FOF #225 - Thank Goddess I'm a Gay Country Boy - 01.16.06
As a gay young man living in the Appalachian mountains Jeff Mann was befriended and inspired by a group of lesbians to come out of the closet in a part of the world where there were few queer people to relate to.
On today's FOF we're talking about M&Ms, that's mountains and men, not candy nor rappers. Jeff Mann talks about his brand new book "Loving Mountains, Loving Men"
This book is pretty hot stuff in the literary world these days. Danny L. Miller, coeditor of An American Vein: Critical Readings in Appalachian Literature Says about the book, “The sheer beauty of the prose in the memoir and the language of the poetry is incredible. This is one of the great watershed books of Appalachian literature. Its contribution to the fields of Appalachian studies and gay/gender studies is significant."
Listen to this candid interview with Jeff Mann about his inital attempts to escape rural America in order to find a freer gay life, and why he chose to return to his roots as a mountain man. Please check out his website at www.english.vt.edu/~jmann
Also on todays show: fabulous gay appacian/country music. Check out The Whoreshoes
and the very first gay country album, Lavender Country
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Comments
I really really really liked this show it was just the right tone for my commute into work.
I laughed my ass off when in the middle of Marc and the Cowboy guy talking about wild vegetables Fausto butted in "How do you know you are not eating grass?".
That was my favorite Feast of Fools quote ever.
Said by: Craig Rigby at January 16, 2006 12:13 PM
Great show today. It was rather interesting for me since I grew up in that part of the country. (Wasn't born there, and never really became a part of the culture, but was still exposed to it for most of my life.) Va Tech is about 2 hours south of my parents house on I-81. Rather interesting to hear someone talking about Pulaski and Roanoke, etc. Reminded me of the mountains in a good way. Funny though, I'm the exact opposite of Jeff: I can spend about 24 hours back there before wanting to come back to the city!
Said by: Daniel at January 16, 2006 05:48 PM
I loved the way he revealed himself as the show went on - at first, he was just a gay cowboy author only to come out as a BDSM-loving Pagan Wiccan!
I also liked the talk about the constant stratification in the urban gay world - it does get tiresome and I, for one, would welcome more truly inclusive gay spots. It's always sadly ironic to watch the members of the gay community (hell, any minority community) exclude and discriminate many of their own, even after experiencing discrimination first-hand themselves. Do people learn nothing?
Said by: Eric at January 16, 2006 06:08 PM
I meant to add that here's Mann's website:
http://www.english.vt.edu/~jmann/
(If you've got it here on FoF somewhere, I missed it...)
Said by: Eric at January 16, 2006 06:11 PM
Excellent show -- interview format episodes like this are the FoF productions I enjoy most. Jeff Mann, your guest, was articulate, complex, funny and insightful. Fausto and Marc's questions were thoughtful and well paced, allowing Jeff plenty of time to elaborate, which I really appreciate when I'm listening to an interview. Also, the show had just the right balance of humor. Well done guys!
Said by: Michael Weston at January 16, 2006 06:21 PM
I wish I would be adopted my a murder of lesbians!
Said by: Destroyer of Worlds at January 16, 2006 10:18 PM
Thanks Eric for the heads up. I put the link up. Gosh, I feel like a student that forgot to footnote something. Please don't give me an "F" Professor Jeff!
Said by: Marc at January 17, 2006 03:40 AM
Hi guys,
Your show is becoming more like the BBC everyday, not only is it entertaining but it's educational too. I'd never heard of Appalachia until your podcast. A quick google soon told me all I needed to know. I work at a radio station here on the south coast of England but I'd much rather listen to the Feast of Fools while cycling in to work!
Keep up the great work,
Jason.
Said by: Jason at January 17, 2006 12:57 PM
Another great FOF interview! You two really do a wonderful job with your questions! Your guest was informative and interesting. Thank you for all your hard work, guys!
Joel
Said by: Joel at January 17, 2006 05:36 PM
keep up the great work guys! i look forward to everytime that i click that little update button in itunes and see some new hottness from you guys. oh and i'm making sure that all of my friends drop a crap on your frappr so you can get your mysterious bycicle and tent... right. oh and for everyone who comes near salt lake city or boise, make sure to boycott any businesses owned by larry miller (brokeback mtn madness). he's a total asshole. yeah. so do it.
Said by: matt blank at January 22, 2006 03:24 PM
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