The State of Things Archives
- September 10, 2008: Dear Democratic (big D) organizations || No. of Comments: 1
We’re quickly moving toward a large event in early November. I’m planning to take the following day off work to celebrate or mourn, and I would prefer it be the former. Can we talk? Can we fix some things? 1) I’m spying an increase in negative advertising. This disappoints me because it means that you believe your positive messages aren’t strong enough to overcome negative ones from the grand ol’ party. Instead of advancing what we’ve come to believe in — hope, change, free Big Macs for all — you’re bombarding us with slander and soap operas. E-mail subject lines…
- April 25, 2005: PrideAlive Deserves More, Not Less || No. of Comments: 5
Thanks to Dan for pointing out this article. Rep. Emmer, I imagine that, as a lawyer, you speak with fellow lawyers using different language than if you were to speak with a five-year-old child. I imagine that you speak with your significant other differently than you speak with your parents. Perhaps you talk about different things, perhaps your tone of voice is different, perhaps you are comfortable swearing around one group but not the other. My point is that different audiences respond to different language, tone of voice and communication styles. You wouldn’t speak to an Italian in German or…
- March 29, 2005: Lobby Day || No. of Comments: 0
Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be able to attend OutFront Minnesota’s justFair Lobby Day since I’m just starting a new job, but you should definitely go if you can. Jason and I went last year and joined hundreds of other people on the Capitol steps in St. Paul to show our support for equal rights for GLBT people. I won’t say it was fun, because the issues are too serious to be fun, but it was important. To inspire you, here’s a video OutFront made promoting the event. Time: Rally is from 1 to 2 p.m. Go earlier to meet…
- March 24, 2005: Monsters Under the Bed || No. of Comments: 4
Some of the most difficult things in life are never talked about. Disease, death, divorce, family traumas and personal downfalls are hidden from view and banished from discussion. Any sign of imperfection or weakness is ignored or denied. False storefronts of happiness and health are eaten away by termites we pretend don’t even exist. It’s just easier that way. It saves face and trouble. That’s how I’ve dealt with the Constitutional marriage amendments at both the federal and the state levels. I’ve largely ignored them, hoping they’ll go away. Like a child afraid of monsters under the bed, I’ve tried…
- March 18, 2005: Disappointed || No. of Comments: 3
From Outfront Minnesota: Today, the Civil Law and Elections Committee of the Minnesota House, in an extraordinary hearing taking place in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, voted 7-5 along party lines to support the proposed amendment to the Minnesota Constitution to withhold legal recognition from same sex couples and their families (HF 0006). The committee vote was an opportunity to bring together hundreds of fair-minded people from all over the state to show support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender equality. Supporters gathered in peaceful demonstration, wearing “Vote No; it’s just fair” stickers. House File 0006 will now go to the House…
- March 8, 2005: The Measure of a Man || No. of Comments: 9
How to articulate this? These thoughts go deep and affect many areas of my life, and your life, too, I’m wagering. What does it mean to be a man? And what does it mean to be masculine? Is it something I should strive for? In the days (and years) when my life revolved around the church, when I believed literally in a Bible and its absolute infallibility, things were simple. Gender roles were defined. Men should strive for masculinity, which meant they should be leaders of their household, providers for their family, strength for their wives, bold but still compassionate….
- February 9, 2005: Be Cool || No. of Comments: 0
Attend Oscar Night on Ice.
- January 25, 2005: Hey Fox: WWJD? || No. of Comments: 4
Poor Mary Roach. Bad Fox, bad Fox.
- January 19, 2005: It’s Not Much, But It’s Something || No. of Comments: 3
Something worthwhile for your Friday night.
- January 6, 2005: Mandela || No. of Comments: 0
Nelson Mandela’s Son Dies of AIDS (Link requires registration. Use ‘nty42322’ as username and password.) This article provides just one more reason Nelson Mandela is on my short list of most-respected people. Unlike most American politicians, he is a true leader and voice of the people. The United Nations has estimated that about five million South Africans, including more than one in five adults, have AIDS or have been infected with H.I.V. But families usually attribute deaths from the disease to other causes. Mr. Mandela challenged that practice on a number of fronts, suggesting that openness is actually the way…
- January 4, 2005: Renewal. Again. || No. of Comments: 5
Dealing with disappointment. Aka renewal.
- January 1, 2005: For the New Year: Desiderata || No. of Comments: 5
For the new year…
- November 23, 2004: Sebastian || No. of Comments: 3
I don’t know what to say. I’ve never met Sebastian, author of the blog “Holding the Man.” Never talked to him. Never e-mailed him. Before today, I don’t think I’ve ever read his blog. Then I read this entry, posted yesterday (well, yesterday Australian time, whatever that translates to in Minnesota time): Holding The Man: PRAYERS AND INFORMATION NEEDED Wait. Stop. Rewind. Is this for real? God, I hope not. It’s too horrible, too intense, too wrong. But I think it is for real. I don’t know what to say. I’ve never met Sebastian. Never talked to him. Never e-mailed…
- November 3, 2004: And the Band Played On || No. of Comments: 2
Life continues, even with Bush reelected.
- November 3, 2004: Prozac on Its Way || No. of Comments: 3
Even spammers hate Bush.
- October 19, 2004: Want some Wood? || No. of Comments: 1
Bush sux.
- October 13, 2004: Debates Suck || No. of Comments: 3
Gag me.
- October 12, 2004: Not Again on Love and Tolerance? || No. of Comments: 2
Yes, on love and tolerance.
- October 8, 2004: Hail to the Chief || No. of Comments: 5
Cast your vote for President here!
- October 6, 2004: That George Soros… || No. of Comments: 1
The power of the Web in marketing and journalism.
- September 29, 2004: Letters Across the Divide || No. of Comments: 9
After I posted the entry “Tough Love” yesterday, I received several e-mails. Not hate mail, not mail from other gay people… Mail from Christians who agreed that the church hasn’t necessarily been successful in sending the right messages to people like me (and you?). They wanted to talk and to understand, and to start a dialogue. Those who have known me for years wanted to affirm their care for me, regardless of my sexuality.
- September 12, 2004: Things I Don’t Know || No. of Comments: 4
The significance of Sept. 11 means different things to different people. For some, it’s a call to war. For some, it’s a testament to America’s greed. To me, Sept. 11 was simply a day when people died in an awful way, with millions watching on television as they jumped out of windows. It shouldn’t matter if they were Americans or Italians or Eqyptians. But, somehow, it does.
- September 9, 2004: Hairy-backed Swamp Developers || No. of Comments: 4
A great quote about Republicans.
- August 26, 2004: Keeping the There, There || No. of Comments: 4
Mobility, and encouraging a “creative class.”
- August 24, 2004: Sonic the Gymnast || No. of Comments: 5
Those crazy gymnasts.
- August 19, 2004: You Can’t Escape Age || No. of Comments: 11
Reverse age-ism.
- August 12, 2004: We’re Everywhere || No. of Comments: 8
New Jersey governor quits, comes out as gay Wow… What will this news bring?…
- August 4, 2004: On Pain || No. of Comments: 3
A recent movie brings thoughts on how to deal with life’s unhappy times.
- July 12, 2004: Bull-bush || No. of Comments: 3
Mr. Bush’s bigoted radio address.
- July 6, 2004: Working for The Man || No. of Comments: 0
On working for The Man, but wishing I was a rebel.
