From the 'How-To-Invent-a-Snark-From-Practically-Nothing' file: The practically nothing is a throwaway line from the Chicago Sun-Times ( July 14 ) —quoted in full—'Nicole Kidman dislikes butterflies.' The snark? Tah, tah —is that why she divorced Tom Cruise?
From the 'Ronald-McDonald-Gay-Activist' file, the Chicago Tribune ( July 6 ) reports that The American Family Association, an anti-same-sex marriage group, is throwing a hissy fit because McDonald's joined the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and even put an exec on that group's board of directors. The AFA is calling for a boycott. Saying 'Fat Chance' is singularly appropriate.
From the 'Hissy-Fit II' file, the Mormon Church excommunicated Chad Hardy, who had created a 2008 calendar of shirtless Mormon ( male ) missionaries. The Chicago Tribune ( July 14 ) says the elders disciplined him by tossing him out. Gee, I guess Chad will have to lead a normal life without funny underwear now. Nineteenth-century Mormon ( male ) elders with their coteries of young pretty men would've handled this better, probably.
From the 'We're-Everywhere-Even-More' file, The Economist magazine ( July 5-11 ) has an article on the first gay pride events in India. There were parades in the cities of Delhi, Bangalor and Kolkata ( Calcutta ) June 29. Ancient India had no problem with alternatively sexed people—the problem is Victorian laws imposed by the British ( who went home but left anti-gay repressive laws ) . Many marchers were hijiras—eunuchs—who are cross-dressers who legally help celebrate ( other people's ) marriages in India. Some marchers, though, were gay people disguised as hijiras. A number of NGOs are petitioning Delhi's High Court to repeal the anti-gay laws. Many Indian gays run into the problem of their parents arranging marriages for them, which makes staying closeted even more difficult.
From the 'Go-Go Gandalf' file, gay actor Ian McKellen, together with gay American Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson, accused the Anglican Church in England and some leaders of Britain's armed forces and schools of homophobia: 'They root around in the Bible for the bits that seem to be relevant.' This from The Guardian ( July 12 ) . The two men will co-host a screening of the 2007 American documentary about homosexuality and religion, 'For the Bible Tells Me So.'
From the 'Rember-Judy-As-Dorothy-Forever' file, The New York Times ( July 17 ) says, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the movie The Wizard of Oz, Betsey Johnson, Jimmy Choo and 20 other designers are creating versions of the ruby slippers to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Watch out for a stampede from those 'Sex In The City' fashion maven ladies!
