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Gays in Iraq terrorized by threats, rape, murder
Kamal was just 16 when gunmen snatched him off the streets of Baghdad, stuffed him in the trunk of a car and whisked him away to a house. But the real terror was about to begin.
The men realized he was gay, Kamal said, when he took his shirt off and they saw his chest was shaved.
"They told me to take off my clothes to rape me or they would kill me immediately. This moment was the worst moment in my life," he told CNN, weeping as he spoke of the 2005 ordeal.
"I was watching them taking off their clothes, preparing to rape me. I did not know what to do, so I started shouting loudly, 'Please do not do that! I will ask my family to give you whatever you want.'"
His pleas went unheeded. "The other two kidnappers took off my clothes by force and, at that time, I saw them as three dirty animals trying to tear my body apart."
He was held for 15 days, released only after his family paid a $1,500 ransom. He was raped every day. Only once, he said, was he allowed to talk to his family during captivity. "I told my family that I was beaten by them, but I did not dare to tell my family that I was raped by them. I could not say it, it's too much shame."
CNN spoke with Kamal, now 18, and his 21-year-old friend, Rami, about what it's like to be gay in Iraq. Coming out as gay is not easy in any country, but to do so in Iraq could mean a death sentence or torture.
The two men rarely show feelings toward each other in public. They spend a lot of time in Internet cafes in Baghdad, surfing gay chat rooms and seeking contacts with other gay men in Iraq and elsewhere.
Since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, the situation for gays and lesbians in Iraq has deteriorated. Ridiculed under Hussein, many now find themselves the targets of violence, according to humanitarian officials.
Lesbians are also victims of harassment and violence, but not nearly as often as gay men.
It's unknown how many homosexuals have been killed by militias in the lawless streets of Iraq's cities, but some Web sites post pictures of Iraqis they say were killed for being gay.
One photo on the Iraqi Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender site shows a group of men standing around three male bodies sprawled on a street, blood pouring from their heads. "Gay Iraqi victims of the police and death squads," the site says.
A U.N. report on human rights in Iraq reinforces the accusations of violence. Although gays are supposed to be protected by law in Iraq, it says, they face extreme brutality.
"Armed Islamic groups and militias have been known to be particularly hostile toward homosexuals, frequently and openly engaging in violent campaigns against them," the report said, adding that homosexuals have been murdered.
"Militias are reportedly threatening families of men believed to be homosexual, stating that they will begin killing family members unless the men are handed over or killed by the family," it said. Kamal was just 16 when gunmen snatched him off the streets of Baghdad, stuffed him in the trunk of a car and whisked him away to a ho... more -
Tory councillor charged with having gay sex in a public toilet
A Conservative councillor in Harrow has appeared in court charged with engaging in sexual activity in a public lavatory.
Robert Benson did not enter a plea at Harrow Magistrates' Court last week. He has been suspended from the party but remains a councillor. Council leader David Ashton told the Harrow Observer:
"Firstly, this is a matter for the courts. Secondly, as Conservative group leader, I have suspended Councillor Benson from the group.
"If somebody is charged with a criminal offence, they are suspended as part of our standard procedure."
Mr Benson, 41, is accused of giving oral sex to another man in a public toilet in south Harrow on June 25th. He was arrested and bailed until July 8th, when he was charged. A 56-year-old from Essex man was issued with a caution. Mr Benson's case will be heard on 30th July at Wimbledon Magistrates Court.
Oops! Methinks the Tories doth protest about homosexuality too much...? http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2003/jun/09/immigrat...
A Conservative councillor in Harrow has appeared in court charged with engaging in sexual activity in a public lavatory. ... more -
Jack Barrowman takes gay test
The openly-gay Torchwood star is subjected to a set of experiments in BBC1's The Making of Me to determine whether he was born homosexual or if his sexuality was determined by his environment.
And following the tests, the I'd Do Anything Judge has urged the parents of homosexuals to watch the programme in order to gain a greater understanding of their children.
