Tag: piefolk

Revolution

by piefolk, posted in Uncategorized

(drawing by Dan Paul Roberts)

“The first thing they had to realize was that all of them were brothers; oppression made them brothers; exploitation made them brothers; degradation made them brothers; discrimination made them brothers; segregation made them brothers; humiliation made them brothers.”

– Malcolm X.

A few years ago the (then) members of Thin Skin Jonny made a video.   I make them say ‘Join the Revolution’ at the end.   It used to be the tagline for my blog.

What an idiot.

“Join the Revolution.”  Like I’m Stalin or something.   Ha.

Even so…

It feels weird to revisit. So Sophomoric, even.  Like some advertizing slogan they come up with to sell a product they don’t believe in…

“Nike – Just Do It.”   (What?  Just. Do.  What?  What do you mean?)

“Coke is IT.”  (Of course it is.  It’s one of two options.  Of course Coke Is It.  It’s the only choice half the time.)

“Join the Revolution.” (Really??  Should we?? Should we join a Revolt about Pie and Gayness, and Respect?)

Even so.  There is a revolution brewing.  I feel it.

We’re not going to stay in our Gay ghettos anymore.

Chelsea.  San Fransisco.  Miami.  They are out of date.

They have no more meaning to us.  We are you.  And you are us. Get used to us.  We are your Gay brothers, children, teachers, community leaders….

We’re coming out into the world.  And we’re going to infect you with our Gayness.

Sorry, straights.  I know you’re stressed out and important, and you have all those kids to worry about.  Sorry.

(I’m not at all sorry)

Digest this:  We (the Gays) are Brothers and Sisters and we are strong.  You will reckon with us. You will stop giving us your shame and judgement.  You will. You will stop. We won’t accept it anymore.

You.

Will.

Stop.

Thank you, Straights.

You guys are awesome.

We hate you and think you’re inferior.

Just kidding, we love you.

Jerks.

Shame

by piefolk, posted in Uncategorized

Him:  Thanks for inviting me.

Me:  This turned out to be a pretty good party, right?

Him:  It’s so much fun!

Me:  Did you eat your pie?

Him:  Not yet.  I will.  I hid it.  I know where it is.  I’ll eat it.

Me:  I worry you don’t eat enough.

Him:  Sometimes I don’t, but it’s under control.

Me:  Okay.  How are you otherwise?

Him:  Good.  I go to one of the best design schools in the country.  I have an internship 30 year-olds are trying to get.  I’m working on many different projects.

Me:  Ha.  Sounds like you’re talking to your Dad.

Him:  What?

Me:  For a second it sounded like you were talking to your Dad, just now.  Explaining your accomplishments.

Him: Could be.  My parents are really down on me.

Me: Really?  You’re so successful.  That’s crazy to me.

Him:  They constantly make me justify myself and they constantly make me feel inferior.  Like I’m somehow disappointing them.  I think I might hate them a little.

Me:  Stop.

Him:  No.  This is real.  This is something that is real to me.

Me: Okay, then.  (Pause)  Doesn’t sound like they recognize what a powerful young Homosexual they created.  They should realize they’re lucky.

Him:  They don’t.  I think I hate myself, sometimes, too.

Me:  What?

Him:  I think I hate myself sometimes.

Me:  No.

Him:  What do you mean, no?

Me: No.  That won’t do… That won’t do at all.

Him:  It won’t?

Me: No. We can’t have that.  We can’t have talented young Gays like you walking around hating yourselves.  The rest of us need you to be vibrant, and strong.  We all need each other.

Him: But they have a way of…  Well…    They have a way of tearing me down.  Even when I tell them I’m doing good in school and I’m kind of an over-achiever.  They always bring it back to me being Gay.  And I’m made to feel like I disappointed them, or that I can’t possibly make up for it.

Me: They’re using shame.

Him:  Shame?

Me:  Yes.  They’re asking you to feel ashamed.

Do you ever feel, around them, you can’t quite exactly be yourself?

Him: Oh yes.  All the time.  They make me feel like there’s a whole part of me I have to hide.  Especially when my extended family is around.  Like, they all know I’m Gay, but I’m not supposed to behave too much that way because it might rock the boat.

Me: Heavens to Betsy.  What would Aunt Miriam say?

Him:  Exactly.  And my brother is going on and on about all the girls he’s dating and I can’t exactly chime in and say, well, I was naked in a hot tub with two other boys last weekend and it was weird, can I?

Me: Well, you could.

Him:  My mother would have a fit.

Me:  Of course she would.  She’s shaming you.  She is using your own fears and insecurities about your sexuality against you.  She knows that, on some level, you feel bad about your lovely, unique Gayness, and she uses that shame to keep you in line.  Straight people have been shaming Gays for thousands of years.  It’s bred into their culture.  They don’t even know they’re doing it, sometimes… Them trying to shame us is almost second nature to them.

(pause)

Him:  That sounds a lot like what she does.  I have so much resentment of her.  I hate my Dad for going along with it.  They don’t treat me like they treat my brother.

Me:  We need to remove all this hate from your person.

Him:  Huh?  Maybe.  I hate my parents and I hate myself.

Me:  I don’t care about your parents, but I won’t have you hating yourself, young man.  That won’t do at all.  Who do you hate more, yourself, or your parents?

Him:  Oh!  My parents.  They’re really awful to me.  They make me wish I wasn’t Gay or wasn’t here, even.

Me:  That kills me to hear.  All the more reason, then, to remove your own self-hatred, right?  Then you can direct all of your anger where it belongs.

Him:  At my parents?

Me:  Or just bigoted Straight people in general.  Three things need to happen, in order for a person to experience shame.  What are they?

Him:  Dunno?

Me:

1) It must be agreed upon that certain sets of behavior are shameful, in this case exhibiting your homosexuality.

2) Someone must identify that set of behaviors and invoke shame upon the other person.  This is done very blatantly, like yelling at someone, or very subtly, like avoiding eye contact or withholding affection.  This is the type of shaming it sounds like your parents are doing.

Him:  Okay.  They do that, yes.

Me: 3)  Someone must accept shame.  The other person must decide to act in a shameful manner.  Do you find yourself leaving the room?  Acting contrite?  Trying to make up for your ‘Gay outbursts?’

Him:  Yeah.  That happens a lot.  But what can I do when they’re making me feel ashamed?

Me:  You just took all the power away from yourself – They’re making me feel ashamed, you said.  Who’s emotions are they?

Him:  Mine.

Me:  Exactly.  So who’s in charge of those feelings?

Him:  Me.

Me:  Exactly.  So who makes you feel a certain way?

Him:  Me?

Me:  You.  Now you took the power back.

Him:  But how do I keep from feeling ashamed?

Me: Identify and address it when it happens.  Say something about it.  Say, “I can feel you trying to make me feel ashamed, but what you don’t understand is that I’m the opposite of ashamed.  I’m proud that I act, live and love the way I do, so I can’t accept your shame.  It’s not my shame, it’s yours.”  Just give the shame right back to them.

Him: I can do that?

Me:  You can do that.  Try it sometime.  Feels good.

Him:  Sounds hard to train yourself to feel and act that way.

Me:  It requires vigilance.  You have to keep reminding yourself.

Him:  I’ll give it a shot.  Do you think I still have time left to change my behavior?

Me:  How old are you?

Him:  Nineteen.  It might be too late.

Me:  Nineteen??  You got nothing but time.  We only have the rest of our lives.  We’ll get it right.

Him:  Thanks. 

Jerk.

