Coming Out in Style

That was the subject header in a recent email we received from a relative from M's side. The sender has decided to out himself as a gay person and his email went on to say:

Hey all,

Ah, I'm such a dork for doing this in an email but being the champion for cowardice that I am and promoter of the joys of talking about people behind their backs, email it is! So, yeah, I'm gay and that's the first and last, the this and that, thick and thin, and ying and yang of it.

Most of you, I believe, I've told (or hit on!) quite a while ago but being also a champion for lethargy and couldn't-be-bothered-ness, I couldn't be buggered to sort email addresses.

Nah man, this is not an email 'defending' myself or going on some rant and rave so all you wanting a show, move along now! But if you feel I must 'defend' myself, well you'll just have to fuck off coz I couldn't be bothered! If you don't feel I must, well, then I definitely do owe you an apology, at least. It was certainly not a reflection of any mistrust of you but a more general, hard-to-explain weariness. To draw on preeminent 90's philosopher George Castanza, I'm basically giving you the 'It's Not You, It's Me' routine!

But anyway, now that we're done with his, it doesn't have to be anybody, does it? Perhaps, I'm okay, you're okay?

On the 'other news' front, I'm into Month 2 at the PhD program at Stony Brook and I'm finally settling into the grind of readings and classes again after my beautiful 15-month 'sabbatical'. I've got my house (and roommates!) in order and need now only to convince some very smart people for 5/6 years straight that I'm worthy. Shouldn't be too hard. So long as I 'ah-hmm' and clear my throat appropriately during class discussions and punctuate perfectly in my writing, I can't think of what else there is to it...

Very good then. As you were...

Brave, funny and direct. I wish people in my part of the family who I know are gay were able to come to terms with their own sexuality and bring it out in the open in a similar way.