No kissing in El Paso

[Daniel]

Don't even think about it. Especially at Chico's Taco place.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_12790543

[Matt Algren]

Well, now I know you don't read my blog.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by Matt Algren

Well, now I know you don't read my blog.

I happened on this story from Towleroad.

Ok. I bookmarked your blog. But let me ask you: why have you called it Asterick? The name makes me think of something inconsequential, at the bottom the page- not that important because it's not in the main body of the text- interesting but not essential.

Is this the message you wish to convey? Or am I missing something? Am I just plain out of it?

You blog is a heck of lot more than inconsequential.

[Daniel]

Though this case is quite different. Two guys cutting across the the grounds of a Mormon Temple- one kissed the other on the cheek- and all hell broke loose.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/0..._n_230016.html

[tymejumper]

Good, maybe the devil will take care of those silly Mormons, now that all hell broke loose on the grounds! That will teach them to vote for Propsition 8!

[Matt Algren]

Originally Posted by Daniel

I happened on this story from Towleroad.

Ok. I bookmarked your blog. But let me ask you: why have you called it Asterick? The name makes me think of something inconsequential, at the bottom the page- not that important because it's not in the main body of the text- interesting but not essential.

Is this the message you wish to convey? Or am I missing something? Am I just plain out of it?

You blog is a heck of lot more than inconsequential.

You were on the right track, but you veered off. Here's how I put it on the blog, and I'm still not sure it's as clear as it could be.

All my life, I’d placed an Asterisk next to my name. Nobody else saw my Asterisk, but I did. It was a constant reminder that both of the most important parts of me were mutually exclusive. That my difference made me a bad person.

I was a Christian*, but how can a Christian be *gay? When I was around out gay people I played it as straight* as I could, but I was sure they knew, and I can’t help but think that some of them resented *it.

Nowadays, I don’t worry about my Asterisk. As far as I’m concerned it’s gone.

But other people? They put it there for me.

* I’m a Christian*, but I’m *gay. Some Christians are okay with that and others seek to understand, but many don’t think that it’s even possible.
* I’m gay*, but I’m a *Christian, and there’s hostility from some in the gay community to Christianity, and since so much homophobia/heterosexism has its foundation in religion, much of the hostility is quite justified. My going to church on Sunday morning can be seen as consorting with the enemy.
* I’m an American*, but I don’t need to tell you that a lot of Americans don’t take too kindly to *those kind. There’s been a lot of movement on the civil rights issue since I started the blog, but we still have so far to go

And that’s what this blog is about; exposing the Asterisk, and with that exposure, removing it.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by Matt Algren

You were on the right track, but you veered off. Here's how I put it on the blog, and I'm still not sure it's as clear as it could be.

I think I understand now after reading your text. Sorry for veering off. However, perhaps - as an exercise- it would be helpful to boil down the text into a short paragraph? (Forgive me...I am taking a writing class at the moment!) This might clarify things for you and your reader.

If this was class, I would suggest to you to start where you end up, with "exposing the asterick". That is an arresting image.

RE arresting: that's what happened to the boys in Utah.

[Matt Algren]

Originally Posted by Daniel

I think I understand now after reading your text. Sorry for veering off. However, perhaps - as an exercise- it would be helpful to boil down the text into a short paragraph? (Forgive me...I am taking a writing class at the moment!) This might clarify things for you and your reader.

If this was class, I would suggest to you to start where you end up, with "exposing the asterick". That is an arresting image.

RE arresting: that's what happened to the boys in Utah.

BeLIEVE me, I've been trying. Actually trying for a tagline. Currently sitting on "A gay Christian moves the forbidden from the footnotes."

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by Matt Algren

BeLIEVE me, I've been trying. Actually trying for a tagline. Currently sitting on "A gay Christian moves the forbidden from the footnotes."

That is exactly what I think you could use. Really. When I wrote my prior post that was what I was thinking of. Perhaps you can ask for suggestions here? Start a new thread?

My writer's mind tells me that the line above is too long. Bite-size is what you need. And I think you can achieve it. The tagline is used in publishing all the time.

This situation is like a sauce that has to be cooked down. I think you can do that. And I will give the matter some thought.

You might think of your tagline as a stage direction, which gives direction with an economy of words.

You have something going in the word 'forbidden". That's very evocative.

[tymejumper]

Originally Posted by Matt Algren

BeLIEVE me, I've been trying. Actually trying for a tagline. Currently sitting on "A gay Christian moves the forbidden from the footnotes."

First they are trying to get married, then they are making forbidden footnotes.....those terrible gays have to be stopped!

[Matt Algren]

Originally Posted by Daniel

That is exactly what I think you could use. Really. When I wrote my prior post that was what I was thinking of. Perhaps you can ask for suggestions here? Start a new thread?

My writer's mind tells me that the line above is too long. Bite-size is what you need. And I think you can achieve it. The tagline is used in publishing all the time.

This situation is like a sauce that has to be cooked down. I think you can do that. And I will give the matter some thought.

You might think of your tagline as a stage direction, which gives direction with an economy of words.

You have something going in the word 'forbidden". That's very evocative.

I feel like there's a third f-word (not that one) that would complete it, but it's on the tip of my brain. Like you said, I need to keep boiling this down.