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.

Monotyping -VS- Sterotyping
By Ryan Shattuck | Thursday Sep 4, 2008
The gay and lesbian community is just as diverse as any other community, and gay men and women proudly come from nearly all walks of life. We refuse to be pigeonholed, we don’t like to be categorized, and we get tired of being cast as the funny but sexually ambiguous sidekick in a movie starring Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney. Nevertheless, the media continues to stereotype gay men, and we continue to let them. We know that we’re not all exactly the same, and yet many outside of the gay community still believe that all gay men are Queer as Folk for the Straight Guy.

Big Brother Is Watching You, and He’s Telling Perez Hilton
By Ryan Shattuck | Monday Aug 11, 2008
I had been discovered. The secret was out. Lance Bass was out of the closet. Bill Clinton had admitted to receiving a blowjob. Someone learned the moon landing was filmed on a sound stage. I wasn’t embarrassed to admit that I was a gay columnist, as much as I was embarrassed to have been caught making a ridiculously small deposit to bank account. The point is, pride knows no boundaries, much like a poison gas or illegal immigrants.

A Gaycation Is All I Ever Wanted
By Ryan Shattuck | Monday Jul 14, 2008
breaking stereotypes and vacationing in unique locales that aren’t usually known for being a gay hotspot might be more enjoyable than the traditional gaycation. Sure, nearly every gay man has been New York City for the explicit reason of seeing a Broadway show, but perhaps some gay men are looking for an alternative.