Tragic Rabbit

Schools, in America at least, have always been used for this purpose. It's not for naught that George Carlin refers to them as our society's 'indoctrination centers'. I don't think they are any more so these days than they were, for example, in the days when the Bible was what you learned to spell and read on and teachers carried rods or switches to chastise slow learners. Every society wants what it wants of its young--the specifics may change but the pattern remains. Hitler knew that when he asked 1933 Germany to give him its young, and with them he'd create the world they all wanted. He only did more extravagantly what schools in America, and probably elsewhere, have always done: social indoctrination and training. I report this as a longtime classroom teacher, btw, and not as outside observer. *******************************further reporting.... Back to the subject here, of the play's cancellation, I'd like to report that I've had this happen to me twice through my years as a drama teacher and coach: had a play halted mid-run by some crackpot complaint. What outsiders may not understand is the essential and deep conservatism of school administrators--if there is any complaint, no matter how trivial or ludicrous,their initial impulse is to shut down, stop or hush up the complaint's source. It's reductionist but that's how school-think works. Thus have I had two productions halted AFTER initial performances based on some crap comment or complaint from someone....anyone really--a parent, a fellow teacher--but they usually do so by indicating in any sort of public forum that it's 'too mature': which is 'hot button' school politix gobbledegook code for sex, drugs or violence. The play doesn't have to actually have sex or violence, of course, the response is knee-jerk, I promise you. It could be some tiny thing in the script, one line if that, and nearly always has nothing zero ziltch nada to do with the quality of the play (one of mine that was cancelled had been a prize-winning Broadway hit) or the importance of the subject to the students viewing it. That's the part that outsiders aren't grasping, imo, if these posts are an indication. Reality and School are two different things. It can even be some teacher with a grudge against the drama coach picking the best way to injure the drama teacher: shut down or discredit the drama program. They may even hate the queer/disgusting/Goth/weird/drama kids who skive off class (with full permission, always) to work on the sets. Don't kid yourselves that drama programs are supported and encouraged-- they exist as weak little fiefdoms on the sufferance of an autocratic and ever-changing administration staff and goals. You only have a drama program where you have a drama teacher not only qualified to put on productions but willing to fight a neverending and thankless fight on behalf of his or her students. It takes nothing to shut down a play, unfortunately. The best you get, when and if reality ever comes home, is a weak 'apology'...cold comfort to the many students, parents and teachers who worked hard to get the play into production. I can't tell you how much making that announcement to your cast and crew SUCKS---utterly and absolutely SUCKS. Everyone crying?I promise, you'd rather have your eyeballs gouged out with toothpicks than face your kids with that news. TR

Well, that's for sure, Camster. The reader non-response to the reanimation of TR is underwhelming...and I'd therefore like to take this opportunity to thank Camy, Dude, Mum and Dad for encouraging me to learn to spell. Kisses... TR

14-year-old Brandon David McInerney is actually the suspect being charged with premeditated murder (bail set at $770,000). The victim was schoolmate 15-year-old Lawrence King who was shot on his junior high school campus and later died of head wounds. It is the AP-release video clip about Lawrence that Dude was directing us to view. Just wanted to clarify. TR

AP VIDEO to right center of story I think the above link to page with imbedded video link may be the video Dude wanted us to see, it begins with a close-shot of the boy's face. Video is within story page, midway down, on right. TR

Dude, that video has been removed and is no longer available at that link. Can you furnish another info source? TR

