Redefining the Gossip Girl party genre

doree:

Every so often an article comes along that completely changes the paradigm. Jonathan Liu’s piece about the Gossip Girl party at Henri Bendel on Sunday night is one of those stories.

This is, without a doubt and regardless of topic, one of the most truly amazing articles I’ve read in a very long time.

Homosexual Identity Formation

three50eight:

zachattack:

This is how I spend my Saturday nights…research.

In 1979 Dr. Vivienne Cass published a six stage model of homosexual identity formation. The six stages are:

• Identity Confusion – In this stage, individuals begin to wonder if they may be homosexual. They may consider the possibility, or reject it. If they choose to consider the possibility, they will move to the second stage.
  
• Identity Comparison – Here, individuals may begin looking at others and comparing themselves to homosexuals and nonhomosexuals in the surrounding environment. At this point, individuals may make contact with another homosexual person.
  
• Identity Tolerance – Individuals are becoming increasingly committed to the homosexual identity and may seek out more and more homosexual contacts. The self-image is still one of merely “tolerating” the homosexuality, rather than embracing it.
  
• Identity Acceptance – At this point, a more positive view of homosexuality begins to develop. Individuals may feel they fit into the homosexual society. However, they will generally attempt to “pass” for heterosexual, and self-disclosure will be limited.
  
• Identity Pride – Individuals in this stage characteristically feel a great deal of pride about their homosexuality. They will identify strongly with other homosexuals and feel anger at the way society treats homosexuals as a whole. They are often very conspicuous in their sexuality.
  
• Identity Synthesis – Finally, the influence of positive nonhomosexuals helps individuals become aware that all heterosexuals are not bad. At this point, they may feel “settled in” to their identity, neither ashmed of it nor needing to “flaunt” it. (Cass, 1984).
  

Since publishing her work, supplemental studies have suggested that the process may not be as linear (and stages not as discrete) as first believed and that individuals may move between stages throughout the lifetime. Also, critics have pointed out that a separate model of development may exist for lesbian identity formation.

I find this interesting for three reasons:

• It has implications for the population I choose to work with in counseling (my specialization is in GLBTQI issues)
• I went through those exact stages!
• I’m interested in other’s experiences. So If you’re gay, you follow me, and you’re still reading, I’d be interested to know what you think!

(Disclaimer: I thought about changing all the “homosexual(s)” to “gay” to make it sound less clinical, but decided to keep the original wording in tact. Note that the APA now discourages the use of “homosexual” as it may have a negative connotation)

Identity Synthesis, hurray!

I spent a significant portion of last night’s sleeping-time curled up on the bathroom floor.

I would still kind of like to die.

Friday night news dump.

alexbalk:

Oh, yes, very important Radar announcement. Have a good weekend.

Choire Sicha is now with Radar full-time!  This is highly exciting!

Lather, rinse, repeat.

justsayjolie:

Things I’ve eaten today:

3 cups of coffee
toast with cucumbers

Guess I’m about due up for a delicious plate of lettuce!

Things I’ve consumed today:

4 Parliament Lights.

Lunch plans:

2 Parliament Lights and possibly a third accompanied by a quad grande Americano.

three50eight:

I have no idea where I’m going with this … I guess I’m just sayin’ swings are to me what Go Karts are to Randal.  What are your swings?

I have an absolute fascination with well scored movies and television.  Coupling that with my tendency to be completely removed from any sort of touch with reality while earbuds are in my room, I typically revert to aimlessly wandering though random hallways and streets.  Often while chainsmoking.  Preferably in the rain.

There are a few general rules that I typically follow, which might be best left unmentioned because they are maybe probably embarrassing.  However, I will say that depressing and wistful music is best for rainy nights in order to sustain a particular mood, and really anything that was ever used in Alias is fucking wonderful for wandering through basements.

I also like falling asleep under my desk in the fetal position.  That is usually much harder to accomplish.  Especially at work.  People look at you all funny-like.

I call this "hate-friending".

katiebakes:

emilyposts:

I’m sure this is quite bitchy, but I stay friends with some former high school classmates on Facebook just because I like seeing that they are getting fatter while I’m getting skinnier. I never liked those mean girls and it brings me great satisfaction.

This comment also made me remember that I belong to a Facebook group called “I see you’ve gained weight, nemesis from the past.”

Is it perhaps the fact that I do not think stalking is necessarily the best way to build a relationship that will make me die alone with some cats and a bottle of vodka? Maybe!

Mr. Kraus was carrying a copy of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” and when they got on the subway they struck up a conversation about the book. There were no seats so they both stood, and Mr. Bishton noticed that Mr. Kraus was not holding on to anything as the train moved. (Mr. Kraus said he was germophobe when it came to the subway.)

“As a dancer I was impressed by his balance and his ability to surf the subway, just stand there without touching any poles or doors,” Mr. Bishton said.

Now that they are living in Los Angeles the subway is not such a challenge, Mr. Kraus said. “I don’t worry about it any more because my car is a safe zone.”