Letters

by piefolk, posted in Uncategorized

(Guess I’m buying LEVI’S from now on)

Hi Michael,

I appreciated how you handled J.S.’s email.  It was just refreshing you called out his out-dated and insensitive comments.  You did hit a bullseye on that there are guys who still believe in “some gay hierarchy.”  But “entitled” people aren’t the only group of people who think that.  I confess that at times, typically when I feel alone and lonely, I am guilty of having a feeling, however flitting, that my pathetic state is because I was born Korean, earning me a spot at the bottom of the gay hierarchy. I know there are a lot of things wrong with my prior sentence. But anyway, the point is, that for me it was a nice reminder of how so easy it is to fall under the lies of self-loathing. 
Anyway, you seem like a cool guy to get to know and to bake with!  
Take care,
Jake
P.S. I made the spread of food for my party a couple of weeks ago.  I thought I might share that picture, just in case you are auditioning potential guest to bake with.
Jake, you can bake with me any damn time.  You have a great skill set and I’ll bet you’re the cutest thing ever.
We have to get over our racist notions in the Gay community.  We, who understand discrimination more than anyone in this day and age, must be able to rise above racism and misogyny.  If we cannot conquer those things, we cannot become truly unified.  Jake, I challenge you to sleep with an Asian boy or two, so you can see the power of your own attractiveness.   I love you.  You are my brother.
Dear Sir,

Hot damn!

I just stumbled across your website. I’m can’t remember how, as I’m
still in a bit of a shock and unable to collect my thoughts. But, Sweet
Jesus, everything you are doing with Piefolk.net is adorable and sexy
and friendly and good-natured and deliciously gay and also generously
satisfies some human appetite or another. You’ve really made my day.

I grew up in Astoria and moved to Chicago for school, but, oh, had I
known that there would be more to New York in the 2010s than (still
further) rapid rent-rising and character-bleaching gentrification, e.g.
sensual, socially progressive pastry cookery, I’d have stayed. I’d have
stayed.

To make you share in my disappoint that I didn’t, here’s a photograph of
my adoring face. Aren’t I somewhat cute? Yes, I can sometimes force
myself to think so too.

Keep this up, dude! Also, do you have any tips on making an awesome
peach cobbler, my favorite sort of pastry? Or maybe if I pay a trip to
the folks back home sometime this summer, I myself could submit to your
glorious baking master-class?

My sincerest Internet affections,
Gene

Gene,
First of all, flattery will get you everywhere.  Yes.  Everywhere.  No, you’re not ‘somewhat cute.’  You’re what we in the blogging community call ‘boner city.’  That’s a scientific term for a city full of boners, where everyone is so aroused that they’re constantly having to dodge each other on the subway for fear of rudely poking one another with their boners.  See what you did?  You aroused all of New York City.
Can you ‘submit’ yourself to my baking class?  I see where you’re going with this, and yes.  I’ll tie you up and keep you in my closet for a few days, with the cookie cutters, rolling pins and flour sifter, if that’s what you really want.  But you strike me as more of a screw-him-on-the-baking-table sort of guy.  It’s your choice.
No discounts, however, on the class.  Unless you have a twin.  We have group rates.
You were nice to flatter me and I think you’re super cute.
You’re all super cute, Gays.  Don’t forget it.
Jerks.

The Dodos

by piefolk, posted in Uncategorized

This is The Dodos.  They are nice boys.  They are talented boys.  They are world class musicians.  They are rock stars.

Meric Long is the guitarist/lead singer.  Logan Kroeber is the guy with the drum kit, and sings too.  They quit their jobs and became rock icons in 2006.  They have since toured the country with national acts like Les Savy Fav, Peter and the Wolf, and The New Pornographers.

But right now, they’re not doing that.  Right now they are headliners.

And they fucking eat the audience alive.

They have a new album out.  It features a woman who I consider to be the best alt/dark country artist in the world right now.  Her name is Neko Case.

Logan is younger brother to a good friend of mine, Gavin Kroeber.  We met a few years back, and Gavin asked me to take Logan on a bike, skateboard, roller blade ride with him and his girlfriend.

Him:  Jesus.  You’re a speed demon on those blades.

Me:  I am?

Him:  Yeah. You’re all about the forward motion.

Me:  Yes.  That’s very true.  Should we fuck around on this concrete softball court?

Him:  Okay.  That might be nice.  Michelle is probably tired.

Me:  That’s not very forward thinking.  Just because she’s a girl?  She’s on the bike.

Him:  No.  Because she suffered a real loss.  Remember.  I told you about that.  Two days ago.

Me:  Oh.  Right.  Oh no. I’m being insensitive.  I’m self absorbed.  I do that sometimes.  I have me on the brain. I’m sorry.

Him:  It’s okay.  That’s just how you’re built.  You don’t have to apologize.

Me:  I talked to her about it a few days ago.  I said something really idiotic about how I just lost my aunt to Alzheimer’s.  It probably sounded corny.  I was really busted up about it. But this. This I can not imagine.

Him:  No.  I’m sure she appreciates that you trying to relate.

Me:  I felt stupid.  That’s not what grief is about.  It’s impenetrable.  Having someone say ‘I know what you’re going through’ does nothing.  It’s meaningless.  Nobody knows what you’re going through, not in the moments of grieving something.  That’s all yours.

Him:  Yeah, I know.  I think if we just slow down a little and let her go through what she needs to go through she’ll be okay.

Me:  You’re really good.

Him: What?

Me: You’re really good at this.  You just alerted me that I needed to be more sensitive without making me feel ashamed.  You’re really good.   You’re a good man.  She’s lucky to have you.

Him:  You’re very kind to say so.

Me:  Later I’ll take you down to the Hasidic area of Williamsburg.  It’s the only place in the world I’ve ever felt invisible.

Him:  Invisible?

Me:  They don’t acknowledge you if you are not one of them.  Sometimes, I wish Gays could get away with that.

(pause)

That was a joke.  Kind of.

Him:  I’m going to do some skateboarding in this concrete softball court.

Me:  I’m going to do Gay little rollerblading turns.

Him:  Yes you are.

Merick.  Logan.  You guys have become powerful artists.  Wield that power guys.  I remember when you would play Pete’s Candy Store for 20 people.  Now look at you.  Sold out crowds?  Hundreds of people?  Yes.

In many ways, I wouldn’t have had the courage to start my own comedy band if I hadn’t become obsessed with your album Beware of the Maniacs. I’m grateful.  Thanks for the tickets, and for hanging out.  See you when I see you.

xoxoxoxo

Jerks.

ThursDATE: Don’t Compliment Me

by piefolk, posted in Uncategorized

Him:  This is pretty nice.

Me:  What?  This apartment?

Him:  Yeah.  It’s pretty nice.

Me:  Oh.  Jeez.  It’s small, and it’s in a building that was built before World War II, but thanks.

Him:  Still.  By New York standards…

Me:  You’re right.  Anywhere else in the country, this would be meh, but in New York it’s a palace.

Him:  Let’s not go that far.

(Pause)

Me:  I can’t believe you’re here.

Him:  Why not?

Me:  I didn’t think you liked me, when I was flirting with you at Metro.

Him:  Really?  I couldn’t tell if you were flirting or not.

Me:  REALLY?  I thought I was laying it on thick.  I had my arm around you, and it was 200 degrees out.

Him:  Yeah, but you kept touching everyone.

Me:  Awcrap.  Yeah, I’m a Jerk that way.  I have to make sure everyone knows I like them.  Plus it was a lot of my friends there and I like making connections and introducing people, etc.

Him:  Yeah.  You were really working on that crowd.

Me:  I have my moments.  But seriously – you couldn’t tell I was flirting with you, hard?

Him:  Maybe.  I’m not used to people flirting with me.

Me:  Really?  You’re extremely pretty.

Him:  Don’t.  I don’t like that.

Me:  Compliments?

Him:  I don’t want to be called pretty.  Why can’t you say that I’m hot?

Me:  You are hot.  And handsome.  And pretty.

Him:  That’s okay.  I can be pretty sometimes, but sometimes I get to be handsome too, okay?

Me:  Okay.  That’s easy ’cause it’s true.

Him:  You’re weird.

Me:  Tell me something I don’t know.  My family’s been saying that for years.

(Pause.  I look at him.  He’s pretty.  I suppress the urge to say so.)

Me:  Well…  I mean…  I had to move all those people all the way across the bar in order to stand next to you.  Then I had to think of a lame reason to start talking to you.  Then for some odd reason I put my arm around you even though it was the hottest day ever = I was definitely flirting with you.  Plus your friend was giving me the stink eye.

