Go, Katy, go!

When I first moved to San Francisco last year, I quickly became a fan of Katy St. Clair's "Bouncer" column in SF Weekly. This week's column starts with a sentence that, if I had not already been a fan, would have pushed me over the edge.

"I know scientists are working diligently to isolate the so-called 'gay gene,' but while they are at it, I hope that they can also pinpoint the part of a gay man's brain that likes shitty dance music."

I've been hoping the same thing for years now. BRAVA, girlfriend! From a boy in the Bay who does NOT like shitty dance music, and cringes every time Britney or Lady GayGay or any other cheesy, dialed-in dance-pop crap starts playing on the jukebox of any bar or club I happen to be marooned in, on those relatively rare occasions when I find myself so marooned.

Read Katy St. Clair's latest Bouncer column here.

Johnny Be Good!

Yesterday flipping through TV channels I noticed that the men's free skate was on NBC, airing live from Spokane - the competition that decides who goes to the Olympics in Vancouver next month! I immediately called my mother, who before I could say anything said, "I was hoping you'd call so I could tell you Johnny Weir is about to skate!" I said, "I know, that's why I called you!"

Johnny looked nervous and his performance was subdued compared to the more flamboyant things he's done in the past - it looked like he was playing it safe, and doing as many spins and jumps as he could to rack up points to make up for ones he'd previously lost. His costume was typically sparkly and fey, with tufts of white fox-fur lining the shoulders and along the arms. I understand he designs them himself. I love the unapologetic way he embraces the effeminacy of male figure skating rather than trying to butch it up. As he said in an interview,

I wear pink. I have no problem where my sport is as far as our fan base. Figure skating is theatrical, artistic; it’s elegant, it’s extremely athletic. There’s a very specific audience for that. I can say I don’t watch football games, so I don’t understand why a football fan would come to watch figure skating.

You go, boy! I'll even forgive you your Lady GaGa obsession. (I'm Just Not That Into Her.) And I'm definitely looking forward to watching what transpires on the ice in Vancouver in February. Chin up! You're a star, AND a champion.

I got the Weir quote above from this nice article from today's New York Times.

ALSO, Johnny's new program Be Good Johnny Weir premieres TONIGHT on the Sundance Channel at 10:30pm! Read more here.

Incidentally, my Mom's favorite sports to watch are figure skating and bull riding. How funny is that?

Not gaga for feminism

"I'm not a feminist. I hail men, I love men." So said Lady GaGa recently. I wasn't too into her before I read this quote. She strikes me as an obnoxious club kid pandering to the gay community as an easy way to build an instant support base. And reading this quote seems like a contrived way to stir up controversy, while at the same time revealing the mind of an ignorant youngster who doesn't really know what she's talking about. I realize my gender may preclude my having a relevant opinion on this subject, but is it not possible to be a feminist AND love men? In other words, to love women as well as men.

Of course it is.

Here's an interesting discussion on the topic from Bitch Magazine.