Between the Lines; Livonia

Pride 2011: Looking Forward, Looking Back

In this month of LGBT Pride, we have much to celebrate, yet still face many challenges. Since the Stonewall uprising in June 1969, our community has made great strides toward overcoming a long history of legal discrimination and societal prejudice. Many members of our community were not yet born in 1969 and have benefited enormously from the heroic actions of early LGBT pioneers.

Small Towns, Deep Closets

So you're getting kind of a creepy picture aren't you? You're picturing a very confused populace who think that having sex with other men doesn't make them gay. You're picturing a lot of residents who don't want to admit they're gay. And you're seeing the absurdities that permeate a town when the majority clearly wants to keep those not sharing their sexual persuasion under their thumb, neither seen nor heard, and without the same rights as they enjoy.

When Gender Matters

Take Mitch Albom, whose inspirational confections like "Tuesdays with Morrie" suggest an author with some human sensitivity. Apparently that sensitivity evaporates where gender nonconformity is involved. In his syndicated column, Albom responds with a transgender-phobic, intersex-ignorant screed, reducing the complexity of gender to what's "evident in the first pee pee" and describing gender-reassignment surgery as asking a doctor to "mangle" one's private parts.

The Great Bumpkin Recounts!

What's this world coming to when we can't trust those who have a pipeline to the Big Trio Upstairs? I, for one, don't mind a little white lie now and then, but, for Gee-Whiz sake, when May 21, "That's All There Is Folks!" turns out to be a Jonah-andthe-Whale whopper, it's enough to make one lose faith in the fundygelical experts.

American Family Association

Not only is June time to come out of the closet, it's time to haul out all of your rainbow paraphernalia. Hang that flag from your porch. Slap that colorful cowboy decal on your window. Bust out the "I'm not gay but my boyfriend is" t-shirt or the one that says, "Chapstick lesbian." Put that rainbow dog collar on your beagle and walk him on his rainbow leash. If you're really serious, pin a pink triangle to your lapel.

Till the World Ends

During his set, I listen to Skip strum his guitar, but I'm not thinking of chords. Rather, I'm tuned into my very own discord. Maybe I don't know how to relate to the world. At times, I feel left behind even without the Rapture. I just can't comprehend the actions of others. How is it that we can ask for sex over a phone but we can't ask for a date in person? What's more embarrassing?