We can interpret it how we do, but I don’t think actively fighting against something – which he has admitted to doing – indicates you are entirely comfortable with it.

As for your struggle, i absolutely back you and hope you are successful. I have seen the ludicrous anti-gay prejudice of American Conservatives and you have my sympathy and support. But I can’t in good conscience say Eitzel has always been laid back about his sexuality because I don’t think he has.

I find this offensive and inaccurate. EItzel has long been resistant to being a gay poster boy, but nothing he has ever said or written indicates any kind of self-hatred because he’s queer. Since he came out around the time of his first solo record, he has never hidden his sexuality. And he has written quite openly and often about the gay experience, and while his songs acknowledge the difficulties of being gay (because of homophobes and ignorance, not because of his own problems with it) it’s never hinted at any self-loathing (see “Steve I Always Knew”). But I don’t buy the whole “self-loathing” bullshit anyway, no matter what its source. It’s simplistic, and sells the man short. EItzel simply is honest about his foibles — it’s his great theme; sure, he’s fucked up, but who isn’t; he just “celebrates” it in his work. A self-loathing queer would have long ago killed himself form drink or disease, or at least damaged himself enough to prevent him from being able to continue to create art. EItzel is more prolific than any other artist I know, and that’s a sign of integrity, not self-hatred. But he can speak for himself. Here’s his own words from his own blog about being gay, written in the aftermath of Prop. 8 in California. If anything, he sounds proud to be gay:

In America I have always endured this endless stream of anti gay propaganda. They always say being gay is a choice. No. Having gay sex is a choice. Everyone does everything – and so what. What they resent is the modern idea that one has no control over who they love. That love is a personal revelation. How sometimes things just click. The churches used to control this. You couldn’t make a move without the bastards. There was a great documentary (called “The Power Of Nightmares” by Adam Curtis) that talks about how the Modern Hatechristians and modern Hatemuslim movements started in the 1950’s because they were shocked how american teenagers danced together to rock and roll. They were not looking to the church for their good time. This is a modern idea – like the cure for polio – and it all but eliminates their franchise. Gay people have to fight all kinds of battles just to express what is in their hearts and THEY don’t give a shit what any church member thinks. It all starts with the modern idea of not being afraid of God. Proposition H8 was NOT a moral crusade – it was a death rattle. Look how much money they threw at it. I hope I can help fight to have this repealed.

terrific songwriter. Undervalued.

Did I mention that he’s a genius?

Gig of the Year? Well, it will be a tough one to shift from first place!