Mygazine

Minglephobia

As usual, Bob Morris' bi-weekly New York Times column, "The Age of Dissonance," touches on something that is on all our minds--the fear of mingling at cocktail parties during this season of over-packed social calendars.

Morris cleverly recommends either taking some advice from comedienne and author Amy Sedaris. “Accentuate the positives, medicate the negatives.” Or as he says, have a drink. Then go ahead and mingle all the way. Or, maybe pick up a copy of The Art of Mingling, by Jeanne Martinet.

The GLBT Agenda

There is a great piece of commentary on cnn.com from Joe Solmonese, the president of the Human Rights Campaign. Based on the results of the HRC's annual "State of the Workplace" report, corporate America continues to surge ahead in the march toward equality.

A few key facts from Mr. Solmonese's commentary:

• For the first time, more than half of all Fortune 500 companies offer domestic partner health insurance benefits to their employees
• The 2000 Census found that same-sex couples live in more than 99 percent of counties in the United States, meaning just about every workplace has an employee -- or prospective employee -- who could benefit from domestic partner coverage.
• Among America's colleges and universities, 92 percent of the 25 top national four-year colleges provide domestic partner health coverage, according to our survey.

While all the facts and figures are great, the best part of the story is what Solmonese says about the GLBT agenda.

"But I would be lying if I said that we don't have an agenda -- we do, and this is it:

1. A good job, where workers are respected for the work they do, are treated fairly and offered equal benefits

2. A safe home. So that we and our families can live in a community without fear of hate crimes and persecution

3. Fair and quality health care so that we have the ability to take care of our loved ones

4. And the right to be in a committed and legally recognized relationship that includes the same legal protections and rights offered to every other American -- no more, and no less

And that, my friends, is not a radical gay agenda -- it's the American dream."

If you haven't already, read the story and spread the word.

From a 26-year-old virgin to the DaVinci Code

Here are a few recent pieces from my favorite columists.

Dan Savage offers some tough love to a 26-year-old virgin looking for love.

Bob Morris fesses up to some regetable behavior as a wedding guest.

John Grogan pitches Sony Pictures his idea for a DaVinci Code sequel.

Patrick Goldstein schools his readers in the art of the pitch.