Stonewall Gazette

Written by Attitude


There’s been a rise in the number of men who identify as ‘mostly straight’, and their reason is because ‘bisexual’ is “too gay”. Ritch C. Savin-Williams, a professor of development psychology at Cornell University, is releasing a book entitled Mostly Straight: Sexual Fluidity Among Gay Men which is explores this new phenomenon.

Written by Jeffrey Masters

Zeke Thomas

Amid the growing onslaught of allegations against Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, and other prominent figures, one thing is certain: there isn't a right or wrong way to respond after experiencing sexual assault. We also know that it's something that affects people across all demographics. Zeke Thomas, musician, DJ, and son of NBA great, Isaiah Thomas, knows this firsthand. In our conversation, he discussed how prevalent sexual assault is in the gay community, why he waited so long to tell anyone after his own experience, and why we need to stop shaming people who use Grindr.

Written by Preston Mitchum


By now, we’ve all heard about Anthony Rapp’s allegations of sexual assault by Kevin Spacey when Rapp was 14 and Spacey was 26. Waking up in the middle of the night to the revelation of Rapp’s story and Spacey’s response felt like a punch in the gut because it doesn’t just happen in Hollywood.

As a black queer man who was sexually abused as a child by a man who now identifies as gay, this Spacey public relations stunt of coming out while addressing Rapp’s allegations saddens me in indescribable ways. We’re in an era where someone can tweet an apology for allegedly sexual assaulting a person then try to escape accountability by owning his sexual identity publicly.

Being assaulted by a man who later acknowledged being gay confused me so much about my own sexuality because I connected my sexuality to being abused. It took years to rework that my sexuality was not borne out of pain. I was not gay because I was abused.

Even though my abuser didn’t “come out” until many years after he assaulted me, Spacey’s response made me relive my entire interactions with my abuser and my own thinking on sexuality and abuse. I was a black boy who was already told that being gay was a problem; imagine adding on top of that the idea that my sexuality was connected to the abuse.
READ MORE



MORE NEWS ABOUT THE KEVIN SPACEY SCANDAL

• Actor Harry Dreyfuss Says Kevin Spacey Groped Him When He Was 18
• Kevin Spacey Flashed Him Outside a Hotel Then Handed Over His Watch to Hush Him Up Says British Barman 
• Three More Men Come Forward With Sexual Harassment Claims Against Kevin Spacey
• Man Comes Forward to Describe an Alleged Extended Sexual Relationship He Had at Age 14 With Kevin Spacey
• Oscar-winning Actor Kevin Spacey Is Seeking “Evaluation and Treatment” After Allegations

Written by Jess Jones


Researchers from The University of Queensland have found gay men prefer beards. “Homosexual men preferred hairier stimuli than heterosexual women, supporting past findings that homosexual men have strong preferences for masculine traits,” wrote the researchers. READ MORE

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Written by Ian Howley


There are only two subjects that get gay men angry. One is sexual racism and the other is open relationships. Now I can understand why sexual racism gets a discussion going. The other I don’t really understand. Why does someone else’s personal relationship get you so angry? Why does the idea of two grown men developing a relationship that suits their needs make you feel the need to tell them their relationship is not ‘a real relationship’? Now many would argue that someone’s anger towards gay men in open relationships is probably a reflection on themselves, their insecurities, age or experience. READ MORE

RELATED How Do Gay Couples Navigate Open Relationships?

World Pride Madrid 2017 Reception Held in NYC
Last night the folks from World Pride Madrid 2017, Tourism Madrid, Tourism Spain and a wide variety of tourism partners hosted an incredible reception in New York City to celebrate the marketing launch of this exciting event coming to Spain in 2017.


Millennials Aren't Going to Save Us From Trump
I am not sure how to break this to you, but according to new research published in the New York Times, those millennials who were supposed to usher us back towards a free and progressive society actually appear fairly taken with the idea of being ruled by a repressive dictator. Yascha Mounk, a government lecturer at Harvard, and Roberto Stefan Foa, a political scientist at the University of Melbourne, developed a formula to test the strength of liberal democracies around the world, which have been visibly eroding for some time. Mounk told the Times that “the warning signs are flashing red,” just to give you a sense of how we’re doing.

