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FEB 20–MARCH 5, 2014 3 email [email protected] comment dailyxtra.com & facebook/dailyxtra.com Comment tweet @dailyxtra more than women and why fewer male athletes have felt comfortable coming FEEDBACK out. I think it’s simple: bum sex. Homophobes like Vladimir Putin and ‘Fucking’ editorial Let’s get naked Rob Ford surely enjoy a casual wank to your average girl-on-girl porn. But the I hate the word fucking [“For the Love of Fucking, Xtra #764, Feb 6]. It’s not EDITORIAL Bliss. In it, Bliss argues that homophobes thought of two men fucking triggers a DANNY have appropriated the word “homopho- primitive hatred. When we celebrate that I’m a prude, but it is to me a very GLENWRIGHT bia,” redefi ning it so that they become this love during Pride — whether it’s cold word. Having sex — that’s okay its victims. “Three weeks ago I was on naked on a parade float surrounded with me. I also have the same prob- We finally have confir- television, and I said that I believed that by colourful drag queens or dancing lem with nakedness in our Toronto mation from the mayor of Toronto people who actively campaign for gay topless in a Church Street beer garden Pride — it’s no longer necessary to and his Tweedledee brother that the people to be treated less or diff erently — it reminds them of what we do in the parade ourselves in this way. There real reason Rob Ford doesn’t come to are, in my gay opinion, homophobic,” privacy of our bedrooms. So let’s call it are children present, and if they were Pride is because his innocent eyes can’t Bliss said. “And for the last three weeks what it is and stop allowing these bigots our own children we would have some handle all the “buck-naked men.” It’s I have been lectured by heterosexual and nudity-haters from masking their decorum. Just an opinion. mendous amount of money that even- tually everybody will pay for, either in another curious excuse from a man who people about what homophobia is and issues with concern for the wide-eyed PAULA KEY has spent much of his professional life who should be allowed to identify it. children. And let’s remember that Pride TORONTO, ON the form of more expensive insurance inside football locker rooms. Straight people — ministers, senators, is not the Santa Claus parade — its roots or further burdening of our health- Sam Sotiropoulos, a Toronto District lawyers, journalists — have lined up to are in protest and sexual liberation. So PrEP care system. A close runner-up is the School Board trustee, joined Ford Feb 13 tell me what homophobia is and what long as the Putins and Fords of the world Here’s my analogy: a car may have drug’s toxicity and the risk of liver and in the quest to rid the summertime street I am allowed to feel oppressed by.” still have platforms from which to stir up seatbelts and airbags, but the combi- kidney damage (does anybody know festival of any exposed fl esh. Sotiropou- Sound familiar? People like Rob Ford hate, there’s no reason why we should nation of the two provides enhanced what this drug will do to you after 20 los suggested on Twitter that nudity at and Sam Sotiropoulos have rebranded ever let up in that protest. protection should an incident occur years of use?). Plus, you still need to Pride is against the law in Ontario. When themselves as victims, casualties of our We should also keep in mind that [“Take a Pill,” Xtra #764, Feb 6]. Obvi- wear condoms for other STIs (notably challenged, the trustee encouraged To- wanton sexuality and hedonism. there’s nothing shameful about the ously, the driver isn’t going to operate hep C, which is killing more Americans rontonians to stand with him against the But elements of sex-negativity and naked body or sex. If you think there is, the vehicle recklessly just because the per year than HIV) and to make up for evils of something called “homosexism.” Victorian-style prudishness also exist I’d encourage you to avoid Pride. Stay two are present. Things happen in the fact that you cannot miss a dose to “One of the most divisive infl uences in our own community, often coming home, turn on the television and show life. Condoms, like fl ossing, are one of retain your immunity. I don’t think the in Canada today is homosexism it’s [sic] from gays who worry about children your children the more palatable aspects those things people know they need to false sense of security and the risks of disseminators are maliciously rabid,” being exposed to queer people celebrat- of our world: perjuring politicians and do, but it doesn’t always work that way. fucking up your body for sex that still Sotiropoulos posted. When pressed by a ing their sexuality. These squeamish crack-smoking mayors, airbrushed ce- Sometimes they break. This medica- requires a condom is worth it. National Post tion is ideal for people who have poz DAN FALKENHAM reporter about the mean- types — most of whom, it appears, have lebrities, schoolhouse shootings, dead TORONTO, ON ing of the word, Sotiropoulos pointed to been able to claim all their rights — have bodies piling up in the Middle East, partners. I’ve known people who have an entry at urbandictionary.com that somehow forgotten that it’s what we do priests raping children. taken the pre-exposure prophylaxis. There has been this great discussion states homosexism is “discrimination with our naked bodies that kept us gays I prefer to leave that all behind for a Despite some high-risk needle sticks, south of the border on PrEP and Tru- or prejudice against straight men or down for so long. few hours on Pride and head downtown all follow-up blood work was okay. vada and very little here in Canada. women by Gay, Lesbian, Transgender I recently took part in an online dis- to celebrate gay rights and gay sex — and If condoms are employed to reduce I haven’t been able to fi nd much from or Bisexual people.” cussion about LGBT discrimination and to protest those who hate us gays and the hep C and PrEP to prevent HIV, it will the diff erent agencies except for an ar- The spat reminded me of the recent vi- Russia.