Best. Gay. Week. Ever. (July 6, 2007)

NOW I GET IT--BY "FAGGOT" HE MEANT "WEAK" AND NOT "GAY". PHEW, THAT'S A RELIEF!

What is it with straight boys who are too dense to get that using the words "fag", "faggot", and "gay" to describe something that is weak or lame simply doesn't cut it as an excuse anymore? Especially for adults. That was Isaiah Washington's excuse when he dropped by Larry King (Barely) Live to finally tell his side of things now that the white-gloved hands of the mouse are no longer firmly clamped over his mouth.

Isaiah's hardly the first heterosexual man not to get the distinction. Just last year Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen wound up in hot water for calling Jay Marriotti, a Chicago sports columnist, a "f***ing fag". When Chicago Sun-Times columnist Greg Couch called Guillen on the slur, the baffled manager responded by saying "What you talkin' about Willis?"

Guillen insisted what he said wasn't an insult to gay people, but just meant someone who was weak and not brave. Even better, just like Washington, Guillen has gay friends so how could he possibly be homophobic!

This kind of usage falls right into the "That's so gay!" category that is so popular amongst teenagers, and tolerated by the adults that teach them. Gosh, I wonder where those kids might get the idea that there is nothing offensive about talking this way?

Here is a newsflash for all the straight boys out there: the word "gay" means a person who is attracted to someone of the same sex. It does not mean weak, effeminate, lame, or anything else derogatory. FYI, we're the ones who are gay, so we get to decide what the word means -- end of story. As for you, Mr. Washington (who said he spends a lot of time reading blog posts about himself; Hi, Isaiah!), may I suggest you stop being so "straight"? And by straight, I mean ignorant, self-righteous, and stupid.

BTW, what is up with Larry King? He is one of the worst interviewers ever. Half the time he didn't appear to know what the hell Washington was talking about. No wonder Isaiah gave him the exclusive. Might I suggest CNN consider finding a replacement? It shouldn't be hard. Indeed, the Larry King monkey pictured above could scarcely have done a worse job.

WHAT HAPPENS IN BRANSON STAYS IN BRANSON!

This week As The World Turns headed for none other than Branson, Missouri, mecca of solid American values and country music. Things have been moving slowly forward with Luke (Van Hansis) and Noah's (Jake Silbermann) impending relationship, but ***SPOILER ALERT*** today there is going to be what will appear to be a major roadblock in Luke and Noah's ever getting together. This has been all over message boards so I don't feel like I'm really giving too much away, but while in Branson Noah is actually going to hook up with another character. That would be Maddie and, yes, she's a girl.

That's been a bit of a bone contention both on our forums here and on others boards as many fans really, really want Luke and Noah to get together and don't want Noah hooking up with a woman first. Personally, I don't see a problem with this as even today plenty of gay men take some time to figure out who they are sexually.

I think part of the fan's frustration stems from two recent events: a poll on CBS Soaps in Depth asking fans whether Luke and Noah should get together, and a report that was circulating online that an ATWT writer had told a soap magazine that CBS' Practices and Standards wouldn't allow the same amount of physical affection to be shown between gay characters as straight characters.

I contacted CBS to ask if the poll would have any bearing on the Luke/Noah storyline and was told that according to Jean Passanante, head writer for the show, that ATWT's fans want to see Luke find happiness and the show is going to keep moving in that direction. As for the Standards and Practices question, I was told by a CBS spokesperson that no one at CBS ever made a statement saying the network had different standards for gay relationships and straight relationships. When asked if such a standard did exist, the network declined to comment.

It seems of little doubt to me that the network does plan to have Luke and Noah eventually find each other. As I've said before, it's a soap opera -- stuff needs to happen. And while I wish the world were a better place in regards to gay visibility, CBS is doing a gay storyline and I think they deserve the chance to prove themselves capable of telling it fairly.

BTW, Monday's episode should be interesting as Luke finally tells Noah he is gay.