My kids are totally into this election. It began with our Obama bake sale— a veritable sugar high of design for democracy, scaled just right for the pre-teen set. But it’s not just our Designer President or the Feylin phenomenon. The kids are also fired up about Proposition 8, a California measure aimed at turning back the recent legalization of gay marriage in our fair state. The kids think it’s self-evident that gays should be allowed to marry, and they are genuinely shocked by every Pro-8 sign they see.
I can’t take much credit, though, for their liberal views. Project Runway is responsible for mainstreaming gay culture for the nation’s preteens and their moms. On PR, gay is the norm; it’s not a “statement” or a “stand,” it’s just a fashion fact, along with the dangers of matchy-match and the allure of velour. The No-on-8 team knows the power of Runway, too — they’ve aired some brilliant ads during the show — the only ads, in fact, that my kids won’t skip.
There are some gay dads at the kids’ school. I made an effort to chat with one of them at a recent playground gathering. He discoursed about his kids’ camps, hobbies, and favorite books. It was just like hanging out with a mom. Only he did all the talking.
As you can see from the photo, the kids have gotten at least one thing right besides their politics. Gray and yellow are the new black and white. The perfect colors for … a gay wedding?
— Julia Lupton · 2008-10-21
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THE BOOK