2007 - Year of the Homo?

Is it just me, or has the media recently become homo-centric? In just the last ten days, we've learned the following:

1. Hillary Clinton is not a lesbian.

2. Iran doesn't even have gay people.

3. If Iran does have gay people, the government kills them.

4. Larry Craig is/is not gay but acted in such a way that sure makes it look like he is.

5. Congress passed gay-friendly legislation in extending hate crime legislation to include sexual orientation.

6. The State of New Jersey doesn't support gays (at least not in marriage).

7. General Pace thinks homosexuality is "immoral" because its against his religion but thinks that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" doesn't make sense because it creates two standards.

8. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender representation on broadcast TV as series regular characters is down from 1.3% to 1.1%, and six of the seven characters are on ABC shows.

9. The Episcopal Church is on the verge of exploding because their Bishops want to maintain their liberal stance on the issue.

10. Mitt Romney is less supportive of gays than he was before.

11. There exists at least one elected gay-marriage supporter in the Republican Party (San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders).

12. There is at least one gay college president, Ralph Hexter at Hampshire College.

13. The gay football (soccer) World Cup will be in Latin America and next week begins the Gay Softball World Series.

14. The California legislature passed a gay marriage bill that Gov. Schwarzenegger is threatening to veto.

15. The Happiest Place on Earth (Disneyland) formally apologized for giving a gay couple a hard time for holding hands (claiming it had nothing to do with that).

16. And Miller Beer wants to promote their gay credentials but doesn't want their logo on this ad

I'm not trying to pass judgment one-way or the other. But I am curious as to why in recent months the coverage of homosexuality has increased somewhat dramatically. Democratic control of Congress? Change in prevailing attitudes? More gay people in high profile positions are coming out? What's your take?

Comments

[OckhamsElectricRazor]

Hopefully, next year will the one of the Homo also: the Homo Sapien that is.

Voters have yet another opportunity to demand that leaders focus on improving the lot of the people in this country. So far they are blowing it.

[meandmagoo]

I think straight America is beginning to become slightly comfortable with gay America.
But corporate media and the right can't seem to get over their latent fear and loathing.

I can't remember where I read or heard it ,but the quote goes"I think America faces greater dangers than the fact there are men who like to place their genitals inside other men."

[xdevildawg4u]

Dadw5boys, could you please point me to which of these 16 listed issues have anything to do with "what people have in their drawers"?

Could anyone point to how many of these issues have anything to do with sex?

These are all stories about people's LIVES not about what's in their pants or who they have sex with.

Dadw5boys, were you able to marry the person of your choice? Can your employer fire you simply because he/she doesn't like your sexual orientation? Do politicians and preachers run propaganda campaigns telling people that you are a threat to their families, to their country or to society? Would you be thrown out of the military for writing an email to the person you love? Did you get bullied, harrassed and beat up in school because of your sexual orientation? Are people of your sexual orientation being targeted for abuse, torture and murder simply because of their sexuality and are the crimes often being ignored by law enforcement? Has your family been used as a political football in election campaigns?

All of this may seem like a irritant and a distraction to those of you who live in a heterosexual world where none of these issues affect you but to some of us these are matters of life and death and have nothing whatsoever to with what's in our pants or what we do with what's in our pants.

I and my partner are also father's. We are also gay fathers living without the rights and benefits that other families take for granted. Try living JUST ONE DAY in our shoes, in rural Florida and then tell me about how these issues are silly, petty and a distraction from REAL problems.

You should be ashamed of your ignorance and arrogance.

[xdevildawg4u]

And the same goes for you DavidHealy!

[dadw5boys]

I don't know but I hope Americans Obeccession with what is in their DRAWERS passes soon. We have real problems that need atention.
Or does it take a BRIDGE TO FALL ON THEM before they wake up?

[DavidHealy]

One obvious explanation is that the GOP would like the 2008 election to be fought about homosexuality rather than the Iraq war, the economy, corrupt GOP politicians, etc. and the MSM is falling in line to promote this sleight of hand.

[mrcontinental]

Bingo!

[DMSmith]

Two reasons. One is that for years nobody dared speak of it. So now, it appears to be everywhere. Two is that the Republicans have found this an issue they can use to divide us and to - they hope - conquer.

As Dr. Phil would say "How's that working for them?"

[snaggster]

All reporters for the MSM are gay! Duh. Just like they're all liberals.

[St. Augustine]

General Pace has said he has certain beliefs that he learned growing up. Evidently Pace is as adept as picking his moral beliefs as Petraeus is picking his statistics.

What bothers me is why would a person whose life was so influenced by the Christian teachings of his childhood (or should that be childrenho­od?)become a career soldier?

[snaggster]

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before...

Too bad I can't sing it for you all.

[larry278]

Onward, Christian soldiers, your duty is plain; slay your Christian neighbors, or by them you'll be slain. Lyrics in WWI & WWII, etc.

[DMSmith]

What interests me is that someone in this high a position in the American Military - which is here to protect our American freedoms - thinks that religious views, especially HIS, should dictate anything to do with the Military.

He should be fired and stripped of his rank for even saying such a thing!!!!!!!!

With people like him 'protecting' my rights, I have none.

[chagedorn]

A combination of generations of gay activism, increased mainstream acceptance of gay people outside the MSM and of course, that old standby, prurient interest. And probably a modicum of increased anti-gay sentiments brought on by the current administration and natural resistance to change among some citizens.