In Lance-related news, yesterday Justin Timberlake voiced his support of Lance saying Bass is one of his “great friends”. Meanwhile, the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association used Lance's big day as an opportunity to educate their heterosexual brethren.

They did so by issuing guidelines explaining gay men preferred to be described as “gay”, not “homosexual”. That Lance “announced” he was gay as opposed to “admitted” (you know, like admitting you killed and ate your neighbor, or voted for Bush). Finally, the NLGJA pointed out that there is no gay “lifestyle” per se, but it is true that “we dress better, eat better, and generally live much more fun and exciting lifestyles than do you breeders, er, straight folks”.

Speaking of out pop stars, last week I mentioned that Savage Garden's Darren Hayes confirmed he is gay. Yesterday's Sydney Star Observer has a very interesting article about how the paper had long known Hayes was gay, and how and why they finally asked him about it during a recent review. It's a frank look at the complicated issues of the “closet” for both gay and straight folks. Extra points to the Observer for repeatedly referring to Haye's spouse (they recently wed in the UK) as his “husband.”

A GAY OUTING WITHOUT A HAPPY ENDING
Last year Spokane, Washington, mayor Jim West was outed involuntarily when the Spokesman-Review caught the mayor trading political perks online for sexual favors with young men. The disgraced mayor, who was eventually forced from office, died of a heart attack last week. This week the Seattle alternative newspaper The Stranger takes a look at how life in the closet twisted West into a very sad creature. Who knows what life might have been like for West had he come out years ago, but judging from The Stranger's brief piece it couldn't have been much sadder than it already was.

SPEAKING OF TWISTED MINDS
Part of doing this job is dealing with email from nutcases of all stripes. I hear from some gay men who feel annoyed that AfterElton is obsessed with everything “gay” (does that mean Sports Illustrated is obsessed with sports?) and folks ticked we didn't cover the gay episode of “that show I really liked last Tuesday or Friday, maybe, you know, on that network that has the three letters in it's name? You know, X and C! That one!”

You get the picture.

Yesterday was especially interesting as I received email from a Christian fundamentalist woman who didn't realize she was writing to a gay man to complain about Lance and Reichen loving each other. Sometimes I think there really can't be people so simpleminded that they believe every word in the Bible is true (how they reconcile all the contradictions, I do not know). Indeed, there are people like that, and this broad was one of them. She hassled me with twisted logic about the “fact” God doesn't make mistakes so he couldn't have made any gay people. Or something like that.

Then when she finally clued in I was gay (Hellooooo!), she kept insisting she wasn't judging me (it was God doing that), but that I was judging her because I didn't care for her brand of Christianity. Then she blessed me. I gave her my thanks and said I'd pray that her higher dosage of lithium would kick in soon and help with the delusions.

AND ONE OF THE GOOD ONES IS GONE TOO
You've likely never heard of Hanns Ebenstenn, but more than thirty years ago he launched the gay travel industry with a trip down the Colorado river. Hanns went on to take gay men on tours all over the world and allowed them to do so with freedom and dignity. He died this week at the age of 82 after battling pneumonia. Hanns wrote eight books, the last of which came out shortly before his death. He'll be missed, but not forgotten having left a rich legacy behind him that includes virtually all the options for today's gay traveler.

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