THE TRIANGLE MIRROR: The thoughts and musings of a perpetually E list gay,(and his cohorts) living in a world of A list expectations. Informative direct and not always politically correct, but always real! Issues from your neighborhood to around the globe, spiritual or disdainfully secular, we will discuss it here!
Saturday
“You’ve got to be kidding. We can’t go there. There are too many twinks—too many lesbians—too many trolls.”
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Sunday
The New Season of the A List New York (Really?)
Is Logo serious about this series? I love the Real Housewives of Atlanta as much as the next gay, but wow. I saw an advertisement for the 3rd season of the A List New York and thought it would be timely to pull the following post out of the Blogger Closet just for giggles!
A gAy-Lister??? Oh I get it.
Now that I have your attention you can add your own title, we all know I am referring to individuals who believe they are on the notorious “A-List”. Seems everywhere I go in town these days someone references this “List”. And for the record I have yet to get my hands on a copy. (Side bar…I am really not interested in seeing this list any more than I am seeing Iron Man 3).
I find it interesting to hear individuals in the Louisville LGBTI community refer to certain people as A-list. I was at The Connection Complex a few weeks ago with a group of friends and I overheard a conversation about an "A-L" (for the sake of time-saving A-L will be used in place of “A-Lister” going forward), and the tone suggested disgust with just a hint of jealousy. The next day, while gingerly tending to a hint of a hangover, I noticed several Facebook statuses updates referring to the Gay A-L in town. The updates ranged from the derogatory directed at the alleged A-L, to bragging about finally making IT on the list. My first thought was, "if you say you are an A-L, then you probably aren’t". Then I think, what does this even mean really? When I hear this I immediately have a tendency to discount the person or people to whom they are referring to as shallow, and the person who makes the statement as jealous or a “want to be”. I mean really....How far we have come as a community that we would revert to classifications that are better left in a 1970’s after school special.
I remember having a conversation with a neighborhood acquaintance in our front walkway one evening. She had referenced another couple in the neighborhood and said, “They will just have anyone to their home for dinner”. She then referenced a new car she and her partner had just purchased, "It's a Ford Taurus” she said disdainfully, that's just not us, it doesn't live up to our image". Your image? Wow. To me, your image is one of the middle-aged couple who live down the road. You seem friendly and approachable, perhaps a bit obsessed with your job and walking, but nice enough. I had no idea that your image was defined by your automobile. As she walked away I couldn’t help but wonder about this ladies childhood, is she compensating?
As I stood there with my ears buzzing and my eyes stinging the question kept resounding in my mind, what does an A-L Gay look like? Do I want to be an A-L Gay? Does an A-L Gay own a beautiful home, drive a fancy foreign car, have a great job and fit into designer clothes like they were made for them? Does an A-L Gay only associate with certain other "A-L" Do they boast about the number of contacts they have on their email list or the quantity of friends on their facebook pages? Does an A-L see themselves as part of this "caste"? This week do the A-L Gays only have drinks at Proof or is The Connection back in vogue? Well if that is the definition of an A-L, I certainly do not meet the stringent criteria.
As I continue to peel away at the layers of self loathing, self judgment and insecurity that I believe would prompt someone to make a statement like this, I am forced to attempt to define this term, a tough one I know. As I am writing this I wonder if by putting words to paper on this subject; am being judgmental, but that question is for another blog.
Let's suppose just for a moment that I have to define what constitutes a “True” A-L. Jeff’s “A-L” is kind to everyone, regardless of race, ability, economic status or looks. Jeff's "A-L" is respectful of others, encourages everyone to participate and they understand that the table is big enough for all to have a good seat. Jeff's "A-L" is educated about subjects they deem important and they stand up for others and help to protect and defend the helpless and defenseless. Jeff's "A-L" makes everyone smile, treats everyone with respect and follows the golden rule. So following this logic I have to ask the question, are you a jAy-Lister, I hope you are.
As you live your life to the best of your ability, in Shively, PRP, the Highlands, Prospect, St Matthews or Anchorage, I encourage you to be a true "jAy-Lister". And when doing so your agenda should include steps to make EVERY member of your Community a jAy-Lister too!
