Frank Talk About Gays

The San Fran Chronicle has an article suggesting that we may have reached a tipping point regarding anti-gay hate based upon the fallout from Ann Coulter's remark about Edwards. I think there's probably something to the theory, though I think any genuine gay hate in America is greatly exaggerated by the Left. At the same time, certainly a sort of uneasiness likely exists around the issue for many straight folks.

But the ultimate challenge may be something I call the Frank Talk Test.

Dan Savage, editor of the Stranger, a Seattle alternative news weekly, and author of several books on his life as a gay man, said the reaction to Coulter could indicate a change in how people view gays.

"I always thought we would be reaching a tipping point with anti-gay hate where it will no longer be acceptable, and maybe we are reaching that tipping point now," said Savage.

You can take the Frank Talk Test anytime Barney Frank is on television.

It's like, you'll be following along, trying to follow whatever ridiculous, liberal political talking point he's trying to get out, then all of a sudden your mind sort of drifts and you get this flash:

Holy shit, that guy sucks xxxx!

I mean that figuratively as regards his political positions only, of course. Because, indeed, as a society, when it comes to gay issues, we certainly have come a long way.

But I'm still interested in knowing how some readers might do on the Frank Talk Test.

(post amended, expletive deleted)

Comments

[Phoenix]

hahaha...

uh. G U L P.

[mightyjoeyoung]

\"I think any genuine gay hate in America is greatly exaggerated by the Left\"

Really Riehl? So...how did your gay brother die? Oh, that\'s right...Probably of AIDS in a gutter somewhere for all you care. If that aint gay hate, I don\'t know what is.

[Dan Riehl]

Then you don't know very much, obviously.

[BobInStamford]

That's really not called for. I'll laugh at Dan all day about his policy - but that's personal and private.

[mightyjoeyoung]

No...it stopped becoming personal the second he posted it on his blog. I didn\'t dig it up, Dan made it a point to make this public.

\"That was an older brother of mine, John. He’s dead and, yes, he was Gay. You want to know how he died? He died alone, probably of aids for all I know and probably in a San Francisco flop house living on the government’s dime. I say probably because it was the last address I ever had for him from letters exchanged, not having seen the boy/man since I was about 15.\"

Dan Riehl, October 18 2006

If he can use his dead gay brother as cover to gay bash; to call people fag and cocksucker...His lack of caring about the whereabouts of his dead gay brother can be used to illustrate what a homophobe he is.

[Dan Riehl]

You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

[scarshapedstar]

I've never gotten that "flash", actually. But you can probably commiserate with General J.C. Christian about it...

[Dan Riehl]

Okay, no flash ... how bout "Hot!"

[pete]

It degrades our freedom to punish people for lack of tastefulness, or to allow some people to enforce their personal preferences on other people through rehab counseling or any other mind altering procedure.

The cure for racism, sexism, homophobia blah blah blah is individualism,
respect for the integrity of each individual, not group identity and Orwellian rehab counseling.

PC sucks... the freedom from our environment and the decency from our lives.

[zimzo]

That's funny. I had always heard this was called the Riehl Talk Test.

And to think some people believe conservatives are homophobic. Where did they ever get that idea? Surely, you have disproved that, Dan, by finally revealing how often you think about gay sex.

[Phoenix]

Well, as a cocksucker, I can't take this test. But I will say that every time I'm forced to look at Rosie, I kind of gag. Not so much Ellen.

~~~
Dan, by finally revealing how often you think about gay sex.

Posted by: zimzo |

Where does Dan reveal how often he thinks of gay sex, Zimzo? Read the post. And of course, the few times they put Barney on TV, I'm sure you never think about his gayness. No, sirree... You don't go there.
~~~~

But you can probably commiserate with General J.C. Christian about it...

Posted by: scarshapedstar |

Is the General gay? He has written in a banner on his blog that he's an 11 on the manly scale of 10. Does that mean he has back hair? ew.

[Darth Malice]

Nobody drop the soap!

[seekeronos]

Pete has the _exactly_ right idea.

A person's character far outweighs his "politically correct identity".

