by Adam Amel Rogers, Originally posted on change.org
Modern entertainment focusing on historical happenings is almost exclusively heterosexist. The significant global history of same-sex attraction is very rarely showcased in a fair and accurate light.

I expected no different from the Starz original series Spartacus: Blood and Sand. The first few episodes were heavy on the sex and violence –- as most depictions of Ancient Rome are -– but I was still left to wonder where the gays were.

That is until it was revealed that Barca, one of the most powerful gladiators who also serves as a bad ass bodyguard/hit man, is in a relationship with Pietros, the adorable male slave.

The “gay” (a modern word used to bring understanding, even though the definition was not needed in this time of full acceptance) storyline started off as just sex, but over the last few episodes they have really shown how the two men are in love and are planning to buy their freedom so they can live a peaceful life together.

Barca and Pietros are so sweet together –- they have no problem being affectionate with each other and it is quite evident that the delicate Pietros calms and tames the giant trained killer. However, the most beautiful part of their relationship is the blasé attitude about it. The relationship was not questioned, criticized or made to feel any different or less than any heterosexual relationship. The other gladiators and the slave owner refer to Pietros as Barca’s “lover” –- a term they use without judgment or negativity.

SPOILER ALERT: The following reveals plot details from the February 26 episode of Spartacus: Blood and Sand.

Sadly, in true Roman fashion, Barca was brutally murdered after Pietros was tricked into revealing damning evidence about Barca’s botched hit job. The worst part being that they told Pietros that Barca purchased his own freedom and left Pietros behind.

While it is devastating that the Spartacus gay relationship has been decimated by murder and lies, it is also uplifting that none of the drama arose out of anti-gay sentiment. Hopefully Pietros will again find love, and other historical dramas will openly explore gay storylines as well.

Photo credit: Adam Amel Rogers

by Adam Amel Rogers, Originally posted on change.org
What does it mean to be a man? Does it mean not crying? Being the family breadwinner? Using power tools? Watching the football game with beer in hand?

Despite select advancements in gender equality and the fact that it is 2010 –- a time when we probably should have already progressed passed this, these are still the images of manhood that are overwhelmingly marketed to us.

Professional sports are an area where this narrow idea of manliness is highly exaggerated. Many Super Bowl commercials this year focused on ignoring nagging wives, choosing beer over love, and never ever showing emotion.

Perhaps this is expected in football, but recently the manhood debate has overtaken men’s figure skating as well. The figure skating power structure has been pinning all of its hopes on American Evan Lysacek to change the sport’s image and create a more mainstream appeal (i.e. straight appeal). Because Lysacek focuses more on the athletic jumps side of the sport than the bedazzled beautiful elegant side, he is somehow considered more of a man, than say fellow American skater Johnny Weir.

Weir scares the figure skating leadership. He wears extravagant outfits, he skates to Lady Gaga and he is completely and unapologetically himself. He isn’t technically “out,” but he isn’t exactly “in” either. There are few people in the public eye with more of a gay sensibility than Johnny Weir.

The stark differences between Evan and Johnny have created a black and white narrative in which the two are competing for the future of the sport. Or as Weir so eloquently put it, “They’ve sort of pitted me and Evan against each other like Britney and Christina,” says Weir. “I’m Christina, of course.”

Yes Johnny, you will always be Christina in my book, but as far as skating, the great butch hope won this round –- Lysacek rescued the masculine spirit of figure skating with his shiny new gold medal.  Or at least, that is the story the figure skating world will try to put out there.

The real story is that Weir worked hard, he was always true to himself and he proved that you don’t have to fit into a predetermined box to be a man. I am of the opinion that it didn’t matter what Johnny did on the ice this week, those judges were not going to let him or his fabulous crown of roses onto the podium.

The powers-that-be in the figure skating world got what they wanted, but to them and to others, I offer a warning: If you continue placating to the mainstream, your world of Evan Lysacek, Kris Allen and Taylor Swift will deeply miss the creative contributions of the Johnny Weir, Adam Lambert and Lady Gaga world that you continue to shun.

I am a man and I’m on Team Weir!

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons