Story: Mages of the North: Unit Disagreement
Author:
Rating: NC-17 Overall
Warning/Themes: Slavery, past magical rape, past war, recovery from those events, magical mental and physical enslavement, regular physical enslavement, ample sex of the fluffy and loving variety, and fame being less than a positive thing in people’s lives.
Word Count: Approx 3530 words
Summary: Escaping from their rapidly growing reputations after killing the Immortals (in Secrets of the Artificer Mages)) Juraj and Besim flee to the Northern Wastes to reunite with the friends Besim left behind as well as to investigate the strange magical force they felt from the Forbidden Islands during the final battle. Once there they find that things have changed for the worse for their friends, starting from when a mind-destroyed young man arrived among the Wanderers. Juraj and Besim decide to save him despite the dangers and risks surrounding them. It turns out to be a choice that will test their magical knowledge, their relationship and their ability to survive to the very limit.
Feedback: Comments (even if it’s just that you read) are much loved and concrit is much appreciated!
Previous Chapters: Beginning Again | Panic Attack | Charm Mage | Northern Wastes | Lost Boy | Broken Bridge | Mysterious Runes | Children of the Source

Story: Mages of the North: Children of the Source
Rating: NC-17 Overall
Warning/Themes: Slavery, past magical rape, past war, recovery from those events, magical mental and physical enslavement, regular physical enslavement, ample sex of the fluffy and loving variety, and fame being less than a positive thing in people’s lives.
Word Count: Approx 3730 words
Summary: Escaping from their rapidly growing reputations after killing the Immortals (in Secrets of the Artificer Mages)) Juraj and Besim flee to the Northern Wastes to reunite with the friends Besim left behind as well as to investigate the strange magical force they felt from the Forbidden Islands during the final battle. Once there they find that things have changed for the worse for their friends, starting from when a mind-destroyed young man arrived among the Wanderers. Juraj and Besim decide to save him despite the dangers and risks surrounding them. It turns out to be a choice that will test their magical knowledge, their relationship and their ability to survive to the very limit.
Feedback: Comments (even if it’s just that you read) are much loved and concrit is much appreciated!
Previous Chapters: Beginning Again | Panic Attack | Charm Mage | Northern Wastes | Lost Boy | Broken Bridge | Mysterious Runes

(Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images)

White People Mourning Romney has been making the rounds on Facebook. It could easily be called Women Mourning Romney, which highlights the fact that one’s sex/gender doesn’t determine one’s views on gender equality. That should be a no-brainer but it’s often misunderstood.

It’s still pretty shocking though to see women so devastated that such an openly anti-woman party isn’t running their country (you can check out Romney’s personal statements on women’s issues here). The Republicans made the War on Women a central part of their campaign afterall, it’s not like these ladies can plead ignorance about it. So what gives? Why would any woman mourn Romney?

There are four broad categories these female Romney supporters may fall into:

1. They’re actually sexist/misogynist.

Some women really are anti-woman, and support the Republican War on Women with open eyes. This goes back to what I was saying about gender/sex not determining one’s views on gender equality- there are plenty of sexist and misogynist women out there who really do believe women are inferior and deserve lesser rights. Clementine Ford has written a handy summary of the top five misogynist/sexist claims that will help you to spot this hateful illogic no matter whose lips it’s pouring from. Much of it will no doubt sound very familiar when you think of certain public figures…

As to why on earth any woman would be sexist against women, there’s at least one explanation: internalized oppression and strategy for personal gain. The latter is hypocritical and short-sighted to be sure (also potentially sociopathic), but comes up time and again. When the world is a boy’s club, being the token girl can feel powerful. You get special privileges (you can have a job or run for office even as you preach that other women are wrong to do so), and a feeling of acceptance within the ruling clique. Combined with internalized oppression that reassures you this is the culture as it should be, it can all be very intoxicating. Basically, it’s having your cake and eating it too: reinforcing a system of oppression that keeps others down while enjoying privilege and status for yourself.

2. A combination of other prejudices.

It wasn’t just equality for women on the table in this election. Racism and anti-LGBT pushes also reared their ugly heads, and for some women the idea of letting two men get married or a black man retain the presidency of the United States was intolerable. Maybe for some it was so unbearable a thought that giving up their own human rights was worth it just to keep others down (we do have that expression about cutting off your nose to spite your face). On the other hand, an emphatic bigot is generally not a critical thinker and is apt to have more than one prejudice. It’s not hard to imagine that a woman who believes a non-white president will usher in the apocalypse is likewise a passionate believer in socially conservative views on gender and sex.

3. A double whammy of internalized oppression and ignorance about women’s rights.

Unlike the ladies in category #1, these women would never say something blatantly misogynist. They don’t believe women are inferior exactly… but they do believe a number of sexist things. In a culture where sexism is endemic and institutional, where you grow up immersed in inequality that manifests as the norm, it can be hard to see the injustice. If you’re never encouraged to think critically about the culture and women’s rights, then it’s easy to continue accepting sexist/misogynist policies and dialogue as untouchable truths.

This actually gives me a lot of hope. In the years since I decided to start speaking up about sexism and misogyny I’ve been contacted by numerous women (and men for that matter) who’ve just begun to question the prejudice that informs many of our cultural ideas. I’ve seen a whole lot of “hey… yeah that is unfair” moments that highlight just how important public discussion of these issues is. When we talk about social injustice it’s easy to feel pessimistic about humanity, but my experience tells me it’s more a matter of education than ill will.

4. The faux-feminism the far-Right has been spouting.

Jessica Valenti has an excellent breakdown of faux-feminism that explains it all better than any summary I could give. True, it’s an older article (2010) focused mainly on Sarah Palin, but the phenomenon is one we still see. It’s a smart tactic for any person or party that wants to push anti-woman policies and yet needs women’s votes to succeed. As Valenti explains:

“[C]onservatives are trying to sell anti-women policies shrouded in pro-women rhetoric.