The Most Common Words in Hillary Clinton’s Speeches, in One Chart (Spoiler Alert: They Weren’t About “Identity Politics”)
Seemingly everyone on the internet has their own critique of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. One common criticism is that she spent too much time talking about special-interest issues, targeting the various discrete constituencies of the Democratic left, and too little talking about broad economic issues relevant to all working people. She got caught up in “identity politics,” the critique goes. Put aside, for a moment, the notion that economic issues can be separated from identity politics (they cannot). Let’s focus on the critique of Clinton. It’s one I’ve heard so many times that I got curious: What did Clinton talk about? MORE



Buffalo Sabres Goalie Anders Nilsson Wears Pride Flag on Mask Says It’s a Show of Support for His Gay Friends
Buffalo Sabres goalie Anders Nilsson is showing his support for LGBT people by wearing a gay pride flag sticker on the back of his mask. “I have a couple friends who are gay, and life hasn’t been easy for them growing up,” Nilsson told the Buffalo News. “It’s time that hockey starts to pay some attention to that.” Nilsson got the idea while in Edmonton with the Oilers when the team wore rainbow tape on their sticks. “We brought awareness last year in Edmonton,” Nilsson told the News. “We had a skills competition, Edmonton has one every year, and during that game we had rainbow tape. They said they were the first team in North America to do that. “This summer, I thought why not be the first goalie to put that on the helmet and raise some awareness for that?”Nilsson said he was also trying to help the You Can Play Project with his show of support.



Gay Couples Earn More Than Straight Couples
According to new data from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, married gay men earn nearly 56 percent more money than married straight couples and 42 percent more than lesbian married couples. On average, the annual household income of gay male couples is around $176,000. For straight married couples, the approximate household income is $113,000, and for lesbians, it’s $124,000.



London Mayor to Invest Thousands to Protect LGBT Venues
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and new night czar Amy Lamé have announced plans to invest thousands of pounds in funding to LGBT venues in the capital, with hopes to combat huge closures and damage to London nightlife. According to Pink news, £10,000 will go into research carried out by University College London that aims to unpick why LGBT venues are closing, and what can be done to help. The research project will tackle why venue closures are happening, and what can be done to combat the issue.



The Secret, Hypocritical Gay World of Islamic State
Subhi Nahas, a gay Syrian who escaped the country fearing for his life, and who in a history-making speech addressed the United Nations last year about LGBT persecution in Syria, told The Daily Beast that there were possible cultural reasons behind the murder of one young man and the reprieve of his older sexual partner, described as the teen’s “rapist” in some reports. “A tradition in which adult males engaged in sexual pleasure with pre-pubescent boys–ghelman–including hermaphroditic boys, has existed before the creation of Islam,” Nahas said. “Because these encounters didn’t result in pregnancies, they became more commonplace after Islam had taken root.”

Written by John Francis Leonard

Protecting My Sexual Health & My Heart’s Desires
The last thing I wanted to do this month was talk, yet again, about a social app interaction. Last week though, I had an encounter that really gave me pause. A simple hook-up, once a matter of routine in my life, made me ask myself some fairly important questions about who I am today and what I am looking for in my interactions with other men. I received a message from a man (we’re both in our mid-forties) with whom I’ve texted in the past, though not regularly (I’ll call him David here). David is a nice guy and we’d never really talked much about actually getting together for sex or anything else. He actually seemed kind of shy, which usually doesn’t really attract me. Well, he seemed to have gotten over his reticence and got straight to the point. “Are we ever going to finally hook up?” he asked. My interest was piqued; I’m a guy who appreciates a direct approach. He definitely had my attention. READ MORE

You can follow John Francis Leonard on Twitter

"Bottoms make the world go around. Without men willing to take dick, we would be a lost cause. Bottoms have a special place in my heart and in the heart of many; whether you consider yourself a top or you are versatile or every now and then dig in some guts, bottoms lives matter! Still, there are constant reminders around being a bottom that lends to the insinuation of it being a bad thing," writes Ian Haddock. "Things like: .... He ain't nothing but a dirty ass bottom. OR... I always knew he was a bottom. Even though it takes a lot more work, a lot more preparation and a lot more strength, we treat bottoms-- in a lot of ways-- the same way heterosexual men treat women." READ MORE

Written by Shane Smith, Editor, Stonewall Gazette


Why do some gay couples have an open relationship? Does sex with the same person become boring after a few years? What are the rules to having an open relationships? These are some of the questions that writer Ryan O’Conner explores in a recent article, where he talks to a gay couple about this topic.