***Some of you may know that the blog platform I was using before is no longer active. Many of my post refer to the LBGTI Community in Louisville, but not all. I have unfortunately lost my library of entries from the previous platform. . Please feel free to follow my post and send me emails or post responses. Remember we all become stronger when we direct the mirror at ourselves and that is what I do. I am not a professional and at times forget to use spell chekc....but that is not what I am about....Also please send ideas for subjects you would be interested in reading about in re to our community.
Until Next Week,
Continued Bliss
Jeff Johnson
JAJOHNSONKY@GMAIL.COM
A gAy-Lister??? Oh I get it.
Now that I have your attention you can add your own title, we all know I am referring to individuals who believe they are on the notorious “A-List”. Seems everywhere I go in town these days someone references this “List”. And for the record I have yet to get my hands on a copy. (Side bar…I am really not interested in seeing this list any more than I am seeing Iron Man 3).
I find it interesting to hear individuals in the Louisville LGBTI community refer to certain people as A-list. I was at The Connection Complex a few weeks ago with a group of friends and I overheard a conversation about an "A-L" (for the sake of time-saving A-L will be used in place of “A-Lister” going forward), and the tone suggested disgust with just a hint of jealousy. The next day, while gingerly tending to a hint of a hangover, I noticed several Facebook statuses updates referring to the Gay A-L in town. The updates ranged from the derogatory directed at the alleged A-L, to bragging about finally making IT on the list. My first thought was, "if you say you are an A-L, then you probably aren’t". Then I think, what does this even mean really? When I hear this I immediately have a tendency to discount the person or people to whom they are referring to as shallow, and the person who makes the statement as jealous or a “want to be”. I mean really....How far we have come as a community that we would revert to classifications that are better left in a 1970’s after school special.
I remember having a conversation with a neighborhood acquaintance in our front walkway one evening. She had referenced another couple in the neighborhood and said, “They will just have anyone to their home for dinner”. She then referenced a new car she and her partner had just purchased, "It's a Ford Taurus” she said disdainfully, that's just not us, it doesn't live up to our image". Your image? Wow. To me, your image is one of the middle-aged couple who live down the road. You seem friendly and approachable, perhaps a bit obsessed with your job and walking, but nice enough. I had no idea that your image was defined by your automobile. As she walked away I couldn’t help but wonder about this ladies childhood, is she compensating?
As I stood there with my ears buzzing and my eyes stinging the question kept resounding in my mind, what does an A-L Gay look like? Do I want to be an A-L Gay? Does an A-L Gay own a beautiful home, drive a fancy foreign car, have a great job and fit into designer clothes like they were made for them? Does an A-L Gay only associate with certain other "A-L" Do they boast about the number of contacts they have on their email list or the quantity of friends on their facebook pages? Does an A-L see themselves as part of this "caste"? This week do the A-L Gays only have drinks at Proof or is The Connection back in vogue? Well if that is the definition of an A-L, I certainly do not meet the stringent criteria.
As I continue to peel away at the layers of self loathing, self judgment and insecurity that I believe would prompt someone to make a statement like this, I am forced to attempt to define this term, a tough one I know. As I am writing this I wonder if by putting words to paper on this subject; am being judgmental, but that question is for another blog.
Let's suppose just for a moment that I have to define what constitutes a “True” A-L. Jeff’s “A-L” is kind to everyone, regardless of race, ability, economic status or looks. Jeff's "A-L" is respectful of others, encourages everyone to participate and they understand that the table is big enough for all to have a good seat. Jeff's "A-L" is educated about subjects they deem important and they stand up for others and help to protect and defend the helpless and defenseless. Jeff's "A-L" makes everyone smile, treats everyone with respect and follows the golden rule. So following this logic I have to ask the question, are you a jAy-Lister, I hope you are.
As you live your life to the best of your ability, in Shively, PRP, the Highlands, Prospect, St Matthews or Anchorage, I encourage you to be a true "jAy-Lister". And when doing so your agenda should include steps to make EVERY member of your Community a jAy-Lister too!
***Some of you may know that the blog platform I was using before is no longer active. Many of my post refer to the LBGTI Community in Louisville, but not all. I have unfortunately lost my library of entries from the previous platform. . Please feel free to follow my post and send me emails or post responses. Remember we all become stronger when we direct the mirror at ourselves and that is what I do. I am not a professional and at times forget to use spell chekc....but that is not what I am about....Also please send ideas for subjects you would be interested in reading about in re to our community.
Until Next Week,
Continued Bliss
Jeff Johnson
JAJOHNSONKY@GMAIL.COM
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