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-6827.html Rugby star Cohen backs gay players 12th February 2008 13:10 PinkNews.co.uk staff writer England rugby union player Ben Cohen has spoken out about the absence of any openly gay players in the sport. Cohen, 29, who has a following in the gay community and has appeared at events in gay venues, last year moved to French club Brive after 11 years at Northampton Saints. Speaking to OutSports.com the winger said that in his opinion it "would be fine" for a rugby player to come out as gay. "Most rugby players are cool about it and think that people should be allowed to live their lives how they want to, but I can't speak for everyone," he said. "The key thing is the individual needs to be able to take the pressure of top-level rugby and the knowledge that his team mates know he is gay. "I don't know for sure, but my feelings are that if he were completely open about it, after the first bit of banter, things would calm down." Cohen, who is married, told the website that he is planning a night for gay fans in London in March and to his knowledge he has never played with anyone who is gay. Despite Cohen's positive comments, there are no openly gay men in professional rugby or football in the UK. Last year referee Nigel Owens talked about being only openly gay man to be a rugby union ref at the highest level of the game. He officiated at the Rugby World Cup in France last year. Mr Owens, from Pontyberem, South Wales, said: "It's such a big taboo to be gay in my line of work. I had to think very hard because I didn't want to jeopardise my career. "I don't know of any gay rugby players I could have confided in. "But I knew I couldn't go on being unhappy and keeping the truth hidden." Mr Owens informed most people of his sexuality by text message. In November 2006 Bob Rogers, the president of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said the sport?s values of respect can help create an impact on wider society. The RFU joined with gay rugby team the Kings Cross Steelers and the Metropolitan Police to launch a new poster campaign against homophobia. The message is based on the Football Association?s Kick Racism Out of Football campaign, which also includes homophobia. Posters will be displayed at sporting venues in changing rooms and where participants and spectators gather. Gay rugby club the Kings Cross Steelers' chairman Sean Robertson told PinkNews.co.uk last year: "Rugby doesn't have problems with homophobia like other sports. "The game teaches tolerance, respect and sportsmanship."

http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=2700 Film recreates night of Milk's death by Seth Hemmelgarn s.hemmelgarn@ebar.com Supervisor Tom Ammiano, near camera at right, participated in the reenactment for the movie Milk of the march to City Hall following the murder of Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone in 1978. Photo: Jane Philomen Cleland After taking the weekend off work, driving six hours from Eureka, and spending her rent money on a hotel room, Rebbecca Caya stood near the middle of Market Street, waiting to march. Caya was surrounded by hundreds of other people dressed in 1970s-style denim, plaid, leather, and knits who had come to re-enact the candlelight vigil that took place the night San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk was assassinated in 1978. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to march for Harvey," said the 32-year-old, who said she's seen the documentary The Times of Harvey Milk about 30 times. She said she was struck by Milk's urging of others to come out of the closet, and the spirit of hope he engendered. The march Friday, February 8 was filmed for the movie Milk, which is being directed by Gus Van Sant. Sean Penn is playing Milk. Milk, the first openly gay man to win elective office in the United States, was a city supervisor when he and Mayor George Moscone were shot and killed by ex-Supervisor Dan White on November 27, 1978 in City Hall. White, who was imprisoned for five years, committed suicide in 1985 after he was released from prison. Besides urging gays and lesbians to come out of the closet, Milk built coalitions with organized labor and other groups and fought against anti-gay ballot measures, including the failed Briggs initiative that would have barred gays from teaching in California public schools. Like many at the reenactment, Rick Hauptman was also at the original march. Hauptman, a member of the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, recalled thousands of people "totally silent and in shock" at the first vigil. That vigil stretched from the Castro down to City Hall. Hauptman has forgotten many details, but he said, "I remember the tears streaming down my face." People who were at the original march said it was diverse in terms of age, race, and sexual orientation. The crowd gathered for the reenactment appeared to be mostly white. However, ages seemed to range from the 20s to the 60s, and all orientations appeared to be represented. There was also a fairly broad range of awareness of who Milk was. Gina Williams, 22, drove from Sacramento. She'd learned about Milk by looking him up on Wikipedia before coming. She said she'd seen a clip of footage of the original march from the Milk documentary. Watching it left her feeling "crushed." "It's always devastating to hear about people striving to make a difference get pulled out." Some talked about how much of the work remains undone. For example, federal laws still don't protect LGBT people from being fired just because of their orientation. And just a few years after Milk was murdered, AIDS hit San Francisco, and the world. But there was gratitude for Milk's message. Patti Beadles was 14 when Milk was killed. "Because of him, I can walk down the street with my girlfriend and be okay," she said. When the call for "Action!" came, the crowd that had been chattering and laughing just moments before went completely silent. People wore somber faces, looked straight ahead, and held up their candles. The only sounds audible were the whir of traffic in the distance and the noise of scuffling feet. The crowd was mostly made up of volunteers, but there were also about 250 people who'd been picked from earlier casting calls, according to Jonathan Shedd, location manager for the film. The vigil that was filmed for Milk was considerably shorter than the original march, going just from Gough Street to Van Ness Avenue, and it only took about 10 minutes. Shooting for that particular scene concluded about 1 a.m. Shedd said shooting on other scenes continued until about 4:30 a.m. Filming is expected to wrap up by about March 16, he said. Shedd said the shooting of the vigil "couldn't have gone any better." Supervisor Tom Ammiano, who is playing himself in the movie, was a participant in Friday's march. "The energy was positive," he said. Kirk Linn, who was also at the reenactment, said that at a candlelight vigil on the anniversary of Milk's death last year, there were only 55 people. But, noting the number of people in the crowd who were likely under 30, he said their presence "will show the world, 'Yes, young people actually do believe in the spirit of Harvey Milk.'"