Speaking live from Los Angeles this morning on GMTV, for rival breakfast news company ITV1, Jack would not be drawn to give away the experiments outcome before broadcast on July 24th, but did hint that regardless of nature or nuture homosexuality was something that was unavoidable. The openly-gay Torchwood star is subjected to a set of experiments in BBC1's The Making of Me to determine whether he was born homosex... more -
McDonald's getting flack for supporting "the homosexual agenda"
Let me get this straight, McDonald's knowingly contributes to the obesity epidemic, plays an active role in helping squelch this nation's agriculutre systems, practices substandard beef and food health regulations, bioengineers food with unknown repurcussions, and yet the masses line up en masse to collect a coke, a smile, and a plastic happy meal toy.
Yet they support equal rights for other human beings who happen to be gay or lesbian and suddenly feathers are ruffled enough to get active in protest?
Wow... Let me get this straight, McDonald's knowingly contributes to the obesity epidemic, plays an active role in helping squelch this natio... more -
Bishops back plea for 'inclusive communion'
Anglican leaders yesterday appealed for "inclusivity" within their communion, at a gathering of 650 Bishops from around the world.
Bishop Duleep de Chickera, from Sri Lanka, said that "there is space equally for anyone and everyone, regardless of colour, ability, gender or sexual orientationtation."
200 conservative Bishops have boycotted the event, and Chickera also appealed directly to them, by adding that "unity in diversity is the cherished Anglican tradition ... United in spite of the fact that we are different, because in Christ we are equal".
The big problem with this statement is that they are arguing over what Christ would have wanted, make a choice boys, you're already about 30 years behind. Anglican leaders yesterday appealed for "inclusivity" within their communion, at a gathering of 650 Bishops from around the world. ... more -
Anglicans seek to prevent church split
The world's Anglican bishops turned Saturday to the enormous task at the heart of their once-a-decade summit: trying to keep the Anglican family from breaking apart over the Bible and homosexuality.
With its private prayer phase over, the Lambeth Conference gets down to business but is hobbled by a boycott: about one-quarter of the invited bishops -- mostly theological conservatives from Africa -- are not attending.
The 650 bishops who are here include a mix of traditionalists, moderates and liberals, all with divergent ideas about what Anglicans should believe and how their fellowship should operate.
The conference's opening public worship is set for Sunday in Canterbury Cathedral. The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the Anglican spiritual leader, has led a three-day closed-door session this week focused on the role of the bishops as seen through the Gospel.
Williams designed the entire gathering without any votes or resolutions. Instead, starting Monday, the bishops will hold daily Bible study and small group discussions. They plan to release their collective "reflections" on the meeting when it ends Aug. 3.
Some critics have said the program is an attempt to avoid decisive action. The 77 million-member Anglican Communion has been splintering since 2003, when the Episcopal Church, the U.S. Anglican body, consecrated the first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.
Last month, Anglican conservatives -- frustrated that Williams hasn't done more to keep the U.S. church and other liberal Anglicans in line with traditional Bible teaching -- formed a new global church network that circumvents Williams' authority but stops short of schism.
A few leaders of that movement are attending Lambeth, but most have stayed away. They released a statement ahead of the Sunday service condemning "false teaching which justifies sin in the name of Christianity."
"These are not merely matters of different perspectives and emphases," they wrote. "They have led to unbiblical practice in faith and morals, resulting in impaired and broken communion. We long for all orthodox Anglicans to join in resisting this development."
Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, head of the Anglican Church of Australia, defended the conference design Saturday as "not backing away from the hard realities we have to face, but nurturing the right spirit" to confront them.
Williams has told bishops they must "call everyone together" instead of aligning with one group or another. He also said bishops must not only listen to the people they lead, but also consider what God wants of them, according to bishops who discussed details of the private talks.
In one session, Williams asked the bishops, seated in the nave of the historic cathedral, to go pray with another bishop who they feel nervous about meeting, according to U.S. Episcopal Bishop George Councell of New Jersey.
Several bishops said as they looked around the cathedral, they were struck by the tombstones of Anglican church leaders who had served hundreds of years ago. It was a good reminder not only of the history of the Anglican fellowship but also of its ability to survive turmoil.
"We've been at this a long time," Councell said. The world's Anglican bishops turned Saturday to the enormous task at the heart of their once-a-decade summit: trying to keep the Angli... more -
Turkey's first gay 'honour' killing?
One of the most prominent gay figures in Turkey, Anhmet Yildiz, has been fatally shot in a pre-meditated attack by a group of men.
Yildiz, 26, was a physics student, and had attracted notoriety after he represented Turkey at an international gay gathering in San Francisco last year.
This murder is viewed by many as representative of the onflicting social attitudes in Turkey today: between more conservative "old mentalities", and "growing civil liberties". Here it seems that one of these liberties, the right to a life without prejudice, has met vicious opposition.
Turkey's sudden exposure to 'western' mentalities, since it first began to make steps to join the european union in the late 1980s, has lead to an awkward juxtaposition of more progressive thinking with the traditionalist cirlces; who have here expressed themselves in the only way they know how: certainly rational argument has not prved too successful.
One of the most prominent gay figures in Turkey, Anhmet Yildiz, has been fatally shot in a pre-meditated attack by a group of men. ... more -
The women who make men gay: the genetic link
"Scientists have discovered that gay men’s mothers, sisters and maternal aunts tend to have significantly more children than the norm — and that many of their nephews and male cousins are also gay.
The findings suggest that the same genes that trigger homosexuality in men also promote fertility in women, and that this could explain how they survive in the population when gay men themselves are unlikely to breed. The genes are instead passed on through the female line and the enhanced fertility they confer on these women ensures that they are inherited by plenty of children.
Some of these sons will grow up to be homosexual themselves. The study also revealed that gay men are more likely than heterosexuals to have a gay male relative, though only on their mother’s side of the family.
The results, from the University of Padua, in Italy, offer strong support for the theory that homosexuality is at least partly determined by a person’s genetic make-up, and is not just about personal choice or upbringing and environment. It also suggests an elegant solution to the biggest problem with this hypothesis — the “Darwinian paradox” that any genes that favour homosexuality ought to have died out through natural selection, as those that inherited them had fewer and fewer offspring.
Andrea Camperio-Ciani, who led the research, said: “Our data resolve this paradox by showing that there might be hitherto unexpected reproductive advantages associated with male homosexuality.”
The work also points to a likely location for the genes that have this effect: they almost certainly lie on the X chromosome, the package of DNA that men always inherit from their mothers.
In the study, published today in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society, Dr Camperio-Ciani’s team interviewed 98 homosexual and 100 heterosexual men in detail about their extended families. In total, more than 4,600 individuals were thus indirectly involved. They found that both the mothers and maternal aunts of the homosexuals were significantly more fertile than those of the straight men: the mothers had an average of 2.69 children compared with 2.32, and the aunts 1.98 children compared with 1.51.
Fertility rates among paternal relatives and among male relatives on the mother’s side were similar for both groups.
All this points to genes that influence both male homosexuality and female fertility being passed down along the maternal line. “The results hypothesise that genetic factors, transmitted in the maternal line, increase both the probability of being homosexual in males and fecundity in females,” Dr Camperio-Ciani said.
The study did not investigate lesbianism. The notion that homosexuality has at least some basis in biology is not now seriously disputed by scientists, though there is little consensus on what the causes might be. Some scientists think that genetics are critical, while others believe that conditions in the womb are all-important.
The question of what causes homosexuality has long divided both the gay community and social conservatives who regard same-sex partnerships as wrong. Many gay activists think that identifying biological factors that contribute to homosexuality will prove that their sexual orientation is perfectly natural and encourage tolerance. Others fear that it will lead to greater hostility, with the risk that being gay will again be seen as a disorder that might one day be “cured”."
"Scientists have discovered that gay men’s mothers, sisters and maternal aunts tend to have significantly more children than the norm ... more -
"Don't Ask" policy hits female soldiers hardest
As a lesbian serving in the U.S. Navy, Cmdr. Zoe Dunning routinely accepted dates from men simply to avoid accusations that she was homosexual. That was more than 16 years ago. Yet a recent report indicates that the atmosphere in which women in the military operate has worsened.
Today, more than 12,000 service members have lost their jobs because of the so-called don't ask, don't tell law. A disproportionate number of those discharges are women, according to statistics gathered by the Washington-based Servicemembers' Legal Defense Network from the government under the Freedom of Information Act, and released to the public June 23.
"'Don't ask, don't tell' is clearly a women's issue," said Dunning, who is on the board of the Servicemembers' Legal Defense Network. Upon her retirement in 2007 from the Naval Reserves, she was the only openly gay person to serve in the military.
This vast difference between the numbers of women discharged from the military may add impetus to those calling for an end to the "don't ask" law.
The problem for women has worsened in recent years, the data gathered by the service members' network indicate. In fiscal 2006, women made up 17 percent of the Army but 35 percent of discharges under the "don't ask" law. One year later, women were 15 percent of Army members, yet discharges of women increased to 45 percent of the total.
Dunning, who stated publicly in 1993 that she was a lesbian, stayed in the military despite the passage later that year of the "don't ask, don't tell" law requiring members of the military to hide their sexual orientation. The law was characterized by then-president Bill Clinton as a "compromise" from his promise to end the ban on gays serving in the military.
"Don't ask" wasn't a compromise at all, says Cathy Westcott of the service members' network. Before the law, the status of gays in the military was left to the discretion of the commander in chief; after the law, there was a mandate to discharge them. And by singling out homosexuality as a reason for discharge, the law has actually increased discrimination against gays in the military, especially women, Dunning added.
As a lesbian serving in the U.S. Navy, Cmdr. Zoe Dunning routinely accepted dates from men simply to avoid accusations that she was ho... more -
Canada is so gay!
"Same-sex unions are growing at five times the rate of opposite-sex ones according to census numbers that also reveal, for the first time, the number of homosexual marriages in Canada.
Some 45,300 couples, both common law and married, reported as same-sex in the 2006 census, up from 34,200. Those numbers represent a 33 per cent surge since 2001, while heterosexual couples grew by just six per cent in the same time period.
The historic Statistics Canada query on same-sex marriage, coming in the wake of Parliament legalizing such unions in 2005, revealed 7,465 homosexual marriages.
"People are people and people just want the same things out of life. Your sexual orientation should not matter.""
"Same-sex unions are growing at five times the rate of opposite-sex ones according to census numbers that also reveal, for the first t... more -
Nigeria's all-Gay Church
In Nigeria, homosexuality is still both a major religious and social taboo. Nevertheless, the 'House of Rainbow' church is nw defying local prejudices, and contains an entirely gay congregation (though is not exclusively for homsexuals).
Jide Macaulay, the Church's Pastor, speaks of the need to "reconcile sexuality and spirituality" saying that his church's aim is to correct the self-image of gay people, who in Nigeria "are told that they are an abomination", or "children of the devil."
However in contrast to their openness inside the Church, most homosexuals in Nigeria are still forced to keep their sexuality a secret in everyday life, and live in fear of homophobic attacks, as well as the law: in Nigeria, the most liberal punishment for "homosexual acts" is 14 years in prison. This seems lenient however, when you compare it to the north of the country where, under Sharia law, homosexuals can be stoned to death.
Similar divisions to those in the UK and US have arisen in Nigeria's Anglican church, with anti-gay conservatives also threatening to separate in defiance of gay marriages performed by the Church in other countries.
In Nigeria, homosexuality is still both a major religious and social taboo. Nevertheless, the 'House of Rainbow' church is nw defying ... more -
Brazil May Make anti-gay Speech a Hate Crime
A bill in the Brazilian legislature has already passed its House of Representatives and supported by the president will make anti homosexual speech a crime. If anyone speaks or acts to prevent actions of "homosexual affection" in public or private locations open to the public, they could face up to five years in prison for doing so. A bill in the Brazilian legislature has already passed its House of Representatives and supported by the president will make anti homo... more
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Westboro Baptist Church strikes again
Members of the Westboro Baptist Church stopped by Schofield Barracks, an Army post in Hawaii, for crumpets and tea. Actually, they came to spread hate and hurt whomever they could with nasty words and ugly signs. It's astonishing that these are actually REAL people. Their message is sickening: God hates America, homosexuals, and the military. What is wrong with them?! Members of the Westboro Baptist Church stopped by Schofield Barracks, an Army post in Hawaii, for crumpets and tea. Actually, they ca... more
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Out-of-state gay couples poised for legal marriage in Massachusetts
The possibility of out-of-state gay couples being allowed marriages in Massachusetts was given a boost by the vote of the Senate to remove a old law.
