I feel surprisingly happy about the passage of the same-sex marriage bill in New York state.  While I still have questions about why we want this institution to define and validate our homosexual relationships, I’m fascinated at the possibilities that seem to unfold as a result of this new law.

I’m blogging tonight from Washington, DC, as I’m in town for a roundtable discussion with some exceptional arts educators whose students have been named Presidential Scholars in the Arts for 2011. These students are nominated after receiving recognition through YoungArts, the signature program of National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. I have consulted for this organization for a few years now, and I’m excited by the work that happens and the young people that gain recognition through the YoungArts program.

I woke up this morning to a CNN.com posting with the title, “Super Bowl hero warns of ‘anarchy’ if NY approves gay marriage.”

Huh?

In an opinion piece on CNN.com, Jarrett Barrios, the President of GLAAD, suggests that Tracy Morgan should now meet with victims or the families of victims of anti-gay violence.  Here’s an excerpt:

“While it is certainly a good thing that Morgan has started to take responsibility for the offensive content of his routine by apologizing publicly to his fans and the gay community, he must do more to balance the harm that his words have inflicted. He could take one profound step to show his sincerity by meeting with parents and young people who have been personally effected [sic] by anti-gay violence or family rejection.”

I can’t believe that I just typed that title for this blog post…

The newest revelation about an alleged “x-rated” picture of Anthony Weiner’s erect penis got me thinking about the very public arena in which we live. I read an article by Marie Griffith on Huffington Post last evening, and I think she hit the nail on the head. Then I started thinking some more about how we label an erect penis as “x-rated.”