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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2002)
___________________________________________________________ iwm bg 1 . Tflfl? J— — 137 BOOKS Savage sins tend there is no “other” side to the debate over public and private morality. They’re not used to being challenged about virtue or being told that they’re the unvirtuous ones. They probably don’t even know how to respond to a critic at this point. Continued from Page 1 wholeheartedly into the task of exposing sin ners in unexpected places (such as Dubuque, Iowa) and having a grand old time hanging out with them. In between tossing the dice, firing a .45 and livin’ it up at Gay Pride in Los Angeles, he has a few things to say to Americas gang of vigi lante hypocrites and “psychoconservatives.” Thankfully, Savage does not succumb to the droning tone of much political posturing. Described as “part travelogue, part memoir, part Bork-and-Bennett bitch slap,” Skipping is like The Daily Show — witty, opinionated, funny and supported with careful research. (The facts and figures give Savage a certain credibility that his counterparts lack. The Bible is clearly not his only source.) Skipping is the antidote to the values rhetoric of the Christian Coalition, Focus on the Family, Concerned Women for America and others of their ilk. If you’re tired of being scolded by this crowd, you’ll feel vindicated as Savage tours the country, celebrating the art of sinning from coast to coast. And, though he is careful to give credit to conservatives where due, in the end, the “sinners” always come out on top. Savage will be in Portland on Nov. 1 to read from the book and answer your most per tinent questions. But first he answers ours. Sarah Leimert: How long did it take you Dan Savage reads from Skipping Towards Qomorrah Nov. 1 at Powell’s to research and write the book? How long did it take to write The Kid? D S: No, I didn’t. After 10 years of writing man I couldn’t commit the sin of adul Dan Savage: It took me about a year to write tery— cheating on my boyfriend of eight "Savage Love,” there’s nothing that shocks me The Kid, and it tcxik about twice that to write years would simply be more fornication, anymore. Take Claim Jumper [a restaurant that this hook. The Kid was about my life and my not adultery— for instance, didn’t know serves enormous portions, on which the “Glut boyfriend and I deciding to adopt. I didn’t have I was taking notes the whole time. tony” chapter is based]: Yeah, Americans eat to do much research, just live my life and take too much, and it’s only natural that a restau notes. For Skipping, I had to do a lot of traveling, SL : Which was your favorite chap rant chain would spring up to serve those sinning and a lot of SMPM— spending my pub ter to write? Americans. But is it shocking to me to see peo lisher’s money. It was exhausting work. D S : Well, I hate to admit it, but ple stuffing themselves? No. At least they’re the one about prostitution. What happened not, like some people who write me at “Savage SL : What inspired you to choose the to me when I rented a big, muscle-bound Love," vomiting on themselves and their sex seven deadly sins as a context? straight guy for an hour kind of blew my partners immediately after dinner. D S: I wish I could tell you I had some really mind— and only my mind. Nothing else got great, smart, compelling reason to choose the blown in that hotel room. S L : Did you tell people that they were seven deadlies. But, in all honesty, they were subjects for your book when you met and an easy, natural and useful conceit— a g<xxi SL : Do you think Bill Bennett, Robert talked to them? structure that I could impose on the narrative, Bork, Jerry Falwell or any of the other D S: Some yes, some no. People I profile at and using them provided me with great chapter “ virtuecrats” will respond directly to this length— David and Bridget, the Orthodox Jew titles like “Lust,” “Greed” and “Anger.” book? Have they already? ish swingers— were told, of course, that I want D S: They haven’t, and 1 doubt very much ed to write about them. But people who came SL: In your research, did you learn any that they will. They’re too used to moving in in for quick mentions were not. The preacher thing new or bizarre about people that you circles and writing in publications that pre on the prayer line who advised me that as a gay didn’t already know? S L : What are your thoughts on Dr. Laura’s book Ten Stupid Things Women Do to Mess Up T heir Lives, which poses as a female liberation guide of sorts? It seems pretty inconsistent with her con servative reputation. D S : 1 don’t think much of Dr. Laura, but she makes some reasonable points in that book. Women do need to be better “shoppers” when it comes to the men they decide to mate with— pro vided, of course, that a woman wants to mate with a man. One of the things that has paralyzed politics in this country is the inability of anyone on either side to acknowledge when someone from the “other side” said something that’s right on, or even obvious. Dr. Laura does say some right on things, but finding them is like digging kernels of com out of shit, you know? OMI SAV^E fin e andfriendly objects from faraw ay places S L : D o you plan to keep writing books? D S : I would like to write a book just for gay men, something like, Ten Stupid Things That Gay Men Do to Mess Up Their Lives. It will be something of a challenge keeping it to 10 things. S L : How is the kid doing, anyway? D S : Great. He’s 4 1/2 and thriving. He’s a boy’s boy— by which I mean he’s into guns, trucks and Batman underwear. He’s such a lit tle budding breeder. J H D a n S avage makes an appearance 7:30 p.m. Nov. 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