OK, this might be a bit off-subject, considering that I rant mostly about Latino stuff but stories like these actually fascinate me.Turns out one of the biggest gay porn stars of the last decade, who I briefly met at a gay pride parade here in Manhattan, says that he has retired from gay porn, found Jesus Christ, thought he was bisexual but now knows for certain he is straight, has retired his Tom Katt porn name (he responds to David Papaleo now), wants to become a priest and, get this, still thinks that God loves gays and lesbians and that they should have the right to marry!
As someone who thinks that sexual identity is more fluid than people give it credit, I will take Mr. Papaleo's statements at face value. What is different about his statements and those of so called "Ex-gays" that some conservative churches trot out to media to prove that sexual identity can be changed, is that the so-called change also comes with a repudiation of homosexuality and the argument that to be in God's graces one must abandon one's identity (or, in their words, one's 'lifestyle').
In an interview with the Dallas Voice published today, Mr. Papaleo does not argue that people can change their sexual identity, he does not argue that being gay means you are evil and says that his new-found belief in Christianity was not a catalyst for now leading a straight life (he is now a married man).
He does share some other interesting points of view.
Of his experience as a porn star he says: "I don't think that erotica or sexuality is a bad thing. I believe that sex is the strongest physical expression of love to another person. But porn is not an expression of love. It's empty and cold. There is nothing wrong with sex. God made sex, too."
As for Christian fundamentalists preaching against gays: "So many people are shunned or feel like they've been pushed away from God - that God doesn't want anything to do with them. I want to tell as many people as I can that that is an absolute lie. God loves everybody. He made you the way you are [...] Don't let anyone tell you you're less than anything in God's eyes."
I say, give the man a church!
UPDATE: David Papaleo shows us love, we show love back (March 1, 2006)
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3 comments:
And he's got the Dallas Tejano Democrats endorsement, that's just too crazy!
As long has he remains a friend of the gay community, I really don't mind the rest. Whether I really believe he is straight, well that's something else.
I do believe that human sexuality is not as cut and dry gay.straight as most gay people seems to think. I consider my a gay man but I have dated women in the past and had no problem being physically attracted. That said, I am just much more attracted to guys. I hate when gay people are so arrogant in thinking they are somehow experts on the the expression of human sexuality. Your experience being totally gay is, your experience.
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