard pressed, considering the general ability of the Illinois House to decide which operation would improve a legislator.
The News Hour with Jim Lehrer on Channel 11 ( 4/4 ) had an essay by openly gay commentator Richard Rodriguez on an exhibit at the International Center of Photography in New York. One hundred 19th century photos of men together are shown. These men hold hands, sit in each other's laps, have their heads on one another's shoulders. Rodriguez points out that at the very least, if these men are not gay, they are much more open with their affection than males today. Several images which stuck in the over-quick coverage: two men with their arms around each other sitting on a model crescent moon, and a picture of two friendly miners from Patterson, NJ, with this note scrawled across the bottom: "Best Regards to all the folks, but don't show this to anyone." There are historians who apparently believe gayness was a 20th century device that didn't exist in the 19th. Perhaps they should check out the letters between King Ludwig of Bavaria and Richard Wagner ( yes, that crazy king and that macho opera composer! ) .
The Chicago Sun-Times ( 4/6 ) reports the release in DVD of David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia along with four additional short features about the movie and/or Lawrence. It would be interesting to see whether any of the features even alludes to what the movie bent over backwards not to reveal: Lawrence's homosexuality. Should you wonder why the exposition gets a little fuzzy after Lawrence's "talk" with the Turkish commander, it's a rape scene which Lawrence's book, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, makes perfectly clear. If only for historical purposes, some anti-fuzzing would be appropriate.
The New York Times ( 4/4 ) reports that the contents of the Buckinghamshire, England estate of actor John Gielgud ( and his companion, Martin Henster ) were auctioned off recently. Their possessions included paintings, sculptures and much theatrical memorabilia. The money will go mainly to actors' charities with some to animal welfare organizations.
Planet Out News ( 4/5 ) reports ( from the Whose-Agenda-Is-This? Department ) that anti-gay groups are cheering a possible delay in the confirmation of gay-friendly Governor Paul Cellucci of Massachusetts nomination to be U.S. ambassador to Canada. He's not gay himself, only gay friendly! Homophobia spreads its poison.
The same post also reports an interesting story from Australia. One of their players resigned this weekend after being caught sticking his finger in opposing players' anuses during a match! The New Zealand Cancer Society used a photograph of one such incident to solicit contributions— without the permission of the player involved ( John Hopoate ) . John is straight—he just fingered his opponents butts to get them mad. The caption to the cancer ad said, in part, "If you have symptoms that you're concerned about, consult your local doctor. It won't hurt a bit— promise!" They don't promise that hunk John will do the exam, however.
Fixer Chao by Han Ong, reviewed in The New York Times ( 4/5 ) , features a gay Filipino hustler who takes satirical aim at Feng Shui horror movies ( starring Godzilla-sized pigeons ) , short African-American cabaret singers, the theater, and talkshow wisdom. Sounds a bit cartoonish but fun.
And since cartoons come at the end, has anyone caught that juice commercial on TV that has Popeye and Bluto making friends, getting tattooed together, and leaving Olive Oyl to go off into the sunset together?
Jim's e-mail address: daunsenbere@prodigy.net