Real American?
I was born in Orange County, California. But I spent several years in Gilbert, Arizona, once the Alfalfa Capitol of the World.
I was once a youth pastoral intern for a large Christian church. But I’ve also been known to hang out and drink beer with homeless dudes in Santa Monica.
I run a small, independent publishing imprint. But I’m also on the payroll for a book under Hyperion, an imprint of The Walt Disney Company that is distributed by Harper Collins.
I spent the last three years processing literally millions of dollars in financial aid money for the largest private university in The United States. But now I create latte art using a 1965 espresso machine at a market run by a local, Gilbert born-and-bred independent restaurateur.
I was once well-liked in a couple small groups at above-said church for my engaging, conservatively-minded Bible studies I led and mini-sermons I gave. But my book centers, partially, on me being gay.
I co-founded a non-profit organization when I was 22, preached sermons at a local coffee house, and initiated service projects for the elderly and disabled. But I also served food in Skid Row soup kitchens in Los Angeles, been in plays in Orange County, and helped set up and tear down band and sound equipment once for Death Cab for Cutie on Sunset’s Whiskey-A-Go-Go.
One of my best friends is a hard-working, conservatively-minded, devout Republican Calvinist. Another one of my best friends is a white magic Wiccan, former go-go dancer, and current member of the Suicide Girls, and has started in two Nine Inch Nails videos.
I was once on a first-name basis with the owner of The Butcher Market and Restaurant in Tonto Basin, Arizona. But I was also on a first-name basis with Mohammed, a youth hostel owner in Huntington Beach.
One of my friends is a Christian spoken word artist who travels around performing and spreading the gospel of Jesus. But another one of my friends is a drummer in a popular secular rock band.
I have been to Israel. But I took a taxi to Palestine.
So according to John McCain, Sarah Palin, and many others in the GOP, am I a real American, or not?
