Last night

Well, last night I went out and “hit the town”. I had plans to hang with later in the evening, and see the twenties group which recommended. Took the bus from & ‘s place to grab some dinner. I was strolling down 17th street when I coincidentally ran into . We chatted for a bit, he re-oriented me towards another set of destinations, and I went off in search of food. =) Found a nice italian joint where I managed to blow $30. I’ll have to practice more conservative spending for this trip…

Then the twenties group. It reminded me of a few other gay discussion groups I’ve been to. Especially Express 20’s out of the Pacific Center in Berkeley (only about 1/4 the size, and much less racially diverse). The conversation topic was “what does the gay community mean to you?” I restrained my inner eyeroll, and took the first comment challenging the notion of “the gay community” as an inaccurate, misleading, and generally counterproductive meme. It went from there. I hope I’m not just stroking my ego when I say that I feel like I got a few people off their scripts and out of their mental ruts. My commentary was full of thoughts I’d previously mentioned or expressed here: we don’t raise our next generation, there are several gay communities, culture is distinct from community, race and sexuality have distinct parallels and distinct differences, pursuing legal rights when you desire cultural change may not accomplish your ultimate goal (see also racial segregation in the US now v pre-Brown v Board). And I owe a distinct intellectual debt to many different sources, including Dan Savage, the orientation lecture I didn’t attend but kept hearing about, Andrew Sullivan, etc. And it was fun. Though I could easily see the group falling into a rut were I to attend regularly. A different rut, to be sure, but a rut nonetheless.

Afterwards, I called up and we went on a little tour of the local bars, including JR’s, Cobalt, and finally the eagle. Where I met Don (I think that’s his name), an entertaining conversationalist in his own right, who provided transportation for the evening, including dropping me off back at my base of operations. =) bought me three beers, and I begin to understand beer elitism. I think I may be acquiring a taste for such. I managed to spill my third, after I’d thought I’d finished it. Probably a good sign that I’d had enough. Now off for the events of today.