“Several years ago, when antiabortion protesters realized that screaming “Murderer!” at women wasn’t winning hearts and minds, they launched more palatable campaigns claiming that abortion hurts women — their new protest signs read “Women Deserve Better.” (Not surprisingly, this message is much more effective than spitting invective at emotionally vulnerable women.)

“When members of the conservative Independent Women’s Forum argue against efforts to address pay inequity, they say the salary gap is a result of women’s informed choices — motherhood, for example — and that claims of discrimination turn women into victims. Conservatives have realized that women respond to seemingly feminist arguments.”

It’s a tactic that shouldn’t work, but owing to both ignorance and the disinformation backlash against women’s rights and feminism, it too often does. Thinking back to those women in the third category above, it isn’t hard to see how the anti-woman far-Right persuades some otherwise intelligent and compassionate female voters. Let’s just hope that it’s primarily the latter two categories responsible for these pics of sad Republican women, and not the former two.

Update: This article now includes a link to Romney’s personal statements regarding women’s issues during the campaign.

Story: Mages of the North: Mysterious Runes
Author:
Rating: NC-17 Overall
Warning/Themes: Slavery, past magical rape, past war, recovery from those events, magical mental and physical enslavement, regular physical enslavement, ample sex of the fluffy and loving variety, and fame being less than a positive thing in people’s lives.
Word Count: Approx 3570 words
Summary: Escaping from their rapidly growing reputations after killing the Immortals (in Secrets of the Artificer Mages)) Juraj and Besim flee to the Northern Wastes to reunite with the friends Besim left behind as well as to investigate the strange magical force they felt from the Forbidden Islands during the final battle. Once there they find that things have changed for the worse for their friends, starting from when a mind-destroyed young man arrived among the Wanderers. Juraj and Besim decide to save him despite the dangers and risks surrounding them. It turns out to be a choice that will test their magical knowledge, their relationship and their ability to survive to the very limit.
Feedback: Comments (even if it’s just that you read) are much loved and concrit is much appreciated!
Previous Chapters: Beginning Again | Panic Attack | Charm Mage | Northern Wastes | Lost Boy | Broken Bridge

Story: Mages of the North: Broken Bridge
Author:
Rating: NC-17 Overall
Warning/Themes: Slavery, past magical rape, past war, recovery from those events, magical mental and physical enslavement, regular physical enslavement, ample sex of the fluffy and loving variety, and fame being less than a positive thing in people’s lives.
Word Count: Approx 3140 words
Summary: Escaping from their rapidly growing reputations after killing the Immortals (in Secrets of the Artificer Mages)) Juraj and Besim flee to the Northern Wastes to reunite with the friends Besim left behind as well as to investigate the strange magical force they felt from the Forbidden Islands during the final battle. Once there they find that things have changed for the worse for their friends, starting from when a mind-destroyed young man arrived among the Wanderers. Juraj and Besim decide to save him despite the dangers and risks surrounding them. It turns out to be a choice that will test their magical knowledge, their relationship and their ability to survive to the very limit.
Feedback: Comments (even if it’s just that you read) are much loved and concrit is much appreciated!
Previous Chapters: Beginning Again | Panic Attack | Charm Mage | Northern Wastes | Lost Boy

Story: Mages of the North: Lost Boy
Author:
Rating: NC-17 Overall
Warning/Themes: Slavery, past magical rape, past war, recovery from those events, magical mental and physical enslavement, regular physical enslavement, ample sex of the fluffy and loving variety, and fame being less than a positive thing in people’s lives.
Word Count: Approx 3630 words
Summary: Escaping from their rapidly growing reputations after killing the Immortals (in Secrets of the Artificer Mages)) Juraj and Besim flee to the Northern Wastes to reunite with the friends Besim left behind as well as to investigate the strange magical force they felt from the Forbidden Islands during the final battle. Once there they find that things have changed for the worse for their friends, starting from when a mind-destroyed young man arrived among the Wanderers. Juraj and Besim decide to save him despite the dangers and risks surrounding them. It turns out to be a choice that will test their magical knowledge, their relationship and their ability to survive to the very limit.
Feedback: Comments (even if it’s just that you read) are much loved and concrit is much appreciated!
Previous Chapters: Beginning Again | Panic Attack | Charm Mage | Northern Wastes

Story: Mages of the North: Northern Wastes
Author:
Rating: NC-17 Overall
Warning/Themes: Slavery, past magical rape, past war, recovery from those events, magical mental and physical enslavement, regular physical enslavement, ample sex of the fluffy and loving variety, and fame being less than a positive thing in people’s lives.
Word Count: Approx 3475 words
Summary: Escaping from their rapidly growing reputations after killing the Immortals (in Secrets of the Artificer Mages)) Juraj and Besim flee to the Northern Wastes to reunite with the friends Besim left behind as well as to investigate the strange magical force they felt from the Forbidden Islands during the final battle. Once there they find that things have changed for the worse for their friends, starting from when a mind-destroyed young man arrived among the Wanderers. Juraj and Besim decide to save him despite the dangers and risks surrounding them. It turns out to be a choice that will test their magical knowledge, their relationship and their ability to survive to the very limit.
Feedback: Comments (even if it’s just that you read) are much loved and concrit is much appreciated!
Previous Chapters: Beginning Again | Panic Attack | Charm Mage

Story: Mages of the North: Charm Mage

Rating:  NC-17 Overall

Warning/Themes:  Slavery, past magical rape, past war, recovery from those events, magical mental and physical enslavement, regular physical enslavement, ample sex of the fluffy and loving variety, and fame being less than a positive thing in people’s lives.

Word Count: Approx 3700 words

Summary:  Escaping from their rapidly growing reputations after killing the Immortals (in Secrets of the Artificer Mages) Juraj and Besim flee to the Northern Wastes to reunite with the friends Besim left behind as well as to investigate the strange magical force they felt from the Forbidden Islands during the final battle. Once there they find that things have changed for the worse for their friends, starting from when a mind-destroyed young man arrived among the Wanderers. Juraj and Besim decide to save him despite the dangers and risks surrounding them. It turns out to be a choice that will test their magical knowledge, their relationship and their ability to survive to the very limit.