13th February 2008 17:15 PinkNews.co.uk staff writer A police force named as the best employer for gay, lesbian and bisexual people in Scotland is celebrating LGBT History Month by flying the rainbow flag. The public display of support at Lothian and Borders Police headquarters in Edinburgh has been welcomed by gay rights organisation Stonewall, who compile the list of top employers. However, not everyone was pleased. The Edinburgh Evening News spoke to a former employee: "There are members of staff who feel this was insensitive for religious reasons. Some have deep personal convictions and this flies against that." Chief Inspector David Lyle, who was Scotland's first openly gay officer, told the paper: "The contribution of LGBT people is often forgotten or ignored. It's great the police is able to recognise those efforts. "It sends out the message of support to staff members and the wider public that the force is committed to diversity and equality. "I'm sad if some people are unhappy about the flag for religious reasons, but I know many religious people who do not feel it goes against their faith and they are very supportive." LGBT History Month is being celebrated with hundreds of events across the country throughout February. http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-6842.html

Irish gays picket parliament over marriage equality 14th February 2008 12:20 Tony Grew A recently former pressure group will protest at the Irish parliament today and present the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) with 1,000 messages demanding full civil marriages for gay people, something the Irish government has ruled out as contrary to the country's constitution. Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgendered (LGBT) Noise is highlighting the lack of rights gay couples have in relation to care of children, inheritance, pensions and wills. Last year Ireland's Minister of Justice rejected the possibility of a referendum to allow gay marriage. Brian Lenihan said civil partnership was easier to achieve, because gay marriage would require a constitutional change that would split the country. Article 41 of the Irish constitution says that: "The State pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of marriage, on which the family is founded, and to protect it against attack." Gay activists argue that it does not give any definition of marriage itself, and thus does not outlaw gay marriage. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network last year Mr Lenihan said he was keen to guarantee equality to gay people. "This government, as our agreed programme reflects, is committed to full equality of opportunity for all in our society. "In particular, we are committed to providing a more supportive and secure legal environment for same-sex couples" he said. "I believe equality for same-sex couples can be achieved through a diversity of legal arrangements and I am very keen that in the interests to your community we should proceed now to bring in a law that will give recognition and protection to same sex couples who are involved in loving stable relationships." The Minister said that the expected law should allow couples to formalise their relationships, undertake mutual rights and obligations, obtain legal protection and legal benefits for their relationships. Legislation is expected to be introduced next month March. Homosexuality was decriminalised in the Republic of Ireland in 1993. Both discrimination and incitement to hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation are illegal. http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-6847.html

Senate Ethics Committee Admonishes Larry Craig By CARL HULSE WASHINGTON ? Senator Larry E. Craig was admonished by his colleagues on Wednesday for conduct that reflected poorly on the Senate as the result of his arrest and guilty plea last summer in an undercover sex sting in a men?s bathroom at the Minneapolis airport. The reprimand handed down by the Senate Ethics Committee said that Mr. Craig?s conduct in the bathroom was improper and that his actions after his arrest appeared to be an effort to evade the legal consequences in violation of the code of ethics for government service. Committee members also raised questions about Mr. Craig?s conversion of over $200,000 in campaign money to pay legal fees, noting that he had not cleared that action as required with the committee. The panel said it would consider further use of campaign money without approval as showing a continuing disregard for ethics rules. The committee finding stopped short of recommending a more serious punishment, like expulsion, but it was another public blow to Mr. Craig, an Idaho Republican. His political career has been shattered ? and his case has become a staple of late-night television comics ? since disclosure of his arrest by an officer who claimed Mr. Craig had solicited him for sex from an adjoining bathroom stall. Mr. Craig, who has said he is not gay, has denied any wrongdoing, saying the undercover officer misconstrued his actions. He sought unsuccessfully to have his guilty plea withdrawn. Although he initially said he would leave Congress, he decided to serve out this term, his third, but he will not seek re-election. After the disclosure in August of his June arrest and later guilty plea to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge, Senate Republican leaders called for the ethics inquiry. They urged Mr. Craig to resign immediately and raised the threat of public hearings. But the three-page letter based on the ethics panel?s preliminary inquiry into Mr. Craig?s case appeared to foreclose that possibility. Mr. Craig did not testify before the committee, which based its conclusion on the facts of the criminal case, his public statements and his lawyer?s responses to committee inquiries. ?The Select Committee on Ethics resolves this matter through your public admonition so that, on behalf of the United States Senate, it may make known clearly that the conduct to which you pled guilty, together with related and subsequent conduct discussed in this letter, is improper conduct which has reflected discreditably on the Senate,? said the letter, signed by three committee Republicans and three Democrats. Aides to Mr. Craig said they learned of the ethics findings only when the letter was posted on the committee?s Web site. In a statement released by his office, Mr. Craig said: ?While I am disappointed and strongly disagree with the conclusions reached by the Senate Ethics Committee, from the outset I have encouraged the committee to act in a timely fashion and they have done so. I will continue to serve the people of Idaho.? While the committee took no action beyond the public rebuke, public admonishments of senators are somewhat rare and considered serious. Senator Robert G. Torricelli, Democrat of New Jersey, left office after he was admonished in 2002 in a case involving gifts from a supporter. Mr. Craig has been treated coldly by some colleagues since his return as he tried to restore a sense of normalcy to his service. The committee said in its letter that it accepted as true all the elements of his guilty plea, adding, ?in our view, you committed the offense to which you pled guilty.? ?Your claims to the court, through counsel, to the effect that your guilty plea resulted from improper pressure or coercion, or that you did not, as a legal matter, know what you were doing when you pled guilty, do not appear credible,? the panel said. The committee also chastised Mr. Craig for showing the arresting officer a business card that identified him as a senator, saying that action could be viewed ?as an improper attempt by you to use your position as a United States senator to receive special and favorable treatment.? Lawyers for Mr. Craig had questioned whether the committee had jurisdiction over the case since it did not directly relate to his Senate duties, but the panel dismissed that, noting that it had wide-ranging authority over the behavior of senators. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader who had called for Mr. Craig?s resignation and for the ethics inquiry, had no comment on Wednesday night.

TRENTON, New Jersey (AP) -- They've bickered over whether she knew he was gay, whose tell-all book would sell better, whether a poster of a nude man hanging over his new lover's bed had to come down before she'd allow their 6-year-old to visit. Divorce has been exceptionally bitter for former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey and his wife, Dina Matos McGreevey. Unless they can resolve the custody and money issues that have arisen since their acrimonious parting, the state's estranged former first couple is heading for a May trial. The pair split three months after he came out on live television, saying he had a gay affair with an ex-staffer and that he would resign. On Friday, they were in court for the umpteenth round in their drawn-out divorce proceeding, this time to fight about whether Matos McGreevey has to cooperate the experts he hired to bolster his claim for shared custody. Celebrity divorce lawyer Raoul Felder, whose list of clients includes exes of Mike Tyson and Liz Taylor, doubts that the former governor and his wife will follow the script of the 95 percent of divorcing spouses who settle their cases before trial. "She is a betrayed spouse, but worse," said Felder, who is not involved in the McGreevey case. "He turned away from her for a member of his own sex; it was even more insulting because she was made a public fool. She feels as if she was used and this is payback time." The McGreeveys were married in October 2000 and split in November 2004, when they left the governor's mansion in Princeton and began living apart. As of February, they've been separated with the intention of divorcing for three years and three months -- nearly as long as the marriage. After the breakup, he wrote a tell-all book, then went on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and acknowledged having a gay tryst while his wife was in the hospital giving birth to their daughter, Jacqueline. She followed with a tell-all book of her own, and they argued over whose would sell more copies. On custody, their lawyers -- he's on his third, she's kept the same one throughout -- have squabbled over all sorts of issues. Matos McGreevey has complained about artwork in her husband's home, demanding that one nude photograph be removed, and arguing that Jacqueline should not be allowed to sleep in her father's bed. McGreevey, who is studying to be an Episcopal priest, wants to keep his daughter for overnight visits on a school night and wants to take her to Episcopal services when she's with him. The couple once rushed to court days before McGreevey was set to throw Jacqueline a birthday bash because his wife argued it wasn't his weekend for visitation. "Mr. McGreevey is extremely hopeful that in Jacqueline's best interest her mother will relent in her so far obstinate refusal to consent to true joint custody of this child, which would allow Jacqueline to have the benefits of a deep and bonded relationship with both of her parents," said Stephen P. Haller, McGreevey's lawyer. The bickering also involves money: Matos McGreevey claims he isn't living up to his earning potential as a licensed attorney. She also insists his live-in boyfriend, Mark O'Donnell, should have to disclose his finances and business dealings. Matos McGreevey lives in a modest home in Springfield. She is an executive with Columbus Hospital, but likely will lose her job in the spring when the hospital is slated to close. Matos McGreevey and her lawyer, John Post, did not return messages seeking comment. Like other divorces, it's also been expensive: McGreevey said his legal expenses have topped $400,000 so far and that they easily could double before the divorce is final. E-mail to a friend Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.

Oz Civil Unions Hit Snag Over Ceremonies by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff Posted: February 7, 2008 - 5:00 pm ET (Canberra) Legislation that would allow same-sex couples in the Australian Capital Territory to enter into civil unions has drawn the ire of the federal government over plans to allow the couples to hold public ceremonies marking the events. The territorial government announced plans in November to reintroduce civil union legislation that twice before had been blocked by the former federal Liberal government. At the time the new Labor government of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said it was not opposed in principle to the bill. But now the plan to allow ceremonies could change that. We think a civil unions register along the lines of Tasmania is appropriate," Attorney-General Robert McClelland told The Australian newspaper. Tasmania has had a domestic partner registry that grants very limited rights to same-sex couples. The state of Victoria is considering a similar measure. The ACT civil union bill is more extensive and the Rudd government has called for the territory to limit what if offers gay and lesbian couples, warning the legislation could violate Australian law which limits marriage to opposite-sex couples. The major sticking point, however, are the ceremonies. "The ceremonial aspects of the ACT model were inappropriate," McClelland said this week. The territorial government says it won't back down. "We will stand by our commitment to our community for the legal option for a ceremony - that is our position," ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell told The Australian. The federal government is not saying whether it will override the territory if the civil union bill is passed. Twice before the territorial government passed civil unions legislation only to see the laws voided by the federal government of then Prime Minister John Howard. (story) Howard said the legislation violated a ban on gay marriage in Australia that was enacted by the federal Parliament in 2004. After the first attempt by the ACT government to legalize civil unions the federal Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission began an investigation into inequities faced by same-sex couples. The commission held hearings across the country. (story) Commissioners heard from dozens of gay couples in hearings across the country of how partners have been cut out of wills because they have not legal status, how children in same-sex relationships are harmed, and how federal pension law hurts one partner when the other dies. In its report to the government last June the Commission made more than 50 recommendations and urged the passing laws guaranteeing rights for same-sex couples. ?365Gay.com 2008

You're not my agent? Then what exactly are you billing me for? And a bit of TR Super Tuesday news.... Maverick Republican makes bid for Eskimo vote *

No expiration date? I've always found that the very best in edible raccoon products do include 'use by' dates in their labeling. And, of course, always remember to refrigerate after opening. Most people will discard container if the raccoon is spoiled. More top 'o the pops headline news... Scientists create sperm from Barbara Walters' sense of humor

It's not? Sorry, no, I only report the real news. Here's this morning's top TR story: Giuliani Campaign May Have Been Illusion Kissy-poo... TR

Gee, guess that's a resounding thumbs-down on the whole MJ retrospective thing. TR

Don't worry, love, you soccer-lovin' Ozzies will soon be tackled. TR P.S. Thanks for all the compliments, guys. P.P.S. No, Bart, it's some other smartass, non-writer Rabbit... P.P.P.S. Everyone keeping up with my ongoing Michael Jackson tutorial sig?

Are you comparing me to a goose's rear end, Des? But even that can't stop me, take a gander HERE Mwa-ha-ha... TR

And put me right next to that famous chicken that can lay eggs. Oh, and Luggie? What's really scary is that I can DO the macarena... Kisses... TR

CLICK TO VIEW PHELPS

GLAAD CALL TO ACTION RE HEATH LEDGER'S DEATH (click to view alert online) Jan. 24, 2008 In the wake of Heath Ledger's death, people around the world are mourning the gifted actor's passing and are expressing their appreciation for how he changed hearts and minds with his Oscar-nominated role as a gay cowboy in 2005's Brokeback Mountain. In a stark and disturbing contrast, Fox News Radio host John Gibson cruelly mocked Ledger's death and his role in Brokeback Mountain during his Jan. 22 John Gibson Show radio broadcast. During the show, Gibson played an audio clip from the film of Jake Gyllenhaal's character, Jack, telling Ennis (played by Ledger), "I wish I knew how to quit you." Gibson then coldly quipped, "Well, he found out how to quit you." Then, after playing another audio clip from the movie of Ledger's character saying, "We're dead," Gibson mockingly said, "We're dead" and played the clip again. ?Gibson?s remarks are vulgar and disgusting,? said Rashad Robinson, GLAAD?s Senior Director of Media Programs. ?It?s sickening that Gibson would exploit Heath Ledger?s tragic death to promote such hurtful intolerance. And to do so at a time when family and friends are grieving shows a level of insensitivity that is beyond the pale.? Beyond his mockery of Ledger's role in Brokeback Mountain, Gibson called the actor a "weirdo" with "a serious drug problem," and callously speculated on the reasons Ledger might have committed suicide. Gibson had previously mocked Brokeback Mountain--calling it a "gay agenda movie" on his Fox News TV program in 2006. Gibson?s Past Comments on Brokeback Mountain: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,180499,00.html TAKE ACTION NOW! GLAAD strongly urges you to contact Fox News and ask its representatives why they continue to provide a platform for John Gibson's cruel and tasteless comments. Please contact: Mr. Mitch Davis Vice President Fox News Radio Network 1211 Avenue Of The Americas 18th Floor New York, NY 10036-8701 Direct Phone: *212-301-5800 Outlet Fax: *212-301-5455 Outlet Phone: 212-301-3000 Email: mitch.davis@foxnews.com Mr. Robert Finnerty Senior Vice President Fox News Radio Network 1211 Avenue Of The Americas 18th Floor New York, NY 10036-8701 Direct Phone: *212-301-5800 Outlet Fax: *212-301-5455 Outlet Phone: 212-301-3000 Email: robert.finnerty@foxnews.com Ms. Irena Briganti Vice President of Public Relations FOX News Channel 1211 Avenue Of The Americas New York, NY 10036 Direct Phone : *212-301-3608 Outlet Fax : *212-382-1411 Outlet Phone : 212-301-3000 Email: irena.briganti@foxnews.com Contact by: E-mail Ms. Suzanne Scott Vice President, Programming FOX News Channel 1211 Avenue Of The Americas New York, NY 10036 Direct Phone : *212-301-8558 Outlet Fax : *212-382-1411 Outlet Phone : 212-301-3000 Email: suzanne.scott@foxnews.com foxnewsradio@foxnews.com gibsonradio@foxnews.com JOHN GIBSON john.gibson@foxnews.com 212-301-3000 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That's Professor Faggot to You by John Corvino I?m back in the classroom after an eight-month sabbatical. It?s good to be teaching again. I love teaching. I?m a philosophy professor at Wayne State University in Detroit. Mostly, I teach ethics, including a large Contemporary Moral Issues class. It?s fun ?selling? philosophy to undergraduates who take my class just to fulfill a requirement. (Wayne State calls the requirement ?ethical exposures,? a phrase that makes me think of wardrobe malfunctions.) Some years ago, on an end-of-semester evaluation, a student called me a ?faget.? I?m not sure which disturbed me more ? his homophobia or his abysmal spelling. (?Faget? almost looks French, like it should rhyme with ?beret? or ?toupee?: ?Professor Corvino is a faZHAY.? Ooh la la.) I?ve been openly gay since my earliest semesters of teaching. I don?t put it on the syllabus or anything. But like my straight colleagues, I sometimes illustrate points by making reference to my significant other, and I don?t change the pronouns. Besides, nowadays students will often google a professor?s name, and when they google mine the screen goes lavender. There?s no getting around it: I?m the Gay Moralist. What this means, whether I like it or not, is that I?m a ?role model? for gay students and their allies, and a curiosity (at best) or a deviant (at worst) for the others. It?s a somewhat uncomfortable position, but since the alternatives are either going back into the closet or finding another job, I work with it. Like most professors, I have pet-peeves in the classroom. Here are a few. None of them is related to my being gay, but hear me out for a moment: Bluetooth earpieces make stupid fashion accessories. Unless you are planning to take a call during my class, you have no business wearing one in the lecture hall. Ditto for tracksuits, which are, as the name implies, for the track. E-mail may be informal by nature, but that doesn?t mean you ought to be dumb about it. If my class is full and you want an override, sending me an e-mail rife with grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors won?t make me jump at the chance to work with you. Speaking of e-mail: now that you?re in college, it?s time to get a grown-up e-mail address. I don?t need to think of you as ?cutiepie@domain.com.? As I said, none of these pet-peeves is linked to being gay. They involve lessons that all students would do well to learn. (Potential employers don?t want to think of you as cutiepie@domain.com, either.) But whenever I scold offenders, I worry about coming across as a prissy queen. Being a curmudgeon is fine, but being a prissy queen scares me. Is this fear internalized homophobia? Maybe. Or maybe it?s acute awareness of my ?role-model? status. For many students, I?m ?the gay guy.? I?m the faZHAY. And so when I mentally critique my classroom performance, I find myself asking ?What message about gay people will students draw from me?? The concern is not unlike that of female professors ? or for that matter, businesswomen or presidential candidates ? who have to navigate the line between ?tough? and ?bitch.? It?s an unfair double standard, but that doesn?t mean it?s irrelevant. A teacher?s effectiveness depends in part on audience reaction. (In this respect teaching is like many other professions: think of salesmen, actors, or writers.) When personal characteristics get in an audience?s way ? in this case, by distracting from learning ? they become relevant to job performance. It doesn?t matter whether we?re talking about gender, or sexual orientation, or race, or having a thick accent or a squeaky voice. It doesn?t matter whether the characteristics are innate or acquired, or whether they?re mutable or fixed. What matters is whether they affect getting the job done. Sexual orientation sometimes does. My worries about ?prissy queendom? may be a personal quirk, but my concerns about how my gayness affects my students? learning are part of my job. I?d be remiss if I didn?t think about it. I would not for a moment suggest that the answer is for gay professors to remain closeted. I don?t ? and even if I plausibly could, I wouldn?t. I say this not merely because the closet is dehumanizing. Being closeted would ultimately make me a less effective teacher. Part of being a good philosophy professor is challenging people to examine their presuppositions, and part of being a good teacher of any sort is moving students beyond their current boundaries. Besides, the closet has a way of undermining credibility, even when unsuspected, which it seldom is. The bottom line is that the challenges faced in reaching students ? including homophobia ? can be opportunities rather than obstacles. Except for those damn earpieces. I hate those. ?365Gay.com 2008 http://www.365gay.com/opinion/corvino/corvino.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Corvino is a writer, speaker, and philosophy professor at Wayne State University in Detroit. His column ?The Gay Moralist? appears bi-weekly at 365gay.com.

Did Ledger Die Of Overdose? by The Associated Press Posted: January 23, 2008 - 5:00 pm ET Updated January 24, 2008 - 6:00 am ET (New York City) To many who saw Heath Ledger in the last months of his life, the actor appeared to be happy, healthy and excited - "in a great place," in the words of one friend. Which only made his sudden end feel more tragic. Medical examiner's office spokeswoman Ellen Borakove said the 28-year-old actor's autopsy Wednesday was inconclusive and that authorities would know more in about 10 days, when more tests are expected to be complete. Ledger's housekeeper and a massage therapist found the actor dead Tuesday, lying naked and face-down on his bed, police said. There were six different types of prescription drugs in the room, including pills to treat insomnia and anxiety, and an antihistamine, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing. A rolled-up $20 bill was found on the floor near the bed, but New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne said lab tests found nothing to indicate the bill had been used to snort drugs. Police also said no illegal drugs were found in the apartment. Lee Daniels, who produced the critically acclaimed 2001 movie "Monster's Ball," in which Ledger starred, strongly disputed any notion that Ledger had a drug problem. "The definition of substance abuse is really up to one's perspective," Daniels said. "I didn't see him as a drug addict. I saw him as someone who enjoyed life. I know drug addicts - he was not a drug addict." The law enforcement officials said three of the drugs were prescribed in Europe. Ledger had recently been filming in London. Ledger told The New York Times in November that working on the films "The Dark Knight" and "I'm Not There" had been stressful, and that he was struggling with sleeplessness and had taken the sleep aid Ambien. Daniels also said the Australian-born actor was in great spirits when they saw each other a few months ago. "He was in a good mood, he was in a great place ... he was excited about living in New York," Daniels said. Police said Ledger probably died between 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. Tuesday. At 1 p.m., the housekeeper went into his bedroom to change a light bulb, saw him sleeping and heard him snoring. "I didn't think anything was wrong," the housekeeper, Teresa Solomon, told the New York Post. She said she was "still shaking" and unable to sleep a day after the actor's death. At 2:45 p.m., the massage therapist showed up for Ledger's appointment, knocked on his door and got no answer. She later noticed Ledger was unconscious and called actress Mary-Kate Olsen, whose number was programmed into Ledger's cell phone, to seek advice, police said. Olsen said she would send over her private security. In the ensuing moments, the massage therapist realized that Ledger might be dead, called Olsen again, and then called 911. Paramedics - and Olsen's security people - arrived minutes later. News of the death stunned family, fans and colleagues. "Working with Heath was one of the purest joys of my life," said Ang Lee, who directed Ledger to an Oscar nomination in the 2005 film "Brokeback Mountain." "He brought to the role of Ennis more than any of us could have imagined - a thirst for life, for love and for truth, and a vulnerability that made everyone who knew him love him. His death is heartbreaking." Before moving to Manhattan, Ledger lived with then-girlfriend Michelle Williams in a four-story, sage-green Brooklyn brownstone with a black wrought-iron fence. Ledger was a frequent guest at the Brawta Caribbean Cafe two blocks from the house, owner Jennifer Ewers said. "He was a perfect gentleman. He comes in here with his hoodie on, reads a book, and gives you a peace sign," she said. "He was always with his daughter, playing hide-and-seek among the plants, or on his skateboard, peeking his head in." Fans left flowers and candles Wednesday outside the Brooklyn home and Ledger's apartment in Manhattan's tony SoHo neighborhood. Khaled Ali, 41, a stage manager for a Broadway show, dropped off a candle at the apartment building on his way to work, saying he and fellow cast members were devastated. "I felt a connection with him as an actor, as a fellow in the theater community," he said. "With 'Brokeback Mountain' he touched me personally in telling the story of my community. It was very touching." Intense roles became Ledger's trademark soon after he got his start in such teen movies as "10 Things I Hate About You." He buried his Australian accent and downplayed his leading-man looks as a sexually confused cowboy in "Brokeback Mountain," a drug addict in "Candy," and an incarnation of Bob Dylan in "I'm Not There." His role as the Joker in the upcoming Batman movie "The Dark Knight" may be his final finished performance. Ledger split last year with Williams, who played his wife in "Brokeback." The two had a daughter, the now 2-year-old Matilda. Williams and Matilda returned to their Brooklyn home Wednesday evening from Trollhattan, Sweden. The 27-year-old actress had been there shooting scenes for the upcoming film "Mammoth," said Martin Stromberg, a spokesman for film production company Memfis Film. Stromberg said Williams had gotten the news of Ledger's death at her hotel late Tuesday night. Streams of reporters and a thicket of satellite trucks on Wednesday surrounded Ledger's Manhattan apartment, where some letters were piled among well-wishers' bouquets and candles. One handwritten note on plain white paper read: "Heath, how could anyone hate 10 things about you. We couldn't find one bad thing about you. God bless your soul, you're in our prayers." ?365Gay.com 2008 http://365gay.com/Newscon08/01/012308autop.htm VIEW A PICTORIAL TRIBUTE TO HEATH LEDGER