From the ‘Lady-Mondegreen’ file, The Chicago Tribune (July 9) reports on a new word in the latest edition of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. ‘Mondegreen’ is a word or phrase mistaken for other words. An old Scottish folk song sings ‘laid him on the green,’ which people misheard as ‘Lady Mondegreen.’ A modern example is mistaking Creedance Clearwater Revival’s line ‘There’s a bad moon on the rise’ for ‘There’s a bathroom on the right.’ Many gay people were glad to hear Jimi Hendrix moan ”Scuse me, while I kiss this guy’ in ‘Purple Haze,’ although he said ‘kiss the sky.’
From the ‘Watch-the-Trib-for-a-Trend’ file, we recently reported on contrasts in the New York Times’ and the Chicago Tribune’s obits of the same person. The Times wrote of Big Bird’s creator, Kermit Love, and of his being survived by his male partner of 50 years. The Trib skipped any mention of the relationship. This week, The New York Times (July 8) reported the death of Thomas M. Disch, the prominent science-fiction writer. Disch, 68, committed suicide because, a friend said, of a series of personal tragedies. One of these events was the death of his partner of more than 30 years, poet Charles Naylor. The Trib (July 9) mentioned the suicide but not Mr. Naylor. Whether it’s sloppiness or homophobia, this is inexcuseable.
From the ‘Craig’s-Hook-Up-Site’ file, the Chicago Sun-Times (July 7) tells us of a little tourist attraction that thousands of members of the media will have to walk past, and perhaps visit, when they land in Minneapolis to cover the Republican National Convention. Yes, it’s that tiny toe-tappin’, tuchis-touchin’, two-timing senator, IdaHO’s own Larry Craig and his famous ‘wide-stance’ public bathroom stall. Airport officials are expecting a surge (Aren’t Republicans big on surges?) in visits, maybe even women going in for photos. Craig has recently signed on as a co-sponsor for the Marriage Protection Amendment (against gay marriage) so perhaps for publicity for this act he could take part in a nostalgic re-enactment of the ‘Big Sting’ (for YouTube?). Larry, are you a delegate? Those undercover Minnesotan cops are hot, hot, hot!
From the ‘Gay-Disinherited-Bro’ file, the Chicago Sun-Times (July 8) says that Madonna’s openly gay and highly estranged brother, Christopher Ciccone, has written a memoir entitled Life With My Sister Madonna. Actually, he had a little help writing the book from a Ms. Wendy Leigh, who pens unauthorized bios (Arnold Schwartzenegger, John-John Kennedy). The book accuses Madonna’s current husband, Guy Ritchie, of homophobia, which the Times says would be odd considering the singer’s wide circle of gay friends and her big gay fan base.