The Pridelets Files for October 9

On this day in 1993, Billy Graham officially begs the nation's forgiveness over remarks he made at an event in Columbus, Ohio, asking "Is AIDS a judgment from God? I cannot say for sure, but I think so." Says the apologetic evangelical, "I would like to say that I am very sorry for what I said. To say God has judged people with AIDS would be very wrong and very cruel. I don't believe that, and I don't know why I said it." (Now, please stop boycotting me.)

BIRTHGAYS (and the occasional straights)
* 1830 - sculptor Harriet Goodhue Hosmer,
* 1840 - English Pre-Raphaelite painter Simeon Solomon
* 1940 - Baseball player and onetime "Foxylady" nude model Joe Pepitone
* 1946 - Gay fundraiser and former SAGE Executive Director Ken Dawson and Jim Owles, co-founder of the Gay Activists Alliance (the first openly gay candidate to run for New York City Council)

Q.UOTE
"I know so many gay Republicans are really good and decent people, but the fact is I'd be lying if I didn't say I'm not almost bitter towards them. This is a group of people that put their tax brackets above their civil rights. I don't know how anyone could rationalize that." -- Florida Congressman Robert Wexler's openly gay chief of staff Eric Johnson, (a former Republican)

THE BEDSIDE TABLE
"Lesbian Couples: A Guide to Creating Healthy Relationships" by D. Merilee Clunis and G. Dorsey Green
Written by two experienced lesbian therapists, Lesbian Couples covers a range of topics-commitment ceremonies and marriage, living arrangements, work, money, togetherness and separate identities, coming out to family and friends, resolving conflict and understanding each other-and uses a variety of helpful examples and problem-solving techniques, drawing from research done on lesbian couples over the past decade. The book pays special attention to differences of race, class, age and physical ability, and addresses the issues raised when one or both partners are recovering from alcohol, substance, or sexual abuse. The book also addresses differences that lesbians may encounter in their relationships regarding such issues as butch-femme, transgender identity, bisexuality, monogamy and sado-masochism. Thoroughly readable and extremely helpful, with an updated resource guide, Lesbian Couples is a book that every lesbian will want to own.

This work is copyright© 2006 Thomas Allen Heald, all rights reserved. Contact the author at tom@idontgetit.org and the latest column are always available at www.Pridelets.com.