I know plenty of folks who are extremely intelligent and thoughtful, as much as I know there are plenty of folks who are dumber than bricks and about as useful.

DOesn't matter about skin color or what gender they prefer the company of.

The flip side of it all is... we are all equal before God, in that we shall all die, and stand before Him to be judged of one thing: what we did upon hearing the Gospel of Christ.

[Capitalist Infidel]

Gay bigotry is alive and well on the left. It's so viciously sickening. Here is just one example.

http://mattsanchez.blogspot.com/2007/03/saloncom.html

[Phoenix]

How can people be so disgusting. (re: the link comments) Homophobia crosses all lines, for sure.

[Wolf Pangloss]

so what I want to know is, with "300" being the best propaganda movie ever for the repeal of "don't ask don't tell" and the full acceptance of homosexuals in the U.S. military, will this be seen as a homophobic or homophilic development?

[jerry]

Gosh, just where did Dan's dead brother get the idea that the family he loved wouldn't accept him?

[Jeff]

This is getting ridiculas... Some of the comments here are absolutely disgusting.

" I would agree the Republican elites are probably not homophobic. However, among middle class and working class republicans, there is a huge support of homophobia, and in part this is driven by the hate-mongerers of right wing media."

I guess I could agree with you a little LOL, but it depends on your definition of homophobia, because lately, homophobia has been characterized by hatred of gays. I don't like gay marriage, and I hate the act. But I don't hate gay people... I honestly don't know anyone who actually hates gay people, they just hate what they are doing. I think there is a misperception amongst liberals that if a conservative is against an act, they hate the people who do the action... that is false (with the exception for pedophiles, rapists, murderers, etc.) If this was true, that Republicans hated the people who did the act so much, they would criminalize it. They would send people to jail for being gay, or having abortions.

[Jeff]

Thanks for pointing that out. And you know what happened the first time the law was challenged since the 1960's? It got overturned... So apparently we don't really want to send people to jail for that...

[Duros62]

Um, Dan? Yeah, hi. Question. Is this indicative of bringing civility to political discourse? You, Rush, Ann, Plant-Dr. Michael Savage-Weiner? On the one hand, y'all say that libruls should step aside and let the "grown-ups" handle things, on the other, you'll stoop to "school yard taunts" to belittle and objectify your opponents? This is the right's idea of adult civil behavior? Because if it is, I just have this to say.

http://adfware.free.fr/gay/idiot.swf

I'm sorry about your brother. You probably should be too.

[Dan Riehl]

Gawd, what nonsense. The Gay rights movement today is a farce. They don't even understand what it was to be gay in America and be oppressed. I don't have an issue with Gay people at all. I cna make fun of what I view as an overly religious nutjob like that gay hating group that protests at military funerals - and I can make jokes about people who are gay. I treat Gay people the same as I do straight people. That isn't hate or oppression, it's acceptance. Some of you idiots need to realize that by demanding certain groups ne treated differently - YOU set apart. By not treating all the same, whether it's for humor, or serious discussion, you fuel discrimination, you don't irradicate it.

[anon]

Kurt's Dad: My son's a homosexual, and I love him. I love my dead gay son.
J.D.: Wonder how he'd react if his son had a limp wrist with a pulse.

[Captain Joe]

Holy Shit! That guy takes it in the ass.

[Phoenix]

Yeah, Captain Joe?

Does that make you hate him?

The cruel comments on this thread are disgusting. Does anyone honestly think for one minute Dan would post that and mean it to demonstrate homophobia? Laughing about something without the hint of derision is the perfect sign of acceptance. It means you've crossed the complex borders of hate, bias, or phobia and left the baser emotions behind.

Besides, he stuck it in your face because he knew you'd show yourselves as the shallow people you are.

[Jeff]

Yeah... that was a Georgia law, I was talking about the Texas law. I misunderstood you in the first post then. My bad; you weren't very clear that you were talking about all the states, your bad.

They were two different state, not federal law.

[Ted]

"Holy shit, that guy sucks cock!"

Wow. Were you even able to look at your own brother without that 'pernicious' thought creeping into your sick, homophobic head?

What an asshole. As a gay man, let me say I'm extremely glad you aren't my brother. My own three brothers don't have these bizarre complex issues you seem to have with it.

[Ted]

"Some of you idiots need to realize that by demanding certain groups ne treated differently - YOU set apart. "

Yeah. We wanting to be able to have marriage benefits when we f***ing live together for decades the same as straight couples is wanting to be treated "differently". You keep on with that excellent "logic" of yours. Meanwhile, we'll keep marveling at the legal marriage licenses Brittney Spears can get while trashed at a Vegas marriage drive-thru that grant full state and federal marriage benefits, which will then be nullified 36 hours later, while my partner of 6 years and I can't quite get it figured out yet the best way we can jointly buy a house when our incomes are considered alien to each others'.

I hope you people enjoy the effect you have on millions.

[Ted]

"Does anyone honestly think for one minute Dan would post that and mean it to demonstrate homophobia?"

Yes. This Riehl idiot opposes gay marriage. He's a bigot. He would prefer we continue to spend many thousands in legal costs to attempt to approximate whatever we can of marriage, while he can just go down to the county courthouse, spend $25 or whatever it is, sign a piece of paper, and get handed a certificate.

[Dan Riehl]

homophobic

Your wrong. It isn't homophobic to react to something which isn't of your experience, or desire. I don't care what any number or gender of adults do in the privacy of their bedroom.

[Ted]

"I don't like gay marriage"

See, now that's strange. I have no problem with the idea of you getting or being married to whomever you wish. It's none of my business. But me getting married to someone I wish to is something you consider your business. I guess that's what is most different between us.

[Ted]

"I don't care what any number or gender of adults do in the privacy of their bedroom."

Nor do I care what you do in yours. Why do you then care whom I marry, and take a political position against my being allowed to marry someone I want to? Because you're a bigot.

[Dan Riehl]

Because you're a bigot

No, because I believe in the traditional role of marriage. I don'taccept polygamy either. That has nothing to do with homosexuality.

[Thomas Jackson]

Wow bring on the sheep!

[Wilbur]

I know just what you mean, Dan. Whenever I see George Bush talking on TV I can't help thinking Holy Shit! That tongue's been licking Laura's pussy!

And whenever you see a rear view of George's tight little ass, it's simply impossible not to wonder if George lets Laura stick her finger up it while she's blowing him.

And right now I can't stop myself from picturing all the conservatives on this thread staring hungrily at a picture of George in that flight suit with a vacuum cleaner hose attached to their privates.

It's simply human nature!

[Ted]

"No, because I believe in the traditional role of marriage. "

I see. So since you don't oppose the ability of gay couples to get a lot of the approximate contractual rights and benefits of legal marriage, and you oppose us getting a marriage license, what you really want is just for it to be extremely expensive for us. You can pay your small marriage license fee, and we can spend many thousands trying to come up with a lot of marriage benefits through many contracts and other legal arrangements. Call it the 'gay tax'.

Bigot.

[mark]

"I don'taccept polygamy either."

Polygamy is alive and well in the good ol' U.S.A. Do you really think three-time Guliani was granted an annulment by the Catholic Church of his second marriage. If not, that sacrament is still in force, and he is living in sin! as a polygamist! The horror! The way some heteros toy with the sanctity of marriage is just tempting God to kill us all.

[Robert]

Again with the bedroom shtik.

I'm just as gay right now, sitting at my desk typing, as I would be in bed with my husband. Comparisons are odious, as Dr. Johnson pointed out, but that line always reminds me of someone defending themselves against an accusation of anti-Semitism by claiming that you don't care what people do in the privacy of their house of worship - but you certainly don't want them trying to join your country club.

Riehl strikes me as the kind of person who would see the picture on my desk - me, my husband and our son - and think, Ah, he's just gotta flaunt his sexuality.
No, I gotta flaunt my marriage and family. Sex is, sorry to disappoint you, not that big a freakin' deal in my life. Being with my husband is. If you perceive a disconnect in that, it's generated in your own mind.