"...Paul Rudnick, the playwright (''Jeffrey'') and screenwriter (''In and Out''), thinks Scott & Scott's project (Gay Romance Novels) has possibilities. ''True equality demands equal trash,'' he told me. But when he heard about the condition of the heroes' monogamy, he drew the line. ''Then it's not called gay romance,'' he said. ''It's called gay fantasy. Or sci-fi.''
~New York Times Magazine, Sunday June 12th. Full article linked below...
Excuse me while I hurl.
Especially in my current upbeat mindset. The one I'm optimistically enjoying after performing Saturday's wedding for my cousin.
After reading the above quote, offered by one of the gay community's more "creative" talents, I have to wonder at Rudnick. I mean how cliched and limited a perspective can you get? His rode hard, put away wet view of the possibilities of monogamous gay relationships, is so tired, so very bath house 70's and bareback like-you-mean-it 90's.
But for an instance, let's just all buy into and attend his sci fi world, where we say hell no to commitment, screw the models of establishment and where we boldly spread our freed sexual wings.
Let's proudly celebrate his enlightened state, the ultimate utopia of "open" relationships, and let's just become our own definition of the path of least resistance.
And don't forget to endlessly repeat his anti monogamy doctrine at every turn, thereby reinforcing his as the only path to sexual nirvana. We'd join forces, reinforcing his anything goes perspective, all the while cynically squashing the hopes of anyone who believes differently.
Rudnick's doctrine is built and fortified on the premise that really, you just can't ever get enough. His is a mantra that defines and promotes self control as just so "limiting". So let's just give in and model every other aspect of our Bush Co consumption society. Let's try to consume as many partners as we can.
Actually let's not.
Does anyone wonder why so many gay men are so actively opposed to monogamy? Why is it that at the mere mention of monogamy, these predators roll their eyes or worse, become defensive, aggressive, threatened and pissed?
What's it to them if some men choose not to live in the vacuum of a sexual free for all? Do they worry if monogamy catches on there might be a few less hot partners to choose from? Does the anything that moves and breathes crowd fret that this ideal will spread and become appealing? That suddenly the "Monogamy Sucks!" crowd won't be so fringe and hip? That monogamy will be the next hot trend.
If Rudnick doesn't want a monogamous relationship, doesn't believe in them, or likes playing Russian Roulette with the STD of the week, more power to him. But, the arrogance of anyone translating their limited, subjective, life experience as the model of behavior anywhere and everywhere the rainbow flag flies, is hardly the best way to honor diversity.
Plenty of committed long-term, monogamous, gay relationships are out there. They deserve respect. Committed couples who have the stamina to make the tough choices and affirm their commitment to one another are not a mirage. They are not the exception. They flourish everywhere and represent some of the best moments of human interaction. Too bad Rudnick is so blinded to the possibility of that.
A well deserved Cowboy up! to Scott and Scott who have the balls to believe and write about something that flies in the face of the tired Fire Island, New York, SF, L A brat pack mentality. Gay life includes far more than the constantly repackaged all-you-can-eat sexual buffet sold to us in gay media. But in order to find that less traveled trail, you have to believe it exists. I celebrate the fact that these two men have the courage to recognize the possibilities waiting to be released in the human spirit.
I wish them well and the greatest success on their journey.
Here is a link to their site: http://romentics.com/
Prayer stuff...
Issues you can keep in your thoughts and prayers...
...For Tye in Texas who was just diagnosed with two large, inoperable brain tumors
...For another Texas man who wrote about challenges facing his sister-in-law and her family
...For Bill, that he recovers from a bout with acute appendicitis and emergency surgery over the weekend
...For Nola in Spokane, whose lungs are failing...
...For Nola's three boys Grant, Kevin, and Jay. That God would comfort them during a difficult time.
Thanks to everyone who sent their thoughts and prayers on my's mom behalf on Friday. The procedure to remove the chemo port that was inserted into her chest was successful and she, for the first time in a year, can buckle up without wincing.
More stuff you can't live without...
...a primer in gay romance novels
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/12/magazine/12ROMANCE.html?pagewanted=2&th&emc=th
...A Jim West-like Texas Governor shows gay vets the door
http://www.houstonvoice.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=1006
...an officer and a gentleman...
http://advocate.com/currentstory1_w_ektid17441.asp
...pro family groups target gay parents, families, teens, and related programs
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/09/education/09clash.html?
...religious fringe groups launch boycotts and then quietly cancel them...
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0506100071jun10,1,2688964.story?coll=chi-business-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true
...a telling picture of the "family values" ethics offered by the President when it comes to Native Americans
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/13/national/13indians.html?th&emc=th
...a highway to the sun gets choked with mud...
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/13/opinion/13mon4.html?th&emc=th
...got privacy? are you sure? ...
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/13/opinion/13koppel.html?pagewanted=2&th&emc=th
...important legislation...
http://www.freepress.net/action/sessionsbill
...An insightful Op-Ed piece...
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/12/opinion/12brooks.html?th&emc=th
...Frank Rich offers a revealing comparison of the current administration with the Nixon administration....
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/12/opinion/12rich.html?pagewanted=1&th&emc=th
...Another case of mad cow disease found in a US herd...
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/11/national/11cow.html?th&emc=th
...Over 1,000,000 folks in the US now have AIDS...
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/APWires/headlines/D8AMRFL00.html
1 comment:
Oh who cares what Paul Rudnick thinks or says.
He obviously was just taking a jab at the idea of "Gay Romance" books that will provide a whole category of gay literature modeled after some cheap Harlequin Romance is probably not a step in the direction of equality I or anyone else with half a brain would want to go in.
I personally do not equate fidelity and commitment with monogamy nor would I consider someone not wanting to be in a monogamous relationship or not having it as a priority in their relationships (which is where i come from) to be "predatory".
That's sorta rude and judegmental really.
I find the real snakes to be people who publically proclaim their monogamy and their commitment to their relationship/marriage and then head down to the local rest room or street walker for a quicky.
That's where I think you will find all the horror stories the people with personal integrity issues and all those broken relationships and those nasty "predators".
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