O'Conner writes:

The couple took out a notebook and began developing rules around how their open relationship would function. They included conditions, such as “no sex with others in our home” and “condoms even for oral sex.” An attorney, Kyle even went as far as typing up an agreement for the two men to sign. The couple signed that agreement more than a year ago and still live by its mandates. They both agree that their commitment together continues to grow, insisting that they are even closer because of the trust that has developed from their open relationship. They shared that they plan to continue with their open relationship for the foreseeable future. READ MORE

Have you ever been in an open relationship? Was it a good thing for you and your partner? Share your stories or thoughts in the comments.

 RELATED Why Do Open Relationships Irk Some Gay Men?

Kevin Naff, the editor and a co-owner of the Washington Blade, recently wrote an article, "A Tribute to Gay Bars", which really hit home the truth of the matter: we are NOT living in a post-gay world. In fact, the very idea of a post-gay society is a myth.

Kevin Naff writes:

From the AIDS crisis in which we fought an indifferent government and hostile neighbors. To an untold number of previous attacks on our bars and clubs, including the 1973 firebombing of the UpStairs Lounge in New Orleans that killed 32 gay men. To enduring the playground taunts and everyday slurs that go along with being “different” in this country.

We were horrified, too, about what happened at Pulse, though not as shocked as our straight counterparts. They will never know what it’s like to walk through life with a permanent target on your back. To pause before each touch; to hesitate before exchanging a hug or kiss with a partner or spouse. To calculate before coming out at work. To endure the judgmental stares when checking in at a hotel or booking a restaurant reservation on Valentine’s Day. To walk around the block, scanning the scene before mustering the nerve to walk into a gay bar. To be insulted, mocked, beaten up just for loving someone of the same sex. We’ve all been there.

So much has been written in recent years about this “post-gay” world in which we supposedly live. A world in which there’s no need for LGBT-identified spaces like bars, clubs, coffee shops, bookstores and, yes, newspapers, because we’re “integrated” and “accepted” now.

What happened in Orlando is a heartbreaking reminder that there’s no such thing as “post-gay,” and that our spaces are sacred. Where outsiders see only a bar or club, we see a community center or the place where we formed our closest friendships or met our significant others. Our bars and clubs have played a heroic role in supporting the community, serving as gathering places in times of triumph and tragedy and helping to raise countless dollars to fund our causes, to fight HIV, to aid our own. When the government turned its back, the first dollars raised to fight AIDS came from the bar and club scene. READ MORE

Posted by Shane Smith , Editor of Stonewall Gazette


Dating Tips: Sex On The First Date? Yes or No
Dating can be a nerve-wracking, daunting task, particularly with the absence of dating education available to us as gay men. What traditions and roles that our heterosexual counterparts have for dating are applicable for us, if any? What are we supposed to do? The key is to have fun with dating and take a light approach. Dating is both an art and a science in my belief, combining common sense decision-making with self-awareness of what one wants and needs for a happy and fulfilling lifestyle. When your dating behavior is in alignment with your values and vision for a relationship, you’ll be living with integrity and will be able to approach all your dates with a more relaxed tone and confident demeanor. It will make the process much more easy-going and rewarding. This article will offer some tips on how to approach your first date with that lucky guy you’ve chosen to get to know in sequence of that date’s occurrence. While these are by no means “rules”, these ideas can offer a means to ground yourself and make the most out of the experience without sabotaging it before it gets off the ground. (GayNewsSeattle)


