Tuesday, September 29, 2009 |  | |
When Benoit Denizet-Lewis first worked for the male gay magazine XY in 1998, "we received dozens of letters each week from teenagers in the depths of despair. Some had been thrown out by their families; others lived at home but were reminded often that they were intrinsically flawed." This wasn't surprising: gay teenagers have been at high risk of depression, substance abuse and suicide and account for a disproportional percentage of homeless youth. Three years later, however, he noticed that the content of many letters suggested a "new kind of gay adolescent -- proud, resilient, sometimes even happy."
This year, Denizet-Lewis took a look at gay middle-schoolers in Oklahoma, in Michigan and in Los Angeles, California. He found that bullying in school and rejection at home were still significant problems, with one parent of a gay teenager comparing her child’s middle school to a "war zone." At the same time however, social changes, technology and a lower age of puberty have resulted in many gay teens often coming out before they get to high school. | |
| At the Openarms Youth Project in Tulsa, Oklahoma, about 130 showed up for prom night, "from all corners of the state. Some danced to the Lady Gaga song "Poker Face," others battled one another in pool or foosball and a handful of young couples held hands on the outdoor patio. In one corner, a short, perky eighth-grade girl kissed her ninth-grade girlfriend of one year. I asked them where they met. ‘In church,’ they told me." | |
| Prom Night at Openarms, Tulsa
Denizet-Lewis talked with Tim Gillean, co-founder of Openarms, who "like many adult gay men who came out in college or later, couldn’t imagine openly gay middle-school students. ‘But here they are’ he said, looking out over the crowd. ‘More and more of them every week.’ "
Much of the change, Denizet-Lewis suggests is due to "increasingly accurate and positive portrayals of gays and lesbians in popular culture," and to Internet usage. "Going online broke through the isolation that had been a hallmark of being young and gay, and it allowed gay teenagers to find information to refute what their families or churches sometimes still told them — namely, that they would never find happiness and love."
Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that bullying from peers and rejection from family is a thing of the past. They are now being challenged in middle schools by Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) groups – about 120 middle schools nationwide at present. | |  | |
| GSA members at Daniel Webster Middle School in Los Angeles told Denizet-Lewis of reactions from parents that ranged from acceptance ("Tina" ’s father was relieved she was dating girls – no worries about pregnancy) to grudging toleration. "Joe" ‘s mother "has made it very clear that he’s not allowed to bring a boyfriend over to the house. ‘She’s like, O.K., I accept you, but you better not bring any of those people around.’ " | |
|
 | |
"Lala’ "recalled that her family as ‘a lot better now’ but initially ‘the first thing one of my relatives did when I told them I was bisexual was hit me on the head with a Bible. So while I was dealing with that insanity at home, I at least had a safe place at school to talk about what was happening.’ "
Some of the changes have a familiar sound. At one point, Denizet-Lewis listened to a sharp exchange between a woman and her gay son, Ely, over Ely’s boyfriend. The conversation ended with the mother exclaiming in exasperation: " I know, I know, you can’t wait to move away from me. You have the most unfair mother in the world!" He recalled Ritch Savin-Williams, author of "The New Gay Teenager," remarking that "this is the first generation of gay kids who have the great joy of being able to argue with their parents about dating, just like their straight peers do."
| |
Mayor, Equality Convert, Cast Member |
Jerry Sanders, San Diego's Republican mayor, had been an opponent of marriage equality, but changed his mind in 1997 when the issue became personal. His daughter Lisa is a lesbian, and Mayor Sanders announced earlier this year -- at a rally opposing the anti-gay Proposition 8 -- that Lisa was engaged to her partner, Meaghan Yaple. On October 12th, Mayor Sanders will be a cast member of The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later in San Diego's La Jolla Playhouse. The epilogue will be read at theatres across the country the same day.
The La Jolla Playhouse announced that “the reading will be helmed by acclaimed director Darko Tresnjak. In addition to the mayor, the cast includes Doug Wright, Pulitzer Prize-winner and adapter/director of the Playhouse’s upcoming production of Creditors, San Diego Rep Artistic Director Sam Woodhouse, as well as the acclaimed actors Mare Winningham, Robert Foxworth, Amanda Naughton, James Newcomb, Stark Sands, T. Ryder Smith, James Sutorius, among many others.” | |  | |
| 
| | Theatremania reported that "Tectonic director Moises Kaufman and his co-writers -- Stephen Belber, Leigh Fondakowski, Andy Paris, and Greg Pierotti -- returned to Laramie last fall to reinterview several townspeople who originally gave accounts to Tectonic in 1998 about Shepard, and also spoke with Aaron McKinney, who was convicted of murdering [Matthew Shepard].
