For anyonw who has access, the RTE news is about to cover the U2 concert on the
roof today.  You can get the live feed at the RTE site- www.rte.ie under the
news section.  You want the live coverage of the 6.01 news.
                                 Tanya

True, thats how one of the threads went, how can Bono be a Christian
and be supportive of gays?? Boy that one exploded....

--- In u2-pride@egroups.com, Terminello@a... wrote:
> being a Christian doesn't mean that you have to be homophobic.  The
> homophobics at interference.com just need to ask Bono his opinion.
He is
> hardly homophobic.

being a Christian doesn't mean that you have to be homophobic.  The
homophobics at interference.com just need to ask Bono his opinion.  He is
hardly homophobic.

Ugh!

I hate Modsavage's U2ey posts.   STAY AWAY, FAR FAR AWAY!

Todd, you've been posting to alt.f/m.u2?! You poor brave person. We're
sending the fire extinguishers now.
Seriously, in addition to this list, you might also want to check out one of
the Wire groups, at www.u2wire.com or the u2-list Wire on egroups. There's
more discussion and fewer flames than on usenet.

> >This is Dan from Boston, Massachusetts.  I've been a U2 fan for, wow,
> >going on 16 years now.  I thought I would join this group simply to
> >check out what other gay people may have to say about U2's music.
> >I'm somewhat skeptical of how there is a connection between U2's
> >music and being gay, but heck, I have an open mind.

I know what you mean, U2 aren't really considered 'gay-themed' music. But I
loved them long before I figured out I was queer, and I wasn't about to stop
listening to my favorite band just because I'd learned something new about
myself. I think they manage to achieve that connection Bono talks about
seeking. Their music is universally human, it doesn't feel restricted to one
group, class, or gender. And politically, whenever they've gone on record,
they've been very supportive of gay-concerns and causes. I feel like they
create a very friendly space for me, regardless of the attitudes of a few
fans.

Amy writes:
> The absolute joy and beauty of U2 in my mind is the connection you
> make with the music. Be it if you are gay, lesbian, bi, str8, or whatever,
> U2 connects with their fans like very few other artists of our modern
> generation.

Btw, thanks for the lovely promo, Amy. <blows kiss> Amy's a fun person
herself, folks.
I think it says a lot about the band that I can find myself in the music
made by four middle-aged men from Dublin. U2 moves me the way no other music
can.

From CJ:
> I found some really really disturbing stuff about homosexuality from U2
>fans and even 2 people outed themselves in it and I inadvertently
>outed myself by telling the other gay/bi/lesbian U2 fans have a place
>to go that will be free of Homophobia! I think a big thing is the
>Christianity and U2 correlation. Alot of the Christians have a BIG
>ISSUE with US.

When I first started on Wire, it really surprised me that some U2 fans were
so homophobic and hostile. I know, how naive, but it made me really sad that
they'd missed what the band was trying to say by such a large margin.  I
agree that it most likely comes from a small minority that approaches U2 as
a Christian band and brings a fundmentalist ethos with it. But in a way,
that's doubly unfortunate, since U2 have been so vehmently
anti-fundamentalist, and their Christianity seems to