Some people need to get humor injections. Of course I’m joking around about the hand-holding stuff. Readers who think I’m saying it’s illegitimate for gay men to hold hands, readers who think I’m being a Western jingoist know-nothing and all the rest need to lighten up. The point Byron was making had nothing to do with men-qua-men holding hands and everything to do with Bush holding the hand of a Saudi ruler (the mention of the second inaugural should have been a tip-off). And my points were made with such glaring jokiness I’m embarrassed to even feel the need to clarify my position (though I too highlighted the theocratic potentate objection at the end).

Take a deep breath.