Columnists :: Ryan Shattuck

Gay Year’s Resolutions
By Ryan Shattuck | Jan 27 We in the gay community can always benefit by setting new goals and resolutions. This past decade saw both successes (gay marriage becoming legal in several states; the election of Barack Obama) and failures (the passage of Proposition 8; the presidency of Barack Obama). By setting new resolutions and creating new goals, we can help make this become our most successful decade yet. What should the gay community set as its New Year’s resolutions for 2010
A Review of the Year 2009, Part 3
By Ryan Shattuck | Wednesday Dec 30, 2009
During the past two weeks, you’ve read Parts 1 and 2 in my groundbreaking 3-part series: "A Review of the Year 2009." Well, loyal Edge readers, we have saved the best for last. Continuing where we left off after the cliffhanging month of August, we now proceed to the thrilling month of September.
A Review of the Year 2009, Part 2
By Ryan Shattuck | Wednesday Dec 23, 2009
Last week, you read Part 1 in my dramatic, nail-biting series: "A Review of the Year 2009." In Part 2 we continue where we left off, continuing with the exciting month of May.
A Review of the Year 2009, Part 1
By Ryan Shattuck | Wednesday Dec 16, 2009
As my holiday gift to all the loyal Edge readers, I’ve compiled a list of all the memorable events that occurred during the year 2009. This list ended up quite long, so I’ve broken it up into three parts, for reasons of readability. And viscosity.
Them’s Fightin’ Words
By Ryan Shattuck | Wednesday Sep 30, 2009
Although we in the gay community regularly apply such words as "fag," "queer" and "dyke" to ourselves, we take great offense when such words are used by others. This is because these words belong to us and we, as a community, use such words to self-identify and build unity. However, it sometimes appears that we use our ’minority’ status as an excuse to use offensive language towards other minorities, whether directly or indirectly.
Money, Money, Money: It’s a Rich Gay Man’s World
By Ryan Shattuck | Tuesday Sep 8, 2009
There are many pros and cons when it comes to being a gay man. PRO: You are allowed to sleep with men. CON: You are forbidden from sleeping with women. PRO: Nobody thinks anything about you being incredibly campy. CON: Except for the gang of thugs kicking your ass. PRO: You have a lot more disposable income than your heterosexual peers. CON: You’ll probably waste your disposable income on porn and alcohol. PRO: You’ll probably waste your disposable income on porn and alcohol.
What a Difference a Year Makes
By Ryan Shattuck | Monday Jun 1, 2009
This year, my cynicism towards Pride has softened. While I still believe Pride will be filled with dicks, dykes, douchebags and debauchery, I also believe that we genuinely have a reason this year to unite and celebrate who we are as a community.
Sex, Allies, and Videotape
By Ryan Shattuck | Wednesday Mar 4, 2009
Despite the very real human desire for people to need people, too often many in the gay community end up doing just that - alienating allies and solely attempting to take on incredibly large projects such as, oh I don’t know, the Gay Rights Movement. Some gay men and women have a particular tendency to forget that people exist outside of gay people, that community exists outside of the gay community, and that .com exists outside of gay.com.
The Emperor is Out of the Closet, but Has No Clothes
By Ryan Shattuck | Wednesday Feb 25, 2009
Neither history nor the equal rights movement have ever been fair or just. When Barack Obama became president, he understood that as the first African-American president in the United States, he was afforded far less room for failure than were his predecessors. This also goes for the first generations of gay men and women to marry. While future generations of gay men and women will be afforded more room for mistakes and imperfections, the modern gay rights activist of 2009 should view mistakes and imperfections as a luxury.
Ex Marks the Spot
By Ryan Shattuck | Wednesday Feb 18, 2009
In the Game of Life - which I usually cheat at by hiding money under the board - we encounter a number of relationshipy people with whom we don’t get along. Do we fight with any of our exes? Do we avoid talking to people we’ve hooked up with? Do we despise the person with whom our boyfriend is having an affair? Do we think we’re better than people who use words like "relationshipy?"
L-O-V-Enough
By Ryan Shattuck | Wednesday Feb 11, 2009
I realize that it’s not a novel thing for gay men to say they hate Valentines Day. Nearly everyone says this. The very act of hating Valentines Day has become such a hip pastime that celebrities are starting to do it, simply so that Average Americans may buy cheaper knock-off versions. "Did you hear that Angelina Jolie hates Valentines Day? I hate Valentines Day too - and it only cost me half the price!" Too bad the stitching’s already coming out.
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