While presumably not designed with gay couples in mind, the 1913 law prohibited couples to be married if they could not legally wed in their home state. After Massachusetts became the first state to allow gay marriages In 2004, the then-governor Mitt Romney ordered the "then-little-known" law to be enforced, so that out-of-state gay couples could not wed there.
Current Governor Deval Patrick, whose own daughter is gay, is in support of the Senate's proposal, which other critics have said has racist undertones: it dates from a time when the most common "illegal" marriages, that the law refers to, were those between mixed race couples.
The fact that this law is in spirit not about gay marriages, but rather race, seems certain to be abolished and, as one senator remarked, "put the final nail in the coffin of those dark days." The possibility of out-of-state gay couples being allowed marriages in Massachusetts was given a boost by the vote of the Senate to re... more -
Massachusetts Senate Approves Gay Marriage Rights for All U.S. Citizens
"The state Senate voted swiftly and unanimously yesterday to strike down a 95-year-old law that blocks gay and lesbian couples from most other states from being married in Massachusetts, drawing condemnation from Catholic Church leaders but delivering a victory for advocates who have fought for the repeal and who say that same-sex marriage has become an accepted part of the state's culture."
In a unanimous decision, the State Senate would legalize the practice of out-of-state, homosexual couples to join in the right to be married, already guaranteed to in-state couples. Additionally, it would recognize marriage documents obtained from other states which support similar rights for all couples -- California, for example.
If successful in the House, the decision would pave the way for an influx of gay couples into the state, likely bringing in over $111 million in extra revenue, as well as expanding the Constitutionally guaranteed rights of straight couples to marry, to all couples regardless of gender or sexual identity.
Most excitingly, "There were no chanting protesters outside, and not a voice on the Senate floor was raised against the repeal."
" 'People have become resigned to the fact that all the chaos that was predicted in 2004 - the sky was going to fall, it would be catastrophic - it never happened. And so it has become, as we expected it would, as much a part of the reality of life in Massachusetts as anything else,' Senator Dianne Wilkerson, a Roxbury Democrat who has championed the repeal bill, said of yesterday's vote."
"The state Senate voted swiftly and unanimously yesterday to strike down a 95-year-old law that blocks gay and lesbian couples from mo... more -
South Carolina - not 'so gay' after all
An advertising campaign launched on the London Underground during gay pride week earlier this month has caused a political storm in South Carolina.
Posters, displayed at Leicester Square and Covent Garden tube stations in the two-week period surrounding the festival, were designed to promote a gay tour operator and to increase tourism to various US destinations noted for being gay-friendly.
News of the campaign and a poster with the tagline "South Carolina is so gay" reached the state late last week where it was condemned by Senator David Thomas. The state employee who approved the campaign has since resigned and Senator Thomas is calling for an audit of the tourism department's advertising budget, which this year runs in excess of $10m. The tourism department has also refused to pay the $5,000 fee for appearing in the campaign and has asked that the advertising be removed.
"South Carolinians will be irate when they learn their hard earned tax dollars are being spent to advertise our state as 'so gay,'" said Senator Thomas.
However, Ian Johnson, chief executive officer of Out Now, the gay marketing agency that created the campaign, claimed that the South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department (SCPRT), "chased us to be included in the campaign late on. We had to buy extra panels at Covent Garden to include South Carolina. In addition, SCPRT flew Andrew Roberts, the CEO of Amro, out to South Carolina so that he could check that there were sufficient gay-friendly aspects to the destination before including it in the campaign. Places like Charleston and Myrtle Beach have quite strong gay and lesbian communities."
Armo Worldwide said they took the idea for the campaign to "several US tourism boards" late last year and "received a very positive response". They say the individual boards paid a cut-price fee to be featured, while they covered all other costs in a cooperative-style marketing campaign.
Other US destinations featured in Amro Worldwide's campaign - including Washington DC, Las Vegas, Boston and Atlanta – have not reported any such backlash. The Boston poster, which picked up on its status as capital of the first US state to legalise same-sex marriage, is thought to be expecting a huge gay-tourism boost if a ruling goes ahead to allow out-of-state gay marriages there as well.
Amro claim the adverts are enhancing the positive associations with the word "gay". "The expression 'That is so gay" [is often used] as a form of put down, not of gay and lesbian people directly, but rather as a general way to suggest that for something to be "gay" is negative or bad … This campaign will 'reclaim' the term 'so gay'," says their website.
South Carolinians, however, remain unconvinced. "We're so gay?" asked one baffled resident when the story was put to him by a local television journalist. "Nah, wrong state. Go to California."
An advertising campaign launched on the London Underground during gay pride week earlier this month has caused a political storm in So... more -
HoodNews™: LBPD BEATS WOMAN ON BUS!!!
21 year old female flicks LBPD off from bus, pd pulls over bus, tackles woman, drags her off the bus and slams her face into concrete breaking 4 bones in her face.
Story by Claudie Jones and Hassan Haze
HoodNews™: Freedom of Press Movie
The hottest DVD in the streets: Put up or shut up!
Http://www.hoodnews.info 21 year old female flicks LBPD off from bus, pd pulls over bus, tackles woman, drags her off the bus and slams her face into concrete ... more -
Gay Rights: Overview
Gay Issues have been popular on Current lately-my Homosexuality is Natural and JanaPokana's McCain does not support Gay Adoption submissions are getting a lot of feedback. So I thought I'd post this general overview on Gay Rights and why it's important that we fight for equality FOR EVERYONE in this country!!!
Excerpt:
"Surveys indicate Americans have mixed feelings about how far the government should go in codifying rights for gays and lesbians. Many Americans still view homosexuality as objectionable -- even a sin -- and many see gay rights as an assault on the traditional family and an effort to win government approval for sexual behavior that they view as deviant.
Gay rights remains an emotionally charged issue, and it’s clear the issue will continue to have ramifications not just for public policy but for American society as well." Gay Issues have been popular on Current lately-my Homosexuality is Natural and JanaPokana's McCain does not support Gay Adoption submi... more -
Anti-Gay Alabama Attorney General Caught Being Gay
The Attorney General in question is Troy King, who, of course, is only interested in outlawing homosexuality and sex toys. His gay lover is either a college “buddy,” or a very young youngster and “Homecoming King” from Troy University. What are the odds of a dude named Troy King getting caught in bed with a Homecoming King from Troy University?
Rumors Swirl On Possible Alabama AG Troy King Gay Sex Scandal, Possible Resignation
The rumor mill in Montgomery is swirling of news of a potential resignation by Republican Attorney General Troy King, amid rumors that he was caught by his wife having sex with a male aide and subsequently banished from his home by his wife. King, a potential GOP frontrunner for Governor in 2010, succeeded Bill Pryor, one of George W. Bush’s most controversial judicial nominees. In addition, King was also an early endorser of John McCain.
A spokesperson for Alabama Governor Bob Riley denied that Attorney General Troy King is preparing to resign in the wake of a massive rumor campaign that has yet to be fully confirmed. The word is, according to multiple sources in Montgomery and elsewhere, that King was recently caught by his wife in a gay affair with a male aide and banished from his home.
According to Tara Hutchison in the executive office of the governor they have heard of no plans in the works for King’s resignation. She said she had not heard that he had been kicked out of his home because of a gay affair.
Governor Bob Riley’s press office refused to return multiple phone calls from this independent press outlet even though some sources accuse Riley of perpetrating the leak. The attorney general’s press office also declined to return phone calls seeking comment.
The Locust Fork News and Journal heard about this a couple of weeks ago from a Montgomery lawyer, and have had numerous contacts with people trying to confirm the truth of the rumor.
I just heard from a very reliable source that Troy Boy is resigning as Attorney General. No report of King’s official reason, but the unofficial reason almost certainly involves the rumors swirling around Montgomery that he was recently caught in embarassing misconduct. The resignation may be enough to keep King’s personal life out of the papers, but I don’t look for him to run for governor in 2010. The Attorney General in question is Troy King, who, of course, is only interested in outlawing homosexuality and sex toys. His gay lov... more -
ZAP! Ep. 3 - "PARENTS"
In this ZAP! episode, I discuss "coming out." I explain how I pulled it off, and - as always - I inject the discussion with a joke or two. Or seven. In this ZAP! episode, I discuss "coming out." I explain how I pulled it off, and - as always - I inject the discussion with a joke or... more
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