Him:  He’s really protective of me.  Sorry.  I don’t get people flirting with me much.

Me:  That’s hard to believe.  You’re super pretty, er, good looking.  Maybe you’re going to the wrong places.  Seems like Metro is a good place to go if you’re an art fag who wants to roll his eyes at other art fags and judge everyone for not being cool enough.

Him:  It’s not like that when you’re Asian and gay.  People don’t flirt with you.

Me:  Not true.  I’m flirting with you RIGHT NOW.

Him:  Yes, but we already established that you’re weird and not the normal type of Gay.

Me:  Thank god.

Him:  Thank god. 

Me:  Just kidding.  There’s no god.

(Pause.  He eyes me, suspiciously.)

Him:  But most people who flirt with me are much older and want me to put on high heels and panty hose.

Me:  Ha.  I wait until the third date to ask people to do that.

(Pause)

Him:  I hope you’re joking.

(Pause.  I consider telling him I’m joking, but then I think it might be funny if I just say nothing.  It’s not.  It’s just awkward.)

Him:  Anyway.  No.  People don’t flirt much.

Me:  I find that odd because you’re very attractive and smart and your butt is wow.

Him:  Gays are awful to Asians.  You’re full of compliments, aren’t you?

Me:  Yes.  I’m doing it on purpose.  When I’m on a date I try to find things that are true and positive to say about the other person.  It’s called ‘dating.’

Him:  Are we?  Is this a date?

Me:  I dunno.  Maybe we’re just sitting on my couch and I’ve got this Lost in the Trees Pandora station on for no reason.  That’s a nice tattoo.

Him:  You’re doing it again.

Me:  I am?

Him:  Compliments.  I don’t do that.  You shouldn’t do that too much.

Me:  I shouldn’t?

Him:  People take advantage.  You can’t show them your good side at first.  You have to show them that you’re tough, or they’ll take advantage.

Me:  They will?  Are you sure?

Him:  I’ve had a hard life.  Things have been tough.

Me:  You seem a little angry.

(Pause)

Me:  I know what you mean, I think.  People act like assholes a lot.  But you can still be nice to strangers.  Sometimes it leads to amazing places.

Him:  I’m not sure I believe that.  I’m glad you think that though.  Life hasn’t been kind to me.

Me:  I’ve been through rough patches too, kiddo.  But we have to make the best of what’s in front of us.  Do you think I’m good looking?

Him:  Duh.  I’m here aren’t I?

Me:  I’m flattered.  Maybe we should take our clothes off and have crazy Gay sex?

Him:  Nice try.  Maybe we should keep our underwear on and cuddle until we fall asleep.

Me:  I’ll take it.  Maybe next time we have a date we’ll have sex?

Him:  Maybe you’ll wait until I’m ready.  Jerk.

(Maybe I will!)

Ancient Chinese Secret

by piefolk, posted in Uncategorized

Hey

So, I’ve been reading your blog… and am left with so many questions… it’s kind of like I feel after reality TV… like the bachelor…

1. do you have sex with everyone you invite back to the fantasy suite to make pies or is that just for the camera? What’s real and what’s not? 🙂

2. Who’s the third person taking pics? And does it turn you on to have someone watch?

3. what do you like about Asian men? aren’t they usually kinda effeminate with small willys… or maybe you like that… Just curious. Of course, normally this would be none of my business, but I’m a fan, so I guess I feel a little entitled.

Anyway keep “Baking Sweet Love” and I’ll keep reading… and if you use that tag line make sure you credit me… actually you don’t have to do that… it’s all yours… just bake/name a pie after me and eat every delectable crumb with your next concubine… actually eat it off your next conquest and put it in your blog.

J.S.

Hey J. S.

I was conflicted about whether or not to answer this letter. I didn’t know whether or not to give credence to this progression of ideas you set forth.  I decided to address it.

I hope you know I appreciate your reading, but you said some stupid shit, and I’m gonna go off on it. Okay?