Feedback:  Comments (even if it’s just that you read) are much loved and concrit is much appreciated!

Previous Chapters:  Beginning Again | Panic Attack

Story: Mages of the North: Panic Attack
Rating:  NC-17

Warning/Themes:  Slavery, past magical rape, past war, recovery from those events, magical mental and physical enslavement, regular physical enslavement, ample sex of the fluffy and loving variety, and fame being less than a positive thing in people’s lives.

Word Count: Approx x words
Summary:  Escaping from their rapidly growing reputations after killing the Immortals (in Secrets of the Artificer Mages) Juraj and Besim flee to the Northern Wastes to reunite with the friends Besim left behind as well as to investigate the strange magical force they felt from the Forbidden Islands during the final battle. Once there they find that things have changed for the worse for their friends, starting from when a mind-destroyed young man arrived among the Wanderers. Juraj and Besim decide to save him despite the dangers and risks surrounding them. It turns out to be a choice that will test their magical knowledge, their relationship and their ability to survive to the very limit.

Feedback:  Comments (even if it’s just that you read) are much loved and concrit is much appreciated!
Previous Chapters:  Beginning Again

Story: Mages of the North: Beginning Again

Rating:  NC-17 Overall

Warning/Themes: Slavery, past magical rape, past war, recovery from those events, magical mental and physical enslavement, regular physical enslavement, ample sex of the fluffy and loving variety, and fame being less than a positive thing in people’s lives.

Word Count: Approx 3740 words

Summary:  Escaping from their rapidly growing reputations after killing the Immortals Secrets of the Artificer Mages Juraj and Besim flee to the Northern Wastes to reunite with the friends Besim left behind as well as to investigate the strange magical force they felt from the Forbidden Islands during the final battle. Once there they find that things have changed for the worse for their friends, starting from when a mind-destroyed young man arrived among the Wanderers. Juraj and Besim decide to save him despite the dangers and risks surrounding them. It turns out to be a choice that will test their magical knowledge, their relationship and their ability to survive to the very limit.

Feedback:  Comments (even if it’s just that you read) are much loved and concrit is much appreciated!

All Chapters will be forward and back linked as the story goes up. I hope everyone enjoys this one!

You know, the ‘why this?’ question. Why in the world are you writing erotica? Gay erotica, for that matter. Why would you waste your time writing something like that when you could write something with more meaning, something that lasts longer, that has a real impact on people?

I really, really, really don’t want to have that conversation with my mom.

I’m not ashamed of what I write. I enjoy writing erotica and enjoy putting it out there for people to read. What I don’t enjoy is having to justify it to people that I care about. It’s one thing when someone over the internet scoffs at you for having written smut but when it’s a person who really means something to you it is much harder. Eventually I will have to have the conversation. I know that and I think I’m fairly well prepared for it.

So why do I write erotica?

Because sex is a window into people’s hearts and minds. It lets you see so much more deeply into the soul than you can through people’s public actions. When I write about people having sex, no matter what sort of sex they’re having, it lets me touch on their deepest emotions, most important motivations. The story gets to address all the conflicted emotions that we get around what we like and who we love. When a story fades to black before the clothes come off I feel like I’m missing something important.

I write erotica because it makes me happy. There are so many stories that I would like to read that just don’t exist. It’s hard to find stories that I love about gay characters, about people of color, about fantasy worlds and non-humans and incredible events. After a certain point in time I stopped looking for other people’s versions of what I wanted and began to write my own. At least if I write the story I know I’ll get all my fiction kinks hit. Having my own erotica that covers the issues I care about, that hits the kinks I love, makes me incredibly happy.

Erotica makes other people happy. There is of course the obvious happiness that comes from getting hot and bothered from a good kinky story but there’s a deeper happiness in my opinion. Fiction reflects us, or it should. When we read something that hits a kink squarely and treats it with respect that’s a validation that’s frequently missing from the real world. So few people that I know truly accept their sexual selves. Writing stories where kink is accepted, where being gay is okay, where other forms of families besides one man and one woman are all right is my way of validating all those things.

It matters when people see themselves depicted in fiction in positive ways. Erotica might be intended for casual consumption but it something that people read for more than just the obvious reasons. I feel that erotica is something lasting. It does have real meaning. The erotica that I’ve read in the past has had a real impact on me as a person and as a writer. It might not be an impact that I can discuss openly but it’s every bit as powerful and as real as a more ‘serious’ novel might be.

Writing has power. While I might not want to have that discussion with my mother, I like to think that when it finally happens I’ll be ready for the talk. Until then I’ll keep avoiding the subject and writing my stories. Because in the final analysis the answer to ‘why this’ is always going to be ‘because I want to’ and there’s not much that anyone can say to that.

What is it? Characters who aren’t straight who are treated respectfully.

This is so darn rare in movies and TV, also in a lot of books. It’s much more common in fandom, which is one of the things I really like about fandom. I can find the non-straight characters that I love so much. Unfortunately, when I go looking for similar representation in mainstream media it just isn’t there.

There may be a single gay character but they’re never given a proper romantic arc. They’re not fully realized with lives and families and motivations of their own. It feels as though they’re just shoved into the story to allow the people running the show to mark off that check box that says ‘gay representation’. That might be a bit harsh but that is generally how it feels to me.

I try to do better than that in my stories. You see, I’m bisexual, edging towards pansexual. I ended up married to a man but I dated far more women. So seeing myself represented in the stories I create and consume is very important to me. Seeing the people I know represented is just as important. I want asexuals and lesbians and gay men and people who are queer. I want trans* people there, open and to have their society be okay with them.

Not all societies are okay with gender and sexual variation even in my own stories but I do try to always have some inclusion, some emphasis on the fact that it is not only possible to be non-straight, it’s perfectly okay. It’s good in fact.

Having that representation is better than good, it’s necessary. I don’t like lectures, either giving them or receiving them but being able to see yourself in a story, no matter what the format is, is an incredibly powerful experience. There were a few stories in my youth that did that and I’ll always treasure them for it. I really hope that someday my stories can make other people feel included, present, validated.

