Yesterday the Boston Herald did a lengthy interview with out gay skater Rudy Galindo. Skating fans know Galindo not just for his athleticism and grace on the ice, but the fact that he is the only professional skater to come out while still competing. Galindo, who just underwent surgery for a hip replacement, talks about his friendship with Johnny Weir, the pressure the skating world put on him to "straighten up", and getting dumped by fellow skater Kristi Yamaguchi--professionally, not personally.

Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam apparently thinks gay folks haven't moved much beyond the 70's. Inspired by The New York Times recent article on gay cars, Beam laments how us 'mos have appropriated pretty much every aspect of contemporary culture. To prove his point, Beam cites Judy Garland, Dinah Shore, Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive," and, naturally, ABBA. He proceeds on to Superman, Brideshead Revisited, and Smith college as well.

Um, news flash, Mr. Beam. We didn't "appropriate" most popular culture--we invented it. Beam then compiles a list of what isn't gay which includes NASCAR, the NFL, and 24. I guess Beam hasn't noticed all those gay websites devoted to NFL players or just how much flesh those NFL players have been showing these days--thanks to us, no doubt. Even NASCAR has been sexed up pretty gay as of late. Don't believe me? Here is proof.

So sorry, old chap!