When Did You Last Have Sober Sex?
A question that can stop too many gay men in their tracks these days. In fact it’s become the most commonly asked question by workers in London’s sexual health clinics. What’s more worrying is that they are not referring to alcohol so much as mephedrone, GBL and crystal meth, which have arguably become a normalised part of our sexual recreation (whether we use them or not), with chem-sex being easily available on any hooking-up site or app you might download to your phone. This was mildly concerning some years back, when many gay men didn’t know what chem-sex was, when it was only a small section of our community partying with chems; you know, good ol’ G-shag after the Circuit Party festivities, or smoking some Tina on the odd bank holiday to shag that hot couple you’d had your eye on. When slamming was something you only ever did to a door. (F S Magazine)


Watch Video: There's More To Gay Sex Than Anal Sex


Dr. John Corvino, is a philosophy professor at Wayne State University in Detroit. In this video he talks about those who seem to think there's nothing more to gay sex than anal sex and explains "how squeamish visceral reactions can sometimes masquerade as moral judgments."

UN enlists Magic Johnson, others in AIDS fight

The United Nations AIDS agency has tapped some big names, including former basketball star Magic Johnson, to boost global efforts to prevent the spread of HIV. Others on the UNAIDS commission include former French president Jacques Chirac, Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes and Nobel laureates scientist Françoise Barré-Sinoussi and former nuclear agency head Mohamed ElBaradei. UNAIDS chief Michel Sidibe says the aim of the commission is to bring about a "prevention revolution" by influencing policymakers and others. More than 7,000 new HIV infections occur every day. The commission was officially launched Wednesday at an AIDS conference that has drawn thousands of experts and activists to the Austrian capital. (CBC)

AIDS Denialists in the 21st Century? Really?
The dogma of AIDS denialism varies, with some refuting the very existence of HIV while others claim that HIV is a harmless “passenger virus”. Most denialists believe that AIDS is caused by oxidative stress secondary to recreational drug use, poor nutrition, poor sanitation and/or the use of antiretroviral medications used to treat HIV. Denialists discourage HIV testing and treatment, warning that a meaningless HIV positive test result could change your life forever. Mothers would be pressured to take toxic drugs that could harm their babies. Uninformed sex partners could have you incarcerated for having sex with them. The list of reasons why you shouldn’t take an HIV test or HIV meds is lengthy and provocative. READ MORE

Gay men in the U.K. and the U.S. differ in definitions of sex

A recent study conducted by the Kinsey Institute found that gay men in the U.K. and the U.S. define having “had sex” differently. The study, published in the July issue of the journal AIDS Care, compared 180 gay men in the U.K. ages 18 to 56 to190 gay men in the U.S. ages 18 to 74. While nearly all agreed that penile-anal intercourse constituted having “had sex,” opinions differed when it came to other interpretations of sex. Gay men in the U.K. were found to have a broader definition of sex. Of the U.K. gay men, 84.9 percent agreed that giving oral-genital stimulation constituted sex, compared to 71.6 percent of U.S. gay men. Fewer men defined giving and receiving oral-anal stimulation as having “had sex,” with 78.4 percent of U.K. gay men defining it this way, and 61.2 percent of U.S. gay men. Giving and receiving manual-anal stimulation was called sex by 70.9 percent of the U.K. men, while just 53.4 percent of the U.S. men agreed. The greatest difference in interpretation of what constitutes having “had sex” was how gay men viewed giving and receiving sex toy stimulation. While 77.1 percent of U.K. gay men saw this stimulation as sex, only 55 percent of U.S. gay men agreed. READ MORE

Antibodies found that prevent most HIV strains from infecting human cells
Scientists have discovered two potent human antibodies that can stop more than 90 percent of known global HIV strains from infecting human cells in the laboratory, and have demonstrated how one of these disease-fighting proteins accomplishes this feat. According to the scientists, these antibodies could be used to design improved HIV vaccines, or could be further developed to prevent or treat HIV infection. Moreover, the method used to find these antibodies could be applied to isolate therapeutic antibodies for other infectious diseases as well. "The discovery of these exceptionally broadly neutralizing antibodies to HIV and the structural analysis that explains how they work are exciting advances that will accelerate our efforts to find a preventive HIV vaccine for global use," says Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health. "In addition, the technique the teams used to find the new antibodies represents a novel strategy that could be applied to vaccine design for many other infectious diseases." READ MORE