It’s one of the best feelings in the world. I can only hope that our entertainment media catches up to our society and there are all the non-straight characters in stories that there are in the world.

“Oh my god! It’s gaymercon! It’s the end of the world! It’s the antichrist! Make it stop!”

In which I question the logic of the heterosexual gaming community for freaking out over an event that doesn’t even apply to them.

Support and learn more about Gaymercon here: http://gaymercon.org/

Well, folks, it looks like the true colors of the so-called “gay rights” activists are being revealed once again. But, quite unlike the dazzling, glittery display of rainbow colors the roads are splattered in after one of their rip-roaring “pride” parades (as if you can be “proud” of something that is supposedly outside of your grasp), it’s not exactly the prettiest sight in the world.

And what, precisely, has motivated them to take to the streets, bang their upside-down pink triangle drums with fervor, and gallop all over town saddled on their sparkly unicorns and Barbie Doll coaches?  The president of Chick Fil-A, it seems, has ruffled their feathers. (And for those of you who’ve been living under a rock: Chick Fil-A sells first-class chicken sandwiches – mostly in the country bumpkin south, but with a few restaurants here and there throughout these fruited plains of ours.)

So, what did Dan Cathy – Chic Fil-A’s proud president and self-avowed conservative Christian – say that was so … offensive to the sensibilities of these so-called champions of “diversity” and “tolerance?” Why, he didn’t – gasp! – tow the Officially Approved Line of Opinion™ on marriage. In fact, he kinda sorta agrees with most dictionaries’ interpretation of the term. You know, the one that says marriage is the union of a man and woman in Holy Matrimony and, well … that’s the end of it. He doesn’t really see gays getting hitched as something to twirl in a pirouette à la seconde over. Uh-oh. I think he just committed, like, one of the gravest offenses ever imaginable. That sacrilegious freethinker! To the purple-starred, My Little Pony dungeon with him!

Before I go any further, I just want to make one thing clear: I don’t agree with what Dan said about gay marriage. I’m kind of on, well … the “queerish” side of things myself, being bisexual and all. And, I’m not exactly Mr. Stoic Alpha Dude. All the Hello Kitty pictures plastered on my wall, Powerpuff Girls DVDs, and glossy bead-adorned bracelets are testament to that. Skittles!

But who am I to cast off all conflicting viewpoints as heretical thought crimes unbefitting of modern political discourse? There’s always civil dialogue to be had about the things we don’t always see eye to eye on, and the only reason anyone would want to shut out opposing views is because they’re insecure about their own beliefs. If you truly believe, in your heart of hearts, that you are right, there’s no need to fear a feisty intellectual challenge now and again. But if you know you’re standing on a weak and frail foundation with your arguments, you’d understandably want to portray your “adversaries” as unspeakable Ministers of Hate™. Those who know they’re preaching the truth should have the courage of their convictions, to debate their opponents on the philosophical battlefield – not cower in fear and run away at the first sign of confrontation.

And what kind of close-minded uptown elitist thinks the “traditional” view of marriage only refers to making the wedding chapel hetero-exclusive territory? Turn off your Lady Gaga playlists for a second and read Cathy’s actual quote before rushing to scribble devil horns over a photo of him you printed off the Internet. When Cathy quips that so many of his staff members are still married to their first wives, and that he thanks the Good Lord above for that, he’s also condemning no-fault divorce and the breakdown of the family unit that it has spawned. Does that mean he hates, like, half the couples who marry and end up calling it quits only a few weeks in? (Okay, well, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but you get my point.) No, but it does mean he holds the personal belief that it’s best for them to do everything in their power to rekindle the flames, to keep it together before saying to hell with it so rashly, as so many have done. When a bride and groom say “Till Death Do Us Part,” it shouldn’t be a mere symbolic gesture that your mean old uncle snickers at in the pews because he knows it’s a bunch of hooey. It should be a serious commitment that you keep your word to uphold.

And I’m pretty sure it means that we shouldn’t be marrying barnyard critters and fifty-five people at once. That’s pretty much something everybody can agree on.

How Dare You Take Offense To Me Parading In the Streets with Nothing But a Thong (and Making Out with My Gay Lover Right In Front of Your Kids)? Bigot!

“Bigot” isn’t a word that should be thrown around like just another name you would call your mother-in-law during a family dispute about which house you’re going to open presents at Christmas morning, or a silly name you would tease your friends with during a game of schoolyard tag. (“Na-na-na-na. You can’t catch me … bigot!”) No, it means much more than simply opposing somebody lifestyle’s choices as “immoral” or having certain standards about what constitutes a valid marriage. It’s not something you would use lightly, in front of anyone who so much as squirms uncomfortably when you, like, tear off your lesbian girlfriend or gay boy toy’s shirt on the couch and slobber all over that person or something.

If Cathy had called for, say, pinning down gays to telephone wires with ropes, strapping giant boulders to the end, and chucking them in a river, that would be “bigotry.” If Cathy had called for stoning them to death, as many radical Islamist nations do to their gays, that would be bigotry as well. If Cathy had sent a letter to Congress asking them to start laying the groundwork for a step-by-step “faggot-dyke” deportation program, that, too, would represent an irrational prejudice on his part. We’d all toss and turn in our beds at night if he chopped up their guts and organs with a seven-pound axe and mixed it together in a stew for his own sick, twisted pleasure. If he had said something like, “Everyone take a chainsaw and decapitate the first dude who so much as speaks with a phony, manufactured lisp!” we would be right to call him a bigot. If he had done any of these things, as a matter of fact, the vitriol and animosity expressed by these rank-and-file activists so far would be justified, and they would be right to boycott Chick Fil-A. I would back them every step of the way if that were the case.

But there is no evidence whatsoever – zero to speak of – that Cathy, who was only sharing his own personal viewpoint on the matter, has discriminated against gay customers or job applicants in any way. He has never refused to serve someone because they were gay. He has never denied somebody an over-the-counter job or managerial position because they were they gay. In fact, the company will attest that, despite whatever views its employees or franchise owners have, discrimination against any group of people – black, white, gay, straight, man, woman, or pink with purple polka dots – will not be tolerated.