"Over 100 theaters and institutions around the world, including Arena Stage in Washington, Seattle Repertory Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theater, the Newman Performing Arts Center in Denver, and the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, will stage a reading of the 80-minute piece that evening. There will also be performances at the University of Wyoming and Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center."
Readings will be held in all 50 US states and in Canada, the U.K., Spain, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Venezuela and Israel.
Go to the Laramie Project site for a complete list of locations. | |
Poster for Manchester’s
Hope Theatre Company, UK.The Parable of Brokeback | Brokeback Mountain has a way of showing up in unexpected places.
The latest venue was Princeton Theological Seminary, in the opening Convocation Address for the 2009-2010 academic year. Dr. Robert C. Dykstra, Charlotte W. Newcombe Professor of Pastoral Theology, quoted a familiar parable: that of a shepard and his tireless search for a lost sheep:
So [Jesus] told them this parable: “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” | |
|
Dr. Dykstra noted that the recurrent Biblical symbolism of shepards and sheep was sometimes criticized as being rather irrelevant for modern urbanized life. In 1966, Carroll A. Wise of Garrett Seminary wrote that the symbol of the shepherd ”iis too dated and rural and therefore cannot have the power for modern [persons that] it had in the first century”. It might also be too patriarchal: “One of the dangers of this [shepherd] symbol is that it can subtly but powerfully convey the idea of the superiority of the pastor over [the] ‘sheep.’” Others wanted to restrict its meaning to a formal theological one, eliminating the question the parable implied: does God have regard for me?
In defending the relevance of Jesus' fable, Dr. Dykstra used Brokeback as an example of a modern story with pastoral elements:
"Consider, for example, the best-known shepherds in recent memory, who, though fictional and living in an era and region of the country that inexorably consigned their story to tragedy, managed to catch up the rest of the nation and much of the world in their plight. I’m thinking, of course, of Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, those young shepherds finding themselves lost on Brokeback Mountain in the summer of 1963. Brought to life by Annie Proulx (2003) in her short story in The New Yorker in 1997, a prophetic full year before that other Wyoming Shepard’s—Matthew Shepard’s—murder there, and later by the Ang Lee film, Jack and Ennis found that after a night on the mountain sharing a bedroll for warmth, they, in Proulx’s understated words, “deepened their intimacy considerably” (p. 261). The story unfolds as their lives and loves unravel for another twenty years, mostly apart from one another but sometimes reunited in the mountains, until near the fateful end when Jack cries out in anguish, 'You’re too much for me, Ennis…. I wish I knew how to quit you.' As it turns out, some thugs with a tire iron help him find a way (p. 278). | |  | |
| "Too rural for the modern mind and church, the shepherd and one lost sheep? Given recent disputes within the church, the artistry and tragedy of Proulx’s and Lee’s shepherds somehow suggest a vocation remarkably current and suitably complex for shaping our discourse about God.
"Far from exhibiting a dangerous form of lone external hierarchical authority. . . we shepherds and we sheep share much in common here in the Neighborhood, here on Brokeback Mountain, here on Planet Princeton, here in the Kingdom of God. In attending when we can and must to the one over the many—to the individual, to the particular, to the singular, to the lost, to the special, to the marginal in the other and in ourselves—we discover not superiority and hierarchy but our only hope for mutuality without coercion."
| |
Around the Cyber-Neighborhood |
Castles of the World is straightforward in its name and purpose: It's a "reference for castles, palaces and monasteries including: castle tours, medieval architecture, hotels, travel, plans, weddings, castles for sale, souvenirs, books, directory, site of the week, and history of castles." Special pages cover tours, castles converted into hotels, architecture, educational pages for children and even guides to castles for sale. The "Showcase" offers information about castles in locations as diverse as China, Canada and Guatemala, although the section is still a work in progress and not every page include photographs. Readers are invited to submit reviews and further information about any of the castles they have toured.
"Toronto's Majestic Castle, Casa Loma. The former home of Canadian financier, Sir Henry Pellatt. Canada's foremost castle complete with decorated suites, secret passages, an 800 foot underground tunnel, towers, stables and beautiful 5 acres estate gardens, all in a 98 room castle. Open daily 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Self-guided audio tour in 8 languages, included with admission."
Edinburg Castle has played a central role in the history of Scotland. Its site, on a rock rising 300 feet above the city, has been fought over more than 2,000 years. Edinburgh's have been repeatedly battered, razed and restores. Most of the present castle dates from the sixteenth century and after. In 1566 Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to the future James I (VI of Scotland) within the castle.
