Men who abuse men - Control freaks

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that a study from the University of Illinois at Chicago shows that 1 out of every 3 men in a same-sex relationship has been abused, a ratio similar to what studies of battered women have found.

More than 32 percent of men reported experiencing verbal, physical or sexual abuse in an intimate relationship.

Laura Velazquez, manager of the Anti-Violence Project at the Center on Halsted suggested that "[A]s with women victims, it often comes down to control...It's used as a power tactic in controlling someone...It's master manipulation."

Visible minorities, incidentally, did not show higher rates of abuse.

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Questioning intelligence and James Watson's apology

The New York Times reported on Sunday that in reference to his controversial suggestion that black people were not as intelligent as whites, James Watson issued this statement:

"I cannot understand how I could have said what I am quoted as having said. There is no scientific basis for such a belief."

Strange sort of apology.

In any case, the New York Times article brings up an interesting issue about the wide disagreement among researchers as to what intelligence consists of and how and if it can be measured in the abstract.

An excerpt:

"For example, in 'The Mismeasure of Man,' Stephen Jay Gould, the evolutionary biologist, dismissed 'the I.Q. industry' as little more than an effort by men of European descent to maintain their prominence in the world."

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James Watson, DNA, Racism, and Homophobia

Next time you hear about DNA, think about these thoughts from American molecular biologist James Watson, Nobel Prize winner for co-discovering DNA's double-helix structure.

Apparently, Watson was "inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa" because "all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours — whereas all the testing says not really."

Also, Watson has suggested that women should have the right to abort their unborn children if tests could determine that they would grow into homosexuals.

And finally, on a theory that extracts of melanin had been found to boost sex drive, Watson said, "That's why you have Latin lovers...You've never heard of an English lover. Only an English patient."

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Film lovers will love this!

This announcement released by the European Union and produced by the European Commission's communications unit seeks to promote European films and includes clips showing gay and lesbian love. Nice!



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The demise of gay bars?

Recent articles about the possible demise of gay bars in less homophobic parts of the world have made me wonder how the dynamics of meeting people in a bar setting might change somewhat given the absence of knowledge of who in a mixed environment is actually gay. I sometimes frequent a so-called "mixed bar" here in Montreal, and I am always fascinated when I look at the dance floor to see what seems to be a form of chosen segregation occurring with gay men on one side and women and straight men on the other. "Mixed" in this case doesn't seem to apply on the dance floor.

Question - When approaching another man in a mixed bar, does rejection in the form of "I'm sorry, I'm not gay" carry with it the same weight as "I'm sorry, I'm not interested"?

Gay marriage in China

Pinknews is reporting that Chinese academics are calling for the country's estimated 40 million homosexuals to be given the right to marry.

In Buddhism and Taoism, unlike in other religions such as Christianity, homosexuality has never been viewed as a sin.

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Desperate Racist Housewives - Update

Thanks Angry Asian Man!

In response to the outrage following the "Can I check those diplomas because I just want to make sure that they're not from some med school in the Philippines?" line made by ABC's Desperate Housewives' Susan (Teri Hatcher) on the 30 September 2007 episode of the show, ABC and the producers of Desperate Housewives apologized in a statement that included:

"The producers of `Desperate Housewives' and ABC Studios offer our sincere apologies for any offense caused by the brief reference in the season premiere. There was no intent to disparage the integrity of any aspect of the medical community in the Philippines...As leaders in broadcast diversity, we are committed to presenting sensitive and respectful images of all communities featured in our programs."

Power to the online petition, which now has more than 100,000 signatures!

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Men get 7000 lashes for sodomy in Saudi Arabia

Pinknews is reporting that two men were publicly flogged in Saudi Arabia after being found guilty of sodomy and sentenced to 7000 lashes.

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Desperate Racist Housewives

Thanks Racialicious!

In the 30 September 2007 episode of ABC's Desperate Housewives, Susan (Teri Hatcher) asks for the credentials of the gynecologist who examined her and says, "Can I check those diplomas because I just want to make sure that they're not from some med school in the Philippines."

Given the recent amount of media attention that has been given to the slurs of Michael Richards (against African Americans), Isaiah Washington (against gays), and Rosie O'Donnell (against Asian/ Chinese Americans), it is ridiculous that this type of hateful speech made it through various ABC network screenwriters, producers, and actors.

Click here to sign the online petition demanding a public apology to the Filipino American community and an edition or removal of the ignorant and racist remark.