Fags Don't Belong

A gay and lesbian campground in Saugatuck, Mich., was vandalized over the weekend. Photos of the site show that vandals spray-painted a swastika and the words "Fags Don't Belong" on the fence surrounding the Campit Outdoor Resort.

Co-owners Sally Howard and Michael O'Connor said this is the first time in their 10 years of ownership that such an attack has taken place at the resort. The site had been known as a gay and lesbian resort for 30 years before that. According to its website, Campit offers more than 100 RV sites, tent camping spaces, and cabins."

Advocate Mar 31

Solid Day

Considering the fact that I overslept, woke up in a panic, and left the house sporting medieval hair, I think I managed to get a lot done today. Talked with my class about a sense of cat entitlement in Diane Duane's Book of Night With Moon. On Thursday, we're going to plot out Riow's journey through midtown in pictures. New York cat wizards--geez, what's up with those guys?

Reading Ruiz's Libro de Buen Amor. Recommended some books for the library that will compliment our very small section of Siglo de oro criticism (although the fact that we have what we have makes me love the library a little more). My cat has started sleeping in the cupboard, nestled amid the recyclable plastics. Her favorite game lately is to wait for me to turn my reading lamp on, then position herself directly in front of it, thereby causing Total Eclipse of the Cat.

Prom OK, But Get Out

"A Georgia gay high school student who wanted to bring his date to the prom may have scored a victory at school, but he may be losing the war in his own home.

Derrick Martin, 18, lobbied his school, Bleckley County High, to let him bring his date to the prom. Administrators gave him the OK after he appealed an earlier decision turning him down. Martin's story made headlines across the country, and offers for tuxedos, limos, and dinner poured in. But because of the media attention, Martin's parents kicked him out of their home. According to Macon'sTelegraph, he is currently staying with a friend.

He said he was inspired by another Southern teenager, Constance McMillen, who was denied permission to bring her same-sex date to her prom in Mississippi. A federal judge ruled Tuesdaythat while the school board wronged McMillen, it would not have to hold the prom, which school officials canceled rather than allow her to bring a female date." (Advocate Mar 24)

Coulter speech cancelled in Ottawa

OTTAWA - American right-winger Ann Coulter's speech at the University of Ottawa has been cancelled due to security concerns after thousands protest outside the venue. - Canadian Press -

Sue's Corner

10 Things

Here are 10 random things that have happened to me since moving to Regina, SK. They are in no particular order.

1. I've become obsessed with the eighteenth century, particularly 1720-1760. Obsessed. Anyone needing suggestions for birthday gifts to buy me, here you go.

2. I've discovered that teaching 2/2 is more difficult than it first seemed, and that holding a tenure-track position split between research and pedagogy requires its own balancing act.

3. I've discovered that there are possibilities and opportunities outside of academia, which I hadn't really thought of for the past 8 years (a PhD tends to create tunnel vision).

4. I've had two root-canals, both caused by previous fillings which basically dissolved and poisoned my mouth. I'm currently waiting for a crown replacement, which my insurance refuses to pay for.

5. I lost my favorite toque (this happened in London, but still seems to count).

6. I finished one novel, wrote another from scratch, and started a third.

7. I've been inspired by the work of my creative writing students.

8. I got the opportunity to teach the first class on queer theory in my department.

9. I've discovered what it means to be genuinely terrified of winter.

10. I've mastered the art of using Speakerphone to keep in touch with people, which, once you get used to it, is really quite amazing.

Kotex

New Kotex commercial. "I like to twirl. Maybe in slow motion."

Ugly Betty

Gay teen angst on Ugly Betty. It reminds me of Ricky's storyline from My So Called Life, only MSCL was a bit more subtle (1994 required subtlety, whereas 2010 requires music and CGI effects in order to distract us from the image of two young kids having their moment).

Badder Romance

This is pretty amazing. Gaga's Little Monster fans have put together "Badder Romance" in homage to her video "Bad Romance."

Original Bad Romance video via YouTube

Cynthia Nixon for Fight Back NY

"We've tried the carrot. Now it's time for the stick. Fight back."

SF LGBT Center

(from The Advocate. Mar 10/2010)

"On the verge of foreclosure and battered by the recession, the San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center has asked the city for a $1 million line of credit to help it stay afloat.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the cash-strapped city is likely to grant the “mortgage relief” fund for the city-subsidized center, although the center will likely need even more in the long run to cover almost $3 million owed on its mortgage."

Engl 110

"I'm fuckin awesome at English...I got, like, a 90 in 110."

- conversation overheard between two undergrads