Progressives would surely be surprised to learn that members of a Chicago branch actually hold fundraisers in support of LGBT “rights.” It would be pure stupidity from even a competitive standpoint to say something like “get the Hell of out here” as soon as a rainbow-shirted chick holding hands with her pierced-from-head-to-toe butch girlfriend made their way to the cash register. Even gay marriage opponents would cringe at that sort of treatment.

Dan Cathy is anything but a hate-filled bigot. Sure, he reserves the opinion that two people with the same set of body parts between their legs don’t belong at the altar, holding hands before a priest or Las Vegas lad wearing an Elvis costume, exchanging vows and preparing to say, “I Do.” But you won’t see him vilifying those he disagrees with as the spawn of Mum-ra or wishing for the Good Lord to clog up their arteries or something. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the noisy, drum-banging rabble-rousers who pervade the ranks of Progressive “gay rights” activism – by no means a representation of all the community has to offer.

Breaking News, Everyone! Chick Fil-A’s Spokesman Has Passed Away. Lets All Take This Moment to … Have a Good ‘Ol Fashioned Sadistic Chuckle. Take That, Grieving Friends and Family!

Not only are queer Democratic diehards respectfully shaking their heads in disagreement and voicing their blazing, passionate opposition to what Cathy believes, which is their God-given right, but they’re also promoting an abhorrence of the man the likes of which has yet to be seen for most defenders of “traditional,” heterosexual marriage. A not-too-trifling portion of them seem to want him thrown from a tower hanging above the clouds and his bones crushed upon impact. And if they’re not wishing it, they’re at least gleefully fantasizing about it.

When tragic news broke out that Chic Fil-A spokesman and VP executive Don Perry – the pleasant voice you hear before a wholesome PBS kids cartoon on the company’s advertising slot– croaked from a heart attack, left-wing “gay rights” activists almost instantaneously began throwing around the most vile slurs imaginable. They immediately seized upon this untimely death to piss on the dude’s grave by making sick, twisted jokes about him getting his divinely-ordained “just deserts” for his boss’ non-profane, perfectly non-threatening statements – and his refusal to speak out against it, as if mere silence on this issue means you like to burn rag dolls of Elton John and Sara Gilbert in effigy when no one is looking.

“God hates homophobes,” one Tweet “fearlessly” proclaimed. One comedian said, well of course bigotry is stressful. Countless others took this opportunity to have rude fun at the deceased’s expense saying things like, “God’s coming after all you assholes,” and that some form of karmic retribution was culpable for his demise. Cathy’s statements do not even remotely come close to this unacceptable level of moral righteousness and hate directed toward a single group of people because of the views they subscribe to or the way they choose to live their lives.

You’re Under Arrest For … Hurting My Feelings

But this is what is happening to Cathy, who’s only crime was one of thought – a commonly held belief that has held steadfast for over three millennia and is shared by people of more faiths than you can count on one hand. Opposition to it in history has been nearly universal, sometimes inexcusably bigoted and to the point of actually excluding those who intermingle, lock lips, and rough house under the bed sheets with the same sex – and sometimes not. Yes, bigotry still exists today, however, and those who slay or massacre innocent gays and lesbians simply by virtue of the way they choose to express themselves should be roundly condemned and held accountable for their sickening and distasteful acts. Gay bullying is still a problem in our schools.

Nevertheless, it is possible for someone to view homosexuality as a Biblically sinful lifestyle without actually wanting to hook gays up to a torture device or even just write them off as friend material. The very same principle applies to divorced couples, chronic adulterers, former pick-pocketers, binge drinkers, gambling addicts, and porn watchers, all of whom are engaging in unspeakably immoral behaviors in the eyes of many Christians.

Uh-Oh … Their CEO Prefers New Moon to Breaking Dawn. Guess I Won’t Be Shopping There Anymore.

Self-proclaimed, rainbow-waving acolytes everywhere are sounding the battle drums for a nationwide boycott of the fast food chain – which, although perfectly legal and within these folks’ rights, is over-the-top PC drivel. This bizarre notion that we should refuse to buy a company’s products simply because of a single representative’s political stands or personal opinions is insane. By that standard, liberals should stop asking Domino’s to deliver them freshly-baked, simmering hot pepperoni pizzas just because its founder was a hardcore Christian fundamentalist who opposed the slaughtering of unborn children, a near unchallengeable religious sacrament among those on the Left. No more custom-made tuxes from Urban Outfitters, seeing as its owner was a Santorum campaign bundler. No more Rush concerts, no more South Park episodes, and no more tickets when “The Price is Right” (now hosted by comedian Drew Carey) comes to town, seeing as every single one of these things has unabashed libertarians – those dastardly Social Darwinist, free market “radicals” – working on the crew.

If we were to follow this tortured logic, defenders of “traditional” marriage shouldn’t stop at Starbucks for a cup of coffee anymore, throw General Mills cereal in their shopping carts, or sign up with AT&T for its state-of-the-art phone service, seeing as all of these companies have boasted about their unequivocal support for marriage “equality.” Conservatives should avert their eyes whenever The Simpsons comes on, seeing as, the show is the work of a bunch of flaming Harvard liberals – with the exception of a few token right-wingers (like John Schwartzwelder, the man who has written more scripts for that show than anyone). We should be picketing outside the theater whenever one of Steven Spielberg’s delightful films flashes across the big screen, seeing as he’s been a Clinton campaign donor for years.

As one Atlantic columnist put it, though, this “boycott culture” of ours is out of control. If we were to turn down every scrumptious dish, every edge-of-the-seat film, every tear jerking novel, every technological marvel of a phone or computer, every trendy ride, every glamorous outfit, every product you can possibly name – that is made, cooked, invented, designed, crafted, drawn, or thought up by someone we disagree with … well, that would be a pretty miserable and unfulfilling life, wouldn’t it?