1. do you have sex with everyone you invite back to the fantasy suite to make pies or is that just for the camera? What’s real and what’s not? 🙂

It’s not a fantasy suite, but that’s flattering.  It’s a kitchen in a pre-war apartment building in Brooklyn.  As for the guys, no.   I don’t have sex with all of them.  And no, I won’t say which.  I like my blog to be slightly mysterious, like LOST, but instead of a polar bear there’s rhubarb.

However, this I can assure you: they ARE all real.  None of them are cylons.

Probably.

2. Who’s the third person taking pics? And does it turn you on to have someone watch?

Different people.  Friends of mine, or occasionally professional photographers.  Depends.  Sometimes me and the baking assistant just photograph each other.  Does it turn me on?  Depends on who’s behind the camera, I guess?  There’s an element of voyeurism, for sure.

3. what do you like about Asian men? aren’t they usually kinda effeminate with small willys… or maybe you like that… Just curious. Of course, normally this would be none of my business, but I’m a fan, so I guess I feel a little entitled.

No.

It’s obvious you feel a LOT entitled.

Are you drunk?  Why would you ask me that?   It’s obvious, I assume, that I am both very respectful of and attracted to Asian men?  Why, in 2011, would you propagate such a ridiculous stereotype? Seriously.  You sound like my grandpa.

Effeminate?  Small Willies?  Come on.  You’re talking about BILLIONS of the world’s population.  You sound foolish.

Do you have some sort of late-80’s early-90’s idea of homosexuality?  That there’s some Gay hierarchy where masculine, uber hung, over worked out white and (light skinned) Latino guys sit at the top?  Get over it, dude.  Times are changing, and they’re changing faster than Whitey wants to admit.

I’ve met guys like you before.  You think it’s ultra post modern to say shit like this in Gay bars or at parties.  You don’t see why people sometimes take offense.  You think the world is too uptight and you ‘don’t see why people can’t just loosen up.’

You’re almost certainly white.

You’re being insensitive.  Extremely.  Racist, even.

It’s okay.  It’s not you.  It’s the world you grew up in.  But, I know you know that’s not the right way to be.  So knock it off, okay?  It hurts people’s feelings.   Think about it.  You don’t want to live in a world where it’s okay to say racist crap to strangers, do you?  Don’t be that guy.  Please?

It might be hard, but you can reprogram yourself.  You can stop thinking about people in such a small scope.  It’s scary, but once you start doing it, the world really opens up.

Here’s the good news:

There is an Asian out there for you. Really. There’s a masculine, big dicked Chinese dude out there who’s just as much of a douche as you are.  Stop! Don’t argue!  There is. I just know it.  He’s doing the PX90 workout right now, dreaming of the day he meets you and screws the daylights out of you.  The two of you will pull a rickshaw off into the sunset. He will tell you his Ancient Chinese Secret.

But, yeah, you shouldn’t say that kind of crap in an email.    Makes you look like a stupid fool.  And you’re not a stupid fool, are you?  Well of course you are.  We all are. But don’t be that kind of stupid fool.

Jerk.

FriDATE

by piefolk, posted in Uncategorized

Him:  So.  Here we are.

Me:  Yes.  This is it.

Him:  I feel like I’ve been here before.  How long have you lived here?  Did this apartment come with chalkboards up? This apartment is big for New York standards.  I can’t believe I’m hanging out at PIEFOLK.

Me:  It’s just my dirty kitchen.  I’ve been here about 8 or 9 years.  The chalkboard is just paint you can get at Home Depot.

Him:  You painted it yourself??

Me:  Yeah.  Of course.  What would you do?

Him:  Hire someone.  I dunno.

Me:  Ha.  That wasn’t an option.  I was having some lean times when I painted these walls.

Him:  Oh?  What’s changed?

Me:  Nothing.

Him:  OH.

Me:  I’m almost always nearly broke.  It’s fun.  Makes you live creatively.

Him:  So what are we making?  What is this?  Sour cream?  Why did you buy sour cream?  Are these blueberries?  This is the first time I’ve ever made anything.  I never made food before.

Me:  You’ve never made food before?

Him:  We had a cook.

Me:  Wow.  You’re from a wealthy family.

