Dana, I have a neighbor who doesn't even believe that gay men exist, that they'd dare do the "icky," sticky thing that they do do. But he loves lesbians, as do bluhzillions of straight men, and would vote for their protection, since they're sexy. So, let's drop gay men from federal protection! *^

* Satire.

^ 'Cause, like Dana Runs, I'm for equality.

Yep. Sarcasm. As for those bluhzillions of straight men who get up on lesbian porn, I'm basing that upon, well, everything: from those peni-ometers that measure blood flow and reveal that lesbian porn gets guys harder and higher than other any porn to the profusion of girl-on-girl images and action, which is used to sell everything from soda to "I'm such a sexually-charged chick that I'll kiss anything and everyone."

However, since Aravosis offered to support lesbian-only federal protections, as he believes that incremental progress is fine 'n' dandy, he can tap into truth and fundy fiction to make his case:

Lesbians don't spread STDs.

Lesbians don't desire fresh flesh.

Lesbians aren't randy.

Lesbians don't sleep with turtles and toads, but have kissed a few frogs in their search for their princesses.

And so on. And he can use his blog to push for this restricting, sexy legislation.

Her last two posts are further proof.

And Sugarman, your iron-o-meter is very, very broken. Quick like a bunny, go procure another.

And John Aravosis, maybe Ms. Runs can't teach you to be a man, but she sure could teach you to be a mensch.

A conversation can never have enough mensches...and you're one. That was a manly apology. Womanly too. Ahh, it was adultly...and quite nice.

A paid space.

And yes, you do write well and even better than your word-workery is your bravery. Alas, you might not be famous enough. And Mr. Aravosis is prickly enough and calcified enough to generate contentious copy and contentious copy garners attention and attention sells ad space. But, Ms. Runs, you're more than good enough. And funny enough too.

Your devoted fan,

The Capote Who Doesn't Golightly when it Comes to Equality

...are nothing like women, in a vital way, that perspective doesn't matter, as there are tens millions of Americans who believe that men like John Aravosis, men who prefer to kiss and caress other men and who like to be deeply penetrated by other men, are deeply and disgustingly womanly. And I don't care how butchy or straight-acting you are: if you're a boy who kisses boys, then you're the antithesis of a man in countless communities.

And that's what connects John and his gay brothers to trans-folk: this monstrous perception.

...in the past and I double that here.

Zoebrain is also a world-rocker.

And David Sugarman is very, very sweet.

"all I care about is muslims are dying. That's a good thing."

Unless he's writing from Iraq and employed by Blackwater, he's a liar.

Susan Wood and MerelyMortalMale, on the other hand, are the best.

If you're too old, then be a mercencary. If you're too feeble, then drive a truck for Halliburton across the desert. If you're too feeble to do anything other than tap a keyboard and pretend that it's WWIII, then give all you have to vets' organizations, including your keyboard.

But you won't, will you?

You're not just a coward. You're a coward's coward, a man who sends other folks off to fight...and I don't care if you once fought. If that's so, that's all the more reason to fight again, since you have the skills.

One thing that I've never understood about the Right is the media's unwillingness to ask why the Right, with all their crucifix-flaunting, didn't advocate turning the other cheek post-9-11? How can you be a Christian and attack or even counterattack? You can't. If you follow the Christ, you do more than forgive. You love your enemies. I think there are about 56 true Christians in the world. Everyone else is buying lottery tickets and dreaming of wealth or living in McMansions and rah-rah-ing war, evermore war, for ever and ever.

The Vichykook wrote: "The Sen From Minn must have thought he was in Barney Franks office or perhals the DNC Headquarters."

Okay. He's marginally literate. And his topical literacy is crazy akimbo. And his bigotry has launched a Bigot Pride Parade and he's flaunting his mottled, undersized cerebral cortex on the Internet, where children might see it.

I will fight no more forever with this marginally literate, topically illiterate, bigotry-flaunting boy.

"Paglia has got to be the least self-aware human being on the face of the earth. And can't she once, JUST ONCE, find something even remotely new to say?"

Years ago, Paglia felt fresh to me. I wonder if she fawns over Madonna because Madonna, unlike Paglia, pepetually reinvents herself, whereas, as you note, Paglia repeats, repeats, repeats. I skim her columns now, but enjoy the letters to the editor.

I saw you a couple times at KSG, but I was too shy to approach. It would have been easier to approach Bono.

And the queer blogs covered it then. The only new news is the lawsuit. Still, better late than never.