It makes no difference if the person who weaved together your stylish sweater is a liberal, conservative, Muslim, atheist, or Christian. It’s still stylish nonetheless. The only thing that really matters when we’re trying to decide whether or not to buy this or that product is the quality of its features, its distinct attributes, and whether it suits our needs. Does it get the job done? What’s the price tag? Can I get a better deal elsewhere? Unless the person’s political or religious views mean they’d drown a box full of puppies or take a few boxes of TNT and blow up a school full of innocent children in a heartbeat, one’s stance on the issues is pretty much irrelevant. I should judge a company’s products on the virtues – the merits – of what it assembles and puts together, not on whether the head honcho and I take the same position on capital gains, Medicare reform, or what dress looks best on Katie Holmes’s little daughter Suri. We’d probably all starve to death and go our whole lives without touching a mobile device if that was the case.

Sir, You Are In Violation of Zoning Code 2468: Having An Opinion That Offends Me. Shoo.

Apparently, though, a bundle of mayors in this country want to ban Chick Fil-A from so much as opening up shop in their cities. It’s as if America’s bustling metropolises are their own personal political fiefdoms, if you will, where anybody who expresses a viewpoint that doesn’t conform with the ideological sympathies of the self-anointed “kings” and “princes” who rule over these little mini-empires must be cast out, shut down, chased away, and burned at the allegorical stake. They must be banned simply for even daring to set foot on their turf. They’re mad with power, and the unwashed rubes will be damned if they even slightly deviate from the sacred political creeds of their Royal Highnesses. National Review hit the nail on the head when they called this brouhaha a “Chicken Inquisition.” That is precisely what it is.

The mayor of Boston, who in recent days backpedaled from his absurd chest-thumping, is forever on record as saying that Chic Fil-A would not be permitted to get anywhere near the Freedom Trail, or any other part of Boston, for that matter. He would deny them all the requisite permits and licenses, not because their applications were not up to scratch (as if you should need the State’s permission to trade what you have to offer with willing customers, on a completely, one-hundred percent mutual and voluntary basis), but simply because its CEO’s “offensive” comments about gay marriage were inconsistent with the “city’s” (read, Mayor Manino’s) sacred orthodoxy. We promote openness and inclusion, he said, not prejudice against some people for whatever gender they fancy. (Apparently, though, it’s perfectly fine to exclude people who adhere to a more traditionalist Christian worldview on the hot-button cultural issues of our day.)

Funny how this didn’t sound off any alarm bells when he handed over $1.8 million worth of land to the Islamic Society of Boston, a group with a spiritual adviser on its payrolls (or, at least for quite some time) that was more of a “homophobe” than Dan Cathy ever was. The mayor even showed up at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Not only did this “spiritual adviser” have peaceful moral and philosophical qualms with gay marriage and homosexuality in general – a completely legitimate, defensible, if incorrect position – but he also said that the crime of “gayness” should be enough to throw somebody off a cliff or incinerate them alive. It should be treated just like any other sexual offense. Surely, Dan Cathy would rush for the toilet or trash bin to blow some chunks if he heard those remarks. Any civilized person would.

Chicago, too, was trying to block construction of Chick Fil-A eateries on the basis of its owner’s politically incorrect views on same-sex marriage. One ward leader said exnay to green-lighting the privately-funded project, not because Dan Cathy ran afoul of the law, but because, again, the neighborhood would weep a river of tears if a “bigoted” homophobe dared to invade their space. Mayor Rahm Emanuel concurred, saying that Chick Fil-A’s Christian conservatism was not representative of “Chicago’s values.” (And if by that, he means the rampant street crime, innocent little kids getting their brains blown out in the crossfire, gangs terrorizing frail old men and ladies, record levels of poverty, and the corrupt inner-workings of the mafia-esque city government, thank Heavens that isn’t the case.)

After being pressed on the matter, Moreno (the ward leader) quickly went into that suspicious defensive mode a kid goes into when the teacher doesn’t buy his lame excuse for not turning in his assignments (trust me, we’ve all been there), and claimed that, well, it had more to do with “traffic” than anything. Really? That’s not what you mentioned after your emotionalized, knee-jerk reaction to this series of supposedly “outrageous” statements.

If it truly was the case that the denizens of Chicago would be so disheartened by Cathy’s supposed black-hearted “homophobia” they wouldn’t even bother to walk through the door, what harm would come of letting Chic Fil-A build the place? It’s not as if this establishment is being supported by Chicago taxpayers. If it really is a “bad investment,” as Emanuel roars, so what? Bad investment for whom, really? The company’s CEO? The shareholders, who should be frantically selling their stocks to whomever will buy them right now, if that’s the case? The salaries and benefits of staff members, who would face cutbacks in their paychecks after thousands of dollars are poured down the drain? How would the Chicago budget be affected in any way, shape, or form? What strain would this put on the pocketbooks of those who live in the area? None whatsoever, you say? Then why the hell is it any concern of Rahm Emanuel’s that Chick Fil A’s is a bad friggin’ investment in that city?

Maybe our friend Rahm is afraid that he’s wrong about the booths possibly being “empty.” Let customers vote with their wallets and decide for themselves if they want to eat there, even if the CEO has some qualms about their supposed “core” values. Maybe, just maybe, some Chicagoans are self-professed Christians who don’t exactly like the “in your face” attitude of some in the LGBT community. Maybe some Chicagoans don’t give a flying hoot whether or not some business owner serving them up a tasty, delectable, mouth-watering meal says Bono is the capital of China or that it’s terribly evil for a person to dye their hair purple, as long as they can dig their teeth into a nice, juicy chicken sandwich.

The only way we can find out if Rahm is right is if Chick Fil-A is given the chance to strut its stuff. Otherwise, who are we to say that its sales aren’t going to take off? That’s none of our business. Are we really living in an age where the unguided, spur-of-the-moment predictions of imperfect, flaw-ridden politicians is regarded as superior to the mechanisms of the marketplace, which are coordinated by strictly determined price signals and all the rest? I mean, seriously?

Rahm has no objection, however, to inviting Louis Farrakhan – an anti-Semitic black supremacist who took the president to task for his “evolutionary” stance on same-sex couplings – to help curtail Chicago’s horrendous crime rates.

To top it all off, the mayor of San Francisco is absolutely incredulous that the company would dare even consider nesting in his neck of the woods – when, all the meanwhile, folks are quite literally squatting to take a you-know-what on the city’s escalators. Apparently, he has no sense of priorities whatsoever.

Our Diverse and Open Society Has No Place For This “Family” Or Whatever It Is

When Dan Cathy and others say that Chick Fil-A operates on Biblically-based principles, they’re not referring to some kind of clandestine, behind-the-doors plot to oppress gays or something. There’s a huge difference between opposing the redefinition of marriage, a sacred institution in many Christian circles, and kicking gays – or anyone for that matter – out of your restaurant for not conforming to your rigid ideological worldviews. But when Cathy says “Christian values” inform every decision the company makes, he’s not bluffing. Try driving down to one of their outlets on any given Sunday and see if you manage to catch a “We’re Open” sign on the front door. The Sabbath as a day of rest is one set of verses from the Book of Genesis Cathy and his cohorts don’t mess around with.

Taking on mountains of debt and not following through on your payments is something that franchisees are strongly advised against, for fear of invoking the Lord’s wrath. Community activism aimed at “strengthening” the family unit is a proud Chick Fil-A tradition. Whether you agree with this business strategy or not is up to you. But to call it “hateful” really misses the mark.

Cathy’s family-owned company gives billions of dollars to supposedly “anti-gay” groups, says the Progressive LGBT community. But since when does taking a moral stance on something you believe in automatically make one “hateful” of any person who doesn’t agree with you? Saying that Christians who fall under the more traditionalist camp are “anti-gay” for opposing gay marriage makes about as much sense as saying that I’m anti-store-bought, factory-manufactured milk for preferring my dairy beverages out of the bulk tank. Sure, I think that the traditional homogenization process sucks the flavor and nutrients out of perfectly good milk, but that doesn’t mean I automatically run out of someone’s house screaming, “She’s a heathen, I tell you! A heathen!” as soon as I find a carton of Dean’s 2-percent milk on her refrigerator shelf.

If you take an actual gander at Dan Cathy’s history of charitable giving, so-called “anti-homosexual” activism is a drop in the bucket compared to the plethora of other reputable causes that he shells money out of company profits – and his own income – to finance. Assistance for college kids who can’t afford tuition to go to college, marriage counseling sessions, homes for the less fortunate, child camps – anyone who thinks that “family values” merely refers to supposedly backwards, alarmist, outdated notions of the “danger” of the “homosexual agenda” in our society needs to get their head out of the sand and take a look at the real world. Preventing marriages from fizzling out for the sake of preserving family stability is something that anybody of any political persuasion can get behind.

“Traditional” marriage refers to more than just the genders of the participants (although to many Christians, I must note, that is important). It also deals with such “antiquated” values like fidelity, commitment, honor, respect, persistence, honesty, and kindness to your better half, male or female.

It’s Called A Mirror. Look In It.

Fortunately, not all liberals are joining the dark side on this one. The ACLU, Amanda Marcotte, Jonathan Turley, and others are saying, “Hey wait, a minute. If a city can punish a business – like, through denying a license for example – simply because a company owner’s opinions make them cringe, doesn’t that open up a Pandora’s box? Couldn’t this, I don’t know, set the stage for a flurry of political abuses, including blocking the construction of a restaurant or store because its owner supports gay marriage?”

In the tipsy-turvy, upside-down world of some Progressives, however, “tolerance” means tolerance of their beliefs, their policy prescriptions, their cultural viewpoints, their ideology. It doesn’t mean they have to tolerate what you have to say, what you think, how you feel. If it conflicts with their underlying agenda, then it automatically means the person expressing those opinions is, by definition, an intolerant, racist, bigoted, homophobic, Islamophobic, xenophobic hatemonger whose attitudes have no place in modern socio-political discourse. They won’t stop until all of America is encompassed under an ideologically uniform, touchy-feely, fuzzy-wuzzy, politically correct paradise of material equality, social “justice” (on their terms, of course), and, well, total and complete “tolerance” of anything that doesn’t have to do with traditional values, promotion of the family as the bedrock of a virtuous society, the Christianity of the so-called “regressive” past, philosophical resistance against abortion-on-demand, or anything else that challenges their narrow-minded dogma.

I’m not exactly known among friends as a straight-as-a-whistle manly man. But the gay lobby better start practicing what it preaches with this whole “tolerance” thing. Otherwise, prepare to watch the hypocrisy blow up in their faces.

I’ve also been reminded recently that while as a society we are moving toward greater inclusion and equality for all people, the tide of history only advances when people make themselves fully visible. There continue to be far too many incidences of bullying of young people, as well as discrimination and violence against people of all ages, based on their sexual orientation, and I believe there is value in making clear where I stand.

The fact is, I’m gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.

I have always been very open and honest about this part of my life with my friends, my family, and my colleagues. In a perfect world, I don’t think it’s anyone else’s business, but I do think there is value in standing up and being counted. I’m not an activist, but I am a human being and I don’t give that up by being a journalist.

The entire letter is beautiful and deeply moving. I recommend reading it in its entirety here.

Unsurprisingly, Anderson Cooper remains dignified and behaves with the kind of grace and poise that is a far cry from the kind of overly publicized shenanigans seen in the past where one feels the party coming out is more interested in bolstering extra publicity for themselves as opposed to creating more visibility and respect for the LGBT community. Congratulations, Mr. Cooper for making this bold step, and I salute you for your past efforts and all your efforts in the years to come. Here is hoping that the time will come when people no longer see us as a shameful caricature or a disease infecting their white-washed planet, but as people.

What I don’t get are her fans, the people who actually take her seriously, who admire/want to be like her. No, seriously. How can you legitimately model your behavior after such unsavory characters, who go out and attack others unprovoked, who’s actions threaten the livelihoods and lives of other people for the sake of a political statement.

I understand, everyone has their own belief systems and ideologies, but surely there are better ways to express your opinions than resorting to uncivilized stalking, harassment, and bullying. I disagree with those opinions, and to be honest I find them narrow-minded and reprehensible, but I disagree more with the way you’re trying to shove those opinions down my throat in the same manner that people have tried to do the same with the opinions they inherited from the local pulpit regarding my sexuality.

You know what? You don’t think that a lesbian transwoman is a real lesbian? Fine, that’s your opinion. It’s wrong, and I don’t respect it, but I respect your right to hold it. That’s called tolerance. I don’t have to respect you or your practices, because frankly that’s no fucking way to let your voice be heard and it only damages your cause.

Which case is more compelling: one that speaks of acceptance and being kind and good-natured towards others with a means of furthering education and knowledge, or the one that has the big “FUCK YOU” painted in red letters on a bloody sign? This goes the same for tumblr activists who are smearing “DIE CIS SCUM” on their blogs. Advocating hate and violence is never a good thing.

People remember the cause of the peaceful protests more than the violent ones. Yes, the violent ones get quicker news coverage, but all that’s left of your statement at the end of the day are fires and bloody noses and nothing of what you set out to accomplish ever sees fruition.

“I’m pro-marriage equality! Therefore I am a good person!”

Because obviously the oppression of queer minorities ends with the fact that we can’t even get married. Honey, I wish marriage were the least of the problems I face as a homosexual gay man in North America. Our current president is applauded endlessly for his “public stance” on gay marriage and his administration’s ending of the DADT policy that was being enforced to keep gays out of the military. Glee, a show lauded and praised for its inclusion of gay characters in its roster is often cited as being an example of how the depiction of gays in the media and television is moving forwards.  I wish I could say I was as impressed as everyone else, but I’m not.

For starters, I can’t stand that show. I resent the idea that a show marketed towards young gay men would revolve around the stereotypes of bad pop music, fashion, and musicals. It’s safe to say that any and all mainstream depictions of LGBT people in the media thoroughly piss me off with few exceptions. I hate that gay men are consistently and endlessly depicted as flighty, sassy, bimbos  who serve as a humorous caricature or a fashion accessory to some gross, rich white woman (Sex and the City being a repeat offender on this one). I hate that because of this media depiction, I have to deal with people asking if Burlesque is a favorite movie of mine, with dumb girls wanting to know if I’ll pick out their outfits for them, with well-meaning but completely ignorant people inviting me to Pride-fest as if it actually meant something.

My sexuality is not my identity. I’m a man who is sexually attracted to other men. This does not define my outward appearance, my personality, my taste in music, or my taste in films. No, I will not fix your hair for you. You wouldn’t want me near your head anyway, as I only know how to tease and hairspray, in which case you might end up looking like a pissed-off Disney Villain. I like Industrial/Dark Ambient music, please take Floptina Aguilara and Katy “tooth decay” Perry away. Coil, Current 93, Ah Cama-Sotz, and Atrium Carceri are the noises that I listen to recreationally; songs of melancholy, sex, and despair.

And believe me, if the perpetuating of offensive stereotypes by well-meaning people and the media were the least of my problems, I might be a happier man. But let’s talk about the difficulty of finding work as a 22 year-old gay man. People think that everyone in this country has to hire you, but it’s not necessarily the case. Granted, sexuality should never be an issue when hiring a person and should never come up in an interview, but imagine having to act or behave a certain way in fear that you’re going to give yourself away, to be found out and lose the job because of this person’s personal views only compounding job-anxiety issues. This in itself is probably the worst, the absolute fear that one feels when a certain macho-looking guy walks your way with a foul expression on his face. Yeah, he might be just some stranger passing you on the street, but he could also be the guy that knows who you are and doesn’t like it.

LGBT men and women are still beat, and still murdered just because they exist. I can think of two cases that happened very close to me recently. That fear is undoubtedly the most common sign that I am still a minority, and I am still being oppressed. The “It Gets Better” people are a group of ignorant liars with no clue what they’re talking about. It doesn’t get better, and it hasn’t gotten better. W’e're only pretending like it’s suddenly okay because more people think that they get it.

With all of these things listed, and I still think there are those out there who have it worse then me. Take Cece Mcdonald, a transwoman of color who was attacked by a group of skinheads, and when she used deadly force to protect herself, the courts found her guilty of second-degree murder. This is in Florida by the way, where the same laws of self-defense were used applied to the case of George Zimmerman, who stalked and killed Trayvon Martin and he was found not guilty on his testimony of self-defense.

So, deadly force as a use of self-defense is only reasonable if you’re a white man, but if you’re a person of color, let alone a transwoman then you can’t claim self-defense.

I’m constantly told by happy, idealistic people how great things are getting for LGBT peoples. I think that they are sweet, but truly blind. Things have only improved in the public arena. They’ve only improved politically, and even then those margins are slim. Perhaps there are those who are happy about whatever glimmer of progress can be made, but I only see it as a flickering illusion, and I am constantly in fear of what will happen when the fashion trend fades and public opinion takes a different turn. That’s not an entirely illegitimate fear, when you’re entire existence is decided by others and all you are given are crumbs by those who think they know what’s best for you.

When I can walk my streets without fear, that’s when things will have gotten better. For now, all I can do is be brave enough to live my life in spite of that fear, to take courage and give my enemies true reasons to hate me.

and covered them in ankle length gowns …

You, who hid the breasts of our women who were free…

And while you’re own children disregard you,

We still delight in the comfort of your petticoats.

We, who once lived happily in a household of three,

seek divorce under your laws…

We, who still regurgitate 365 of your law books;

lived with humanity until

you deemed love between men and love between women to be a crime-

and yet we continue to pay homage to you…

We blame you for destroying our culture

and yet uphold your codes of morality…

We, who knew what humanity meant, were taught the inhumanity of your law books.

We, who bless all living animals with nirvana,

and remain cruel to the human,

still cling to your breast like a faithful cur…

Oh Victoria! We continue to blame you

and yet remain, your obedient lackeys

P.s. – The translation of  the  previous post  ” Aho Victoria”