A political cartoon from the Chicago Sun-Times (6-19): A poster of Uncle Sam saying 'I want you,' next to a poster of a Canadian
mountie saying 'We always get our man,' both overlooking a newspaper machine headline 'Canada to OK gay marriages.'
From the 'Duh' file: The NY Times (6-22) reports on a Northwestern University study showing that men and women have different
sexual arousal patterns. Heterosexual and lesbian women were aroused by both male and female erotica. Men were much more
limited, according to their sexuality. Straight men liked to watch women and gay men liked to watch men: Nothing was implied along
the lines of 'Is this why women are more psychologically stable than men?'
From the 'Yet-Another-Sexual-Variety' file: The NY Times (6-22) announces the Metrosexual, a sexually straight (more-or-less)
male who enthusiastically embraces his femininity—getting pedicures, shopping for clothes, getting his hair done. 'America may be
on the verge of a metrosexual moment.'
Bravo is introducing a makeover show, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, which will transform a 'style-deficient and culture deprived
straight man from drab to fab.' American marketeers are trying out terms like 'PoMosexual,' 'just gay enough,' and 'flaming
heterosexual.' If nothing else it shows that homophobia is declining quickly among one segment of heterosexual men.
The Atlantic Monthly (6-03) in its primary sources column says that the Air Force Reserves, until last year, were still asking applicants
if they were homosexual or bisexual, a violation of the 'Don't Ask' policy. The same column says that military chaplains are not to be
trusted with gay confidentiality and that though the number of lesbian, gay and bisexual discharges is the lowest since 1996, it is still
averaging three a day.
The BBC (6-17) has an item for our 'Oh-Stop!' file: Wrigley's, the chewing gum company, has developed a viagra gum, but has no
plans—ha—to market it yet. Go Bid Red!
In Korea, The NY Times (6-21) tells us the times-they-are-a-changing: Dr. Kim Seok Kwan has introduced sex-change surgery to
this conservative country. Ha Ri Su, a sexy singer, actor, comedienne and model, was his first patient. She has encouraged the
shadowy spectrum of underground Korean 'trans' to live more openly. Even Kim's Presbyterian minister, initially opposed, has come
to support him. Says Kim: 'I've had other ministers and clergy approach me for the operation.'