Him:  Not wealthy.  Well off.

Me: If you say so.  Sounds wealthy to me.

Him:  Well I left.  I didn’t want to do it.  I couldn’t.  Can I check my Facebook?  What is that?  What are you whisking?  Is that butter?  What’s this for?  What are you doing with that yellow liquid?  Is that egg?  Who was that guy from last week with all the muscles?  How tall are you?

Me:  It’s butter.  I’m 6ft.  That guy was named Dan Paul.  He’s a recording artist and a go go dancer.

Him:  Ugh.  NO WAY.  I tried dating a go go dancer for a while.  No thank you.  They’re not suitable for dating.  That’s not what they’re for.

Me:  What are they for?

(pause)

Me:  Can you tell me a little bit why it didn’t work?

Him:  I just had a hard time with it.  I would get resentful.  He was always going out to get naked with other people.

Me:  Doing his job?

Him:  Yes.  But I would get jealous.

Me:  (laughs)

Him: What’s so funny?

Me:  He was doing his job.  The job he was doing when you presumably met him.

Him:  So?

Me:  It struck me as ironic.  Your tone was all ‘don’t date go go boys.’  You said it pretty strongly, as if you were going to follow up with some sort of moral failing they have.  But, you’ve only really listed your own flaw.

Him:  Which is?

Me:  Jealousy…  Inability to accept him for who he is/what he does for a living.  He was just doing his job.

Him:  I guess so.  Can I have a hug?

Me:  Yes.

(I hug him for a while.)

Me:  You’re pretty, and your skin is amazing.

Him:  I bet you say that to all the boys.

Me:  I do. I say it to every single one of them.

Him: That makes me feel so very special.

Me:  So I’ve heard.

Him:  From who?

Me:  ‘All the boys.’  We have to finish these muffins.

Him:  Hey, do you have an iPhone charger?  Oh my God what type of music is this?  Do you like pop music?  Can I use your bathroom?  Is there a mirror?  What do I look like?

Me:  Yes to all, except pop music.  I like it okay, but this is some dark alt country station that I made on Pandora.

Him:  I can’t stand to listen to country music. Why do my eyes look so chinky?  I look Chinese!  Other Filipino guys have such round eyes.  I get mistaken for Chinese all the time.

Me:  Your eyes are beautiful.  If they were rounder people would think you were Mexican.

Him:  That’s true.  People take me for Mexican all the time.  Can I have another hug?

(we hug for a while)

Me: Does your family in the Philippines know you’re gay?

Him:  Yes.  They had a ‘Coming Out’ party for me when I told them  I think that’s strange.  Why would you have to announce it??

Me:  Seriously?

Him: Yeah.  Why would you feel the need to announce it.  Straight people don’t have to announce their sexuality.

Me:  But Straight people do announce their own sexuality, all the time.

Him:  No they don’t.

Me:  Yes.  They do.  A debutante’s Coming Out party is just a formal announcement that she’ll be taking dates from men now.  Straight people announce their sexuality all the time.  Going to Hooters with pals, getting your first date with a girl, asking someone to marry you in a public place, bridal showers – they’re all ways of announcing you’re straight.  A christening!  What is a christening if not proof that heterosexuality happened?

Him:  But why is it important for us to announce it?

Me:  You’re asking me this?  Me?  I’m the guy who bakes naked and gay all over the internet.  It’s important because we’re asked by an oppressive straight society to cover up, or subvert ourselves for the sake of not making straights uncomfortable.  It happens all the time in various subtle and blatant ways.

Him:  Like how? 

Me:  Like when your boyfriend says, hey, please don’t kiss me while we’re hanging out with my grandma – she knows I’m gay but I don’t want to freak her out.  That’s your boyfriend acknowledging that his sexuality is a nuisance for straight people.  That’s him asking you to be an accomplice in apologizing for or covering up your sexuality.

Him:  So you’re saying we should stop doing that.  We should announce it.

Me:  I’m saying we HAVE to start doing that.  It’s life or death.  There are plenty of people out there that sympathize with us, but there are plenty of people out there that wish we would get AIDS and die.

Him:  AIDS. 

Me:  AIDS.  Oh!  The muffins are done.  Looks like they’re falling apart.  I guess I shouldn’t have haphazardly put twice as many blueberries in there.

Him:  Yeah.  They’re soggy inside and they didn’t hold form.  I like them.  Good job, Jerk.

The Closet

by piefolk, posted in Uncategorized

Hey Michael,

First off, your site is amazing! Its really interesting to read, and funny too! Although I could spend the rest of this message praising your site, the real reason I’m writing is because I’ve got a problem.
I just turned 20 and I am in the closet (mostly), mainly due to the fact that I go to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. I just finished my sophomore year and at the end of the summer I will have to sign a document stating that the next seven years of my life will be devoted to the service of the Navy or Marine Corps. I know that I could be successful as an military officer, but I can’t help feeling that I am completely off my rocker for a few reasons.
First, even with the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, I feel like coming out this fall would just cause me more problems than it is actually worth. Many of the people at my school would give me a lot of shit and I’d rather not deal with that if possible. Second, I feel that I would be defending a country where many people believe that I shouldn’t have the same rights as everyone else.
Don’t get me wrong, America is a great place and overall should be defended. Surprisingly, I really like going to school at the Naval Academy and like most of the people there too. I just feel that I can’t talk to any of my friends about this since they wouldn’t understand the situation and I want to get input from different people before I make the final decision whether to sign or not. Thanks so much!
W.T. Door
Hey, W. T.

Thanks for your kind words.  It’s nice to know people are reading.

It sounds like you’ve got two issues here.  Allow me to order them for you?

#1:  You want to know if you should pull the trigger and sign the contract on a military career.

Yes.  You should.  You’re there for a reason.  You’ve spent all this time there for a reason.  You’re good at this, and you’re drawn to it.  That’s a great thing.  It’s great to know at a young age what you’re good at and why.  Most young men your age don’t have that blessing, to know what they’re passionate about/good at.  You should sign the contract.

Part of your argument seems to be your reservations about whether or not you should be defending a country that won’t allow you the same rights as everyone else.  I hear that.  You’re probably angry.  I know I am.  I’m angry at Straight people in America for silently watching as a smaller faction of militant bullies deny Gays their civil rights.

Even so, part of what makes your narrative so compelling is that willingness and proclivity toward doing just that:  defending a nation of people that still denies you your rights.  There’s a real shortage of gay role models out there – people who will stand up and live an open, naked, unashamed life, and participate in the world that seems to exclude them.  You should be one of those gay role models.  You already inspire me as such, and I can’t wait to see what you’re capable of.

#2 You want to know if you should come out of the closet and conduct your military career as an openly gay homosexual.

Yes.  Yes you should.

How can you possibly be the inspiring role model I already know you to be, if nobody knows you’re Gay?

I know it will be difficult.  Possibly even fraught with peril.  I grew up openly Gay in a very rural, difficult area of central Florida.  It wasn’t easy.  People resented me and ostracized me.  I remember once getting hit in the head with a thrown rock, at my lunch table.

But, I worked harder.  I was more charming, nicer, and harder working than straight boys needed to be.  I never apologized for who I was, nor was I content to shrink up into a marginalized back seat, and wait for the Straights to decide what was what for me.  For better or for worse, I threw myself into their society.

That’s what you should do, too.

I know.  You must be thinking, hey, this is Annapolis – not your high school.  True enough.  But still, without people like you – how can we ever hope for a world where there is gender, race, or sexual orientation equality?

Doesn’t our fight deserve a few brave, open soldiers?

Ask yourself this:

Would you rather live your life as a positive gay role model?  Or would you rather cower as a closeted gay workaholic who desperately hopes his true self doesn’t leak out around the edges at social functions?  I think you know the answer.

You’ve already made a whole lot of brave choices in your life that led you to Annapolis.  Now you have to continue that tradition.  Do it for the brave openly Gay people that have come before you.  Do it for your terrified brothers who live their lives in the closet.  Do it for your country.

But most of all – do it for yourself.