Can you smell what this blog is cooking??

Actually, everything’s really coming together.

We’ve had a terrific number of applications for contributors just within the past few days (the plan is to have eight). Ideally we’ll have a mini-calendar available so you can anticipate updates, and the welcome page will serve as a better navigating tool for each writer. Not only that, but I caught a whiff of askfannie's upcoming post, and it’s going to be a doosie!

Here's a preview of columns to come:

• Dating columnist
• Book reviews
• Gender journal from Mexico
• Gender journal from Israel
• Serial fiction

…But can we get back to how incredible Jackie Warner is? Last night I watched my favorite show, Work Out, and swooned over her for a solid hour. I could talk about how I like the show because its characters are diverse and several represent common gender-types in society and Jackie’s presence challenges the gender norms by creating a uniquely reappropriated system of gendered power…but can we instead just talk about how hot this show is?



I want to first note that Jesse and Doug are really cute. Part of why I like them is because together they do a great job of addressing a few gay generational differences. One of my favorite moments was when they "had it out" to talk about their shared drama. Jesse was apologizing for something and I thought Doug (albeit a plastered Doug) was going to cry. Instead he followed with the half-joking "Want to come home with me?...Are you top or bottom?" right-hook and I was a little bit shocked. It almost seems like Doug's comment summarizes how a significant portion of his generation of gay men communicate. In Doug's hayday, romantic relations between guys were almost entirely governed by role.

But mostly, Doug was just being adorable. And I still can't believe he's actually dead. And what I really can't believe is how the reason for his death isn't talked about at all, anywhere. In a [fantastic] interview with Jesse and Brian, they reference that he "had been sick". Just say it. AIDS. It does more harm to not say it.

But the real deal here is the Jackster. Every time she talks to a woman she finds even mildly attractive the flirting just unloads in buckets. The sexual tension between Jackie and other characters on the show is so exhilarating it almost makes up for the fact that (real) lesbian porn does not exist. Jackie should abandon her gym and start a new company called Sky Labia. Zing!

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Below the Belt

Huzzah! We’ve finally launched Below the Belt, a multifaceted genderblog designed for the wannabe gender/sex scholar in us all.

The fact of the matter is…there are a shitload of us out there who are frustrated with the crap people let slide. I mean, who can actually watch 7th Heaven and not vomit every time Annie Camden opens her mouth? Why are we as a society obsessed with masculinity? And where are all the trannies hiding?

The question of what defines “natural” behavior is rarely addressed – when it is addressed, most people choose to ignore it. But we won’t. We celebrate the idea of discussing things that make us uncomfortable, like the details of sex and sexuality, hierarchies of attraction, trannies, gender-related surgery, and gender in its many other shapes and forms. We're not afraid to go below the waist. There are currently two stars of this blog, and the team will soon grow in number:

The first (myself) is toughstuff. I’ll be contributing op-ed style about anything that strikes my fancy. I usually rant a lot about intersections of gender and sexuality (particularly about masculinity), but those rants usually start when I see something in the world that catches my eye. Expect something on Bravo’s Work Out soon (I heart Jackie).

Next up is askfannie. Fannie’s the resident genderqueersex therapist, offering advice Q&A-style to those of us with relevant questions. She’s fabulous and blunt. Think your question is over the top? Perfect! Send it in to askfannie@gmail.com.

Finally, we’re taking applications. If you’re nerdy about gender like we are and you’ve got a knack for writing, send an introduction and a sample blog post to stuff.tough@gmail.com.

Enjoy.

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