"Ludwig II built this secluded hunting lodge, it was known as the Kings Hut. Ludwig decided that this will be a New Versailles. It was planned as a modest villa but had become a splendid Rococo palace in the ornate French style. Linderhof is the smallest of the three royal castles, and the only one which was completely finished. (1878). "
 "Visitors are most interested in the Kings bed chamber. The bed is 2 meters by 2.5 meters wide. A giant sized bed for a large-than-life King." | |
| Don't Miss the Bash
lawgoddess reminds slashers and all other interested Forum members that "the Mini- Slash Bash starts Oct. 23, 2009!
"If you are thinking of attending and haven't yet let Donna or Lawgoddess know, please do so.
"There is no deadline, and we'd love to have anyone come right up to the last minute, but we would like to have an idea of numbers for our planning.
"Donna and I are still finalizing the schedule, but it should be posted by next Monday at the latest.
"REQUEST- if you will have a car in Philly and would be willing to drive people to Dawn's suburban house for the Saturday night event, please post here or PM me or Donna. There will be roughly fifteen of us that need transportation, so we'll need four or five drivers. Thanks." | |
Fun Question of the Week |
 | | This week’s Question: Where on the human body is the muscle known as the corrugator? What does it do?
Let us know your answer in the response thread.
Last week's question and answer: How many men have walked on the moon - can you name them?
12 men have walked on the moon:
Apollo 11 - Neil Armstrong; Buzz Aldrin
Apollo 12 - Pete Conrad; Alan Bean
Apollo 14 - Alan Shepard; Edgar Mitchell
Apollo 15 - David Scott; James Irwin
Apollo 16 - John W. Young; Charles Duke
Apollo 17 - Eugene Cernan; Harrison Schmitt
Once again we're impressed by the wisdom and knowledge of royandronnie, fritzkep and
Trigger Hippie - thanks for your answers!
| |
The Forum Image: Pets and Animal FriendsLoveEmBoys, at
Pets and Other Animal Friends 
"Two weeks ago we brought a new horse, Taiga, into our herd. She's a real
beauty and I think will become a valuable contribution to our lesson program:"
"And secondly, today we found a great new home for our horse Joey, who
was getting a bit too aged to be used in lessons regularly. We're thrilled with
the family who showed up to adopt him, he's such a great guy."
and
Rosewood shares a series of fanciful watercolor artwork spotlighting pets and their personalities:
"Here's my painting of my boy Rocky, a chihuahua of dubious disposition."
"This is Sadie the French Bulldog. As you can see, she is tres French and all feminine."
| Rosewood has started a new pet portrait business. "I work in watercolor, pen and ink and pencil, the old fashioned way. The client supplies the photos and the answers to our questionnaire and I create from that. (We ask questions re: personality quirks, favorite toys, funny stories, things the client might collect, favorite colors, etc. etc. etc.)
"What I do is not a literal lifelike portrait but more a humorous, whimsical interpretation of the animal's personality. The client gets the original art, I get to keep a few prints for my use.
"I think I've found a nice niche for myself and have high hopes."
Rosewood has named her new business PAINT BOX FIDOS. | |
Topic of the WeekQuote of the Day“Throughout history, we have only moved forward when society has distinguished between traditional values and valueless traditions.”
~ U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo. ~
Photo Caption Classics: The SeriesAuntie Em: And then we got hold of Annie and changed the ending and now Jack and Ennis have lots of sex
and opened a boutique in Laramie.
Dorothy: Oh goody! Now can we get Tennessee to change then endings so that Blanche becomes a supermodel
and Sebastian Venable opens a boys school?
and from
jasonwv, in the
Other Cowboys Comment series:
It Wasn't Just Alma that caught them kissing!
(
Butch Cassidy):" I couldn't do that. Could you do that? How can they do it? Who are those guys?"Sundance Kid: It looks pretty hot to me!
Contributors: Rosewood, LoveEmBoys, jasonwv, michaelflanagansf, jnov, AZ.bbm, Suelyblu
Calendar of Events
The Daily Sheet is a production of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum at
www.davecullen.com/forum.
Editors emeritae: CactusGal, Marge_Innavera, tellyouwhat, Stilllearning, MissYouSoMuch
Researchers: BayCityJohn, Killersmom, Kittyhawk, Marge_Innavera, Stilllearning
Today's edition by
Marge_InnaveraFormatters: denim girl, gnash
Today’s edition formatted by
denim girlWe count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day.
If you have items you’d like to see published, send them to
tds@davecullen.com.
To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, click the “Notify” button at the top or bottom of the page.
When a new issue of TDS is posted, you will be notified by e-mail.
The Daily Sheet ArchivesRespond to The Daily Sheet