Over 50% of gay men are uncomfortable displaying public affection
In a survey undertaken by free gay dating website ManCentral.com, 61 per cent of gay and bisexual men say they felt uncomfortable displaying affection with another man in public. Of the 3,200 men surveyed, 23 per cent stated that they were uncomfortable openly displaying affection anywhere in public, while 38 per cent said they would only feel brave enough to do so in a specifically gay-friendly environment. In an identical survey on a heterosexual dating site, the result was the almost the polar opposite: just six per cent said they were uncomfortable with kissing or holding hands. Curiously, the age group who felt the most uncomfortable with public displays of affection – 28 per cent – were those aged 18-24, while men aged 61 and over who felt the same came in at only 19 per cent. A spokesman for ManCentral.com said: "It is worth noting than men now aged over 60 would have been in their late teens and early twenties when homosexuality was illegal in the UK, yet the statistics indicate they feel less repressed than those aged 18-24 in today's society. (UK Pink News)

Study: 4 of the 6 most widely used lubes are toxic

Subjects who used lubricants during anal sex were three times more likely to contract rectal sexually transmitted infections than those who had anal sex without lubricant, found UCLA researchers. This and one other study examining the effects of sexual lubricants used in anal sex were presented last month at the International Microbicides Conference. The anus does not secrete its own natural lubricants during intercourse, so the use of lubricating products helps prevent microtears in the rectal tissue. The study with the Microbicide Trials Network, however, found that many of the most popular brands of lubricants are toxic to rectal cells. There are three basic types of lube: oil-based, water-based, and silicon-based. Oil-based lubes corrode latex, found in most condoms, and silicon-based lubes corrode silicon, found in many sex toys. Some types of silicon-based lubricants are also not compatible with latex, so water-based is seen as the most versatile lubricant. READ MORE

COMMENTARY: We need to stop fighting AIDS with car washes
More than a quarter of a century into the pandemic... when we are going to stop having car washes to fight AIDS. Stripping in a bar to raise money to fight a disease? Bowling for dollars? Protesting on street corners instead of supplying meds in a clinic? How embarrassing is this? Sure, whatever it takes we must do. The people taking part in these events are to be saluted, not censured. They are willing to push the envelope. Raising funds in the community any way you can is a critical part of galvanizing our forces and promoting our cause. We cannot expect our government to do everything, and we have not. We have created our own food banks, pet projects and transportation initiatives. Most of us have lent our time and energies to multiple agencies with bike rides and AIDS walks, art auctions and god-knows-how-many-charitable affairs. Ultimately, though, is it proper that over a quarter of a century into the pandemic we are still ‘bowling for dollars’? This is no way for a society to fight a disease. READ MORE

Same-sex relationships increase self-esteem, decrease homophobia in teens
Involvement in a same-sex relationship boosted self-esteem in teen males and lowered internalized homophobia in teen females who identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual, a new University of Michigan study shows. Surprisingly for the same teens, having an opposite-sex relationship had no affect on self-esteem, depression or anxiety. Dating in adolescence is critical to developing sexual and social identities, says Jose Bauermeister, assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. It's even more salient for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth because there is such a stigma attached to their sexual orientation. Studies have shown that these teens may suffer more psychological distress, victimization, physical threats and violence than heterosexual youth. Gay, lesbian and bisexual teens who conceal their sexuality, often have a lower self-image or internalized sense of homophobia—which can lead to depression and anxiety. Bauermeister and his research team checked back with the study participants for two years after the baseline interview. They were surprised by how little effect participation in opposite sex relationships had on the group of kids in the study. This contrasts with existing literature. READ MORE

"The word love may get thrown around a lot these days, but there's one group conspicuously not using the L-word: straight men when talking to each other. Being perceived as gay is so anathema to many straight dudes that they not only can't say I love you (except maybe as part of a semi-ironic I love you, man) but they have trouble hugging or even complimenting each other. Is it really so bad to be suspected of being gay? I think this is the real problem," writes Anna North. She adds: "Maybe if male homosexuality were truly destigmatized, then a dude could own up with pride to having a dear and close friend, because nobody would even care if they were fucking. But we're a long way from that, unfortunately, and many male-male friendships have to make do with a limited repertoire of jokes, disses, and side-hugs..." Read More

"Is it not finally time to consider doing away with labels that squeeze people and their sexuality into boxes and silos rather than support their journey on a spectral rainbow?," writes Yolanda Reid Chassiakos. "Would not viewing an individual's sexual orientation and behaviors as unique to that individual, rather than typical of a group identity, get rid of the sense of rigidity and exclusion that labels bestow? And, wouldn't then the idea of human sexuality as a variable and broad spectrum make it more urgent that we legislate and codify equal rights, not just for ten percent, but for all of us complex humans?" READ MORE

"Robert Winn met his wife, Christine, in college. Early in their relationship, he made a confession, a thorny secret he camouflaged from his closest family and friends. He told her he was bisexual."

Stephanie Chen reports:

On the surface, Robert Winn, now 40, and Christine Winn, 41, appear to be like any other blissfully married heterosexual couple. They boast nearly 18 years of monogamous marriage. He's a well-respected physician, who works with the LGBT community in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She's a successful hospital administrator.

The couple says they've grown closer over time, but like any marriage, two people can have differences -- including sexual orientation. Christine Winn is straight, and she has been supportive of her husband, who is openly bisexual.

He frequently battles the stereotypes of bisexuality: That bisexual men are promiscuous. That his relationships with men were just an adolescent phase. That his bisexuality is imaginary. That he's really a gay man trying to camouflage his orientation.

About 1.8 percent of men and women between the ages of 15 and 44 identified themselves as bisexual, according to a 2005 survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. READ MORE

"Around the web... there are several articles... intending to raise awareness this Pride weekend that AIDS remains an issue devastating communities of gay men."
- Lorraine Teel, Executive Director, Minnesota AIDS project.

Lorraine Teel writes:

Let’s first assume that you my dear reader, are not a gay man.

Imagine now that some new sexually-transmitted disease took hold in your community – say a community of heterosexuals...

Because like other [communities we] tend to work, socialize and date each other close to home. Pretty soon this new virus would be widespread in your hometown and the odds of you contracting the virus would be pretty high.

For a minute, let’s pretend a bit more – say for example, no one really explained to you in terms you understood, how to protect yourself and how to stay virus free. Odds go up even further.

I know; you may be wagging your virtual finger at me. “Wouldn’t be a problem for me … it’s all about waiting till you get married.”

Here in the real world, right now gay men don’t have that choice to “wait till they get married”. And they rarely, if ever, receive real practical education about HIV in school or at home due to the homophobia that continues to block this important need.

Children who come out as gay to their parents rarely experience “the talk” from parents too shy or too scared, or too ashamed, to get information so they can have “the gay talk” with their sons or daughters.

Furthermore, what can we expect young gay men to know about safer sex if our schools don’t teach them or they have parents too shy to too ashamed to talk? READ MORE

"Fab Magazine's second annual gay sex survey delved deeper and probed harder to find out just what gay men are up to in (and out – way out) of bed."

“I’m coming out. I want the world to know.”

While 39 percent of respondents first realized they were gay between the ages of 10 and 14, 38 percent didn’t come out until they were between 18 and 21.

Gay men are coming out younger and younger, with 4 percent coming out at 15 and another 9 percent at 16.

Nine percent of respondents are still in the closet.

The average age of respondents’ first gay sexual experience was 16, with the youngest at age one and the oldest at 50.

• “My mother told me.”
• “Gym class had me bothered.”
• “I couldn't imagine putting a pussy by my face.”
• “Ernie and Bert were far too interesting for me to have been straight.”
• “Wham's video for ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.’”

Celebrity fantasy:

Ryan Reynolds, Colin Farrell, Hugh Jackman, Brad Pitt and Gerard Butler came out on top of the list of celebs respondents most wanted to have sex with.

Least appealing is homo-blogger Perez Hilton.

Also on the untouchable list are Tom Cruise, Oprah, Danny DeVito, Stephen Harper, Rosie O'Donnell, Carrot Top, Larry King, Dame Edna and Susan Boyle.

Surprisingly, Brad Pitt also appears amongst the celebs gay respondents least want to fuck. We blame his new hobo beard.

Read more of Fab Magazine's sex survey here.

"Boys naturally gravitate towards cars and girls towards dolls from the moment they first crawl" - says a new study

Are there differences between the sexes? Absolutely. Just observe a boy child and girl child and you will quickly see how different they socialize. The issue I have with this study (see excerpt below) is that they assume a child knows what a car or doll is - they don't.

It's anyone's guess what a child knows at such a young age. 10,000 years ago there were no cars for boys to play with, right? So, what did boys play with? Dolls?

What is a doll, exactly? If we say dolls are a female toy and cars a male toy, then we give them a value. You put wheels on a "doll" more than likely a boy child will play with it. Generally, boys like things to move and girls like things that talk.

If you believe in the faulty logic of these kinds of studies then one would have to assume that most male children are homosexual because they play with their penises. That's the problem of value systems. Whose values do we value?

BBC reports:

City University researchers put a range of toys a metre from 90 children - aged nine to 36 months - and recorded what was played with and for how long. They found boys spent more time playing with cars and balls, while girls spent more time playing with the dolls. Researchers said the study suggested there was an "intrinsic bias" in children towards gender-typical toys.

A fellow researcher, Dr Brenda Todd, said: "We were surprised to find the differences so early." But she added: "Children of this age are already subject to a great deal of socialisation, but these findings are consistent with the idea of an intrinsic bias in children to show interest in particular kinds of toys." READ MORE

"What started as a third-grade lesson on the history of women’s fashions ended this week with a lesson in intolerance."

NJ.com reports:

As a project for Women’s History Month, a teacher at the Maude Wilkins School in Maple Shade [New Jersey] planned to have her students wear outfits showing how women’s clothing styles have evolved through history. Boys could wear pants or jeans and explain how those have been common for women at various times. In a letter to parents, the teacher explained that boys would "not have to wear a dress or skirt."

But after one parent posted a complaint online, bloggers began raising an alarm that the Burlington County school was pushing a "gay agenda." One pointed out that the planned lesson coincided with yesterday’s national "Day of Silence" to protest harassment of gays.

It was a ridiculous overreaction. Women’s roles in science, arts, sports and, yes, fashion have long been part of elementary school lesson plans on women’s history. Maple Shade schools Superintendent Michael Livengood said there was no conspiracy to cross-dress, and the school wasn’t even aware of the gay rights event.

Still, the furor prompted the school to pull the curtain on the fashion show and have the students draw pictures instead.

Mary Hawkesworth, chair of Women’s and Gender Studies at Rutgers University, said the activity could have been used to teach students about gender, tolerance and understanding others. That’s the real missed lesson here.

There's always some nut job out there who will scream "gay agenda" at the drop of a hat. Too bad the fashion show was cancelled. The bullies won.

A same-sex love scene in a popular new game has some fans cheering – and others jeering, revealing what some experts call the homophobic underbelly of the gaming community.

Globe and Mail reports:

It's when the male elf assassin and the strapping warrior peel off their clothes and start making out that you know you've left the realm of traditional video games far, far behind. This ain't Super Mario Brothers.

It's the prelude to a same-sex love scene in the recently released role-playing game Dragon Age: Origins that has many heralding a major step for the video game industry – and has thrown into relief the homophobia within the gaming community.

“It's not trying to be over the top, it's trying to show a gay relationship in a positive light, which is certainly a big change,” says Paul Hunter, managing editor of NextGen Player, a Toronto-based gaming blog.

But while gay and lesbian characters are slowly gaining a place in video games as more than just stereotypical caricatures, the sex scene in the sword and sorcery game, released last month by Edmonton-based company BioWare and available on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms, has drawn hateful comments online. READ MORE