perfection is inferior to transformation

Posted on February 14, 2012 by stawnster

This website is dedicated to things that I’ve written over the years as a journalist, scholar, human rights activist, and a child of God(s). There are two essays on folklore: “The Discipline of Folklore: heresy” and “The Discipline of Folklore: vanity.” I also added links to my dissertation and book, The Fierce Tribe.

Feel free to check out my other site, Qualia Folk, which is dedicated to celebration of and scholarship on the Gay community. Qualia Folk is also the home of the Qualia Encyclopedia of Gay Folklife, free of charge with open access to all.

Also, I write regularly for the following publications: beachmonkey.com, Edge Publications, Outlook Columbus, and Just Circuit.

Mickey

Dancing with my husband, Kevin Mason, in Cleveland, 2001

Articles

Quiz Time: Famous Gay Quotes
Of Strongest Iron
Death by False Jesus: Reparative Therapy
My Stonewall Moment: Pilgrimage, Police and Rot-Gut Vodka
Why I Capitalize “Gay”
Kiss and Hell

AIDS, Climate Change, Pollution and Other Scary Monsters (2011)

Gallery

Posted on December 31, 2011 by Mickey Weems

It’s easy to forget about nasty things. Just look at American politics. Climate change, overpopulation, pollution, all three are huge threats to humanity, and all three are getting progressively worse. One party in American politics pretends they don’t exist, while … Continue reading →

Quiz Time: Famous Gay Quotes

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Posted on December 31, 2011 by Mickey Weems

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We are a witty people. Here are some fabulous quotes from famous LGBTQ people and our allies, taken from the Qualia Encyclopedia of Gay Folklife. How many can you get right? The Quotes 1. God is a lesbian. 2. Mercy, … Continue reading →

Of Strongest Iron

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Posted on January 1, 2011 by Mickey Weems

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“You shot him in the butt?” I asked Grandma. “I was aiming at his head,” she responded matter-of-fact in her mild Kentucky accent. All her years in Northern Ohio did not leave their imprint on her Southern tongue. Here’s the … Continue reading →

Death by False Jesus: Reparative Therapy

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Posted on January 1, 2011 by Mickey Weems

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What would you do to save your eternal soul? That is an issue faced every day by LGBT young people of faith when they’re told that homosexuality is a choice, and bucking the norm means God will send them to … Continue reading →

My Stonewall Moment: Pilgrimage, Police and Rot-Gut Vodka

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Posted on January 1, 2011 by Mickey Weems

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One great thing about NYC Pride is that you never know who you will meet. I hitched a ride to NYC from Columbus, Ohio with the crew from FindFred (www.findfred.com), a networking site for Gay men, on the condition I … Continue reading →

tzniut

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Posted on January 1, 2011 by Mickey Weems

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In my studies of LGBTQ people, I’ve been looking for language. We are a community in flux, one based more on trend than tradition. A major goal for many of us is to be the most avant-garde. We will buy … Continue reading →

Why I Capitalize “Gay”

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Posted on January 1, 2011 by Mickey Weems

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I have been asked why I capitalize the words “gay” and “lesbian” when I write about Gays and Lesbians. This is my response. For most of history, homosexuals have typically been marginalized, sometimes allowed a place at the table of … Continue reading →

Kiss and Hell

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Posted on January 1, 2011 by Mickey Weems

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Katy Perry’s hit song, “I Kissed a Girl,” inspired Pastor Dave Allison of Havens Corners Church in Blacklick, Ohio to put up the following message: I KISSED A GIRL AND I LIKED IT THEN I WENT TO HELL Some people … Continue reading →