Slate’s often diverting advice columnist answers a gay correspondent who’s offended when someone finds out he’s gay and says: “What a waste.” Here’s Prudence’s reply:
Prudie believes you are misinterpreting the remark. Rather than implying that the gay person has “no sort of life of their own,” Prudie finds it to mean, “You are GORGEOUS.” (And it’s the straight person’s loss that you bat for the other team.) It is meant both as a compliment and a lighthearted statement. As you may have divined, Prudie has made this comment, herself, and always to a big smile in response.
Well, almost. The key way to figure this out is to reverse roles. If it emerges in conversation that a man is married to a woman, would he be offended if a gay guy were to say, “What a waste”? I think he would. Or am I wrong?
BLOCK THAT METAPHOR: “America’s Mayor having to eat a little crow after three years of galloping hagiography is a classic case of karma coming due.” – Tina Brown, Washington Post.
THE GAY CASE FOR BUSH: Here’s Abner Mason, making the best case he can. I wonder what Bush really meant when he said he wasn’t against civil unions, even though his party platform opposes any legal protections for gay couples. Karl Rove said he meant nothing but some ad hoc legal arrangements, made by private contract, and unenforceable in court if challenged by other family members. I suspect it was merely politics. But I don’t know. Why doesn’t someone ask the president or McClellan what rights the president believes a civil union should contain. That might move the ball forward. But somehow I doubt we’d get a real answer.
The Dish 