Teh Gays

I have often wondered about the financial arrangements in heterosexual relationships. For instance: People combine their checking accounts? Are they crazy?

I mean, how are you supposed to buy each other gifts? How are you supposed to have any freakin' PRIVACY if you have to account for where every penny goes? Yargh!

Also, it squicks me out to think of someone else having control over my money. That is, besides the student loan people, the credit card people, the bank, the warmongering government, etc.

I know some same-sex couples share accounts, especially if they have kids or buy a house. I just don't know many.

And also: I loathe gender-divided chores. Far as I'm concerned, each person cleans, does dishes, empties the dishwasher, cooks, does laundry, tackles the basement and garage from time to time, gardens, etc. (Though I admit to preferring weeding to cutting back roses and dusting to sweeping the floor.) Anyway...

Apparently, I'm so, so right:

Notably, same-sex relationships, whether between men or women, were far more egalitarian than heterosexual ones. In heterosexual couples, women did far more of the housework; men were more likely to have the financial responsibility; and men were more likely to initiate sex, while women were more likely to refuse it or to start a conversation about problems in the relationship. With same-sex couples, of course, none of these dichotomies were possible, and the partners tended to share the burdens far more equally.

Also:

While the gay and lesbian couples had about the same rate of conflict as the heterosexual ones, they appeared to have more relationship satisfaction, suggesting that the inequality of opposite-sex relationships can take a toll.

Just one more reason to be gay. As if you needed another.

Go to the Torrey section to see where he compares trans high school students to Kip Kinkel! What. The. Fuck?

It's early moments in Basic Rights Oregon's LGBT candidate forum. Mayor Kitty Piercy, former mayor/mayoral candidate Jim Torrey and county commission candidate Rob Handy are on hand. There are cookies and juice, no coffee, which bothered someone.

Wait now ... someone is up there saying it's BRES, Basic Rights Eugene Springfield, not BRO. Does that mean in Portland it's BRP? Or BRB in Beaverton and Bend? Little confused here. (Also, BRES? Is that pronounced, like, brez? Or breeze? Or bressssss?)

Fundraiser coming up at the Broadway for pro-LGBT candidates. Now Todd Simmons (source of many stories for me and the communications director for OSU) talks about Equality PAC, which vets candidates for state races normally. First time it's gotten involved in local races. Endorsements based on "leadership and incumbency, as well as viability, electability in races like this."

Applause at news Equality PAC has endorsed Kitty Piercy already; new endorsements of Andrea Ortiz, Betty Taylor and George Brown. Will make endorsement in north Lane County commissioner race as well. Note: Bobby Green? A no-show so far.

Each candidate will speak for 5 mins, then a 15-min group Q&A though Piercy and Torrey need to get someplace else. Becky Flynn will keep time.

Read more here.

This review will run in the paper on 3-20, when it will be available here as well as in print.

Photo of Hannah (Rebecca Nachison), Brandt (Tom Wilson) and Thomas (Derek Johnson) courtesy Lord Leebrick Theatre.

Stumbling Away from Bethlehem
Good people acting in bad faith in Busy World
by Suzi Steffen

Thanks for the whole Fall of Man thing, God. Really appreciate it.

Or so Keith Bunin might say. Bunin’s the playwright whose The Busy World Is Hushed opened at the Lord Leebrick Theatre Friday, March 14. Though the lengthy — and surprisingly witty — theological arguments of the play’s three characters suggest that Bunin’s subject concerns God, Jesus and the history of Christianity, his true topic is human frailty. We’ve got a lot to answer for, not even counting rapes, murders, wars and genocide: It’s hard enough just to love someone. Bunin’s characters, though subdued, struggle with manipulation, loss and the relentlessness of death.

Not to make the play sound like a total bummer.
Read more.

OK, I was honestly hoping for a little more from Ellen (which has consistently been a mistake, but whatever, at least she's successful and apparently happy). On the show yesterday, I guess, she attempted to call Sally Kern, whose rather bizarre anti-gay screed you can hear and read, should you want to, here:

Here's Ellen's teeny response, involving nothing substantive — but hey, at least she's funny. My favorite part is watching the people in the audience who think, "Am I supposed to be laughing at this? Wait, it's crazy talk! Ellen's not laughing! Wait, Ellen is gay!" Plus, I'm sure there are a few sistahs in the audience as well. But the camera, she does not linger on the obvious dykes at the show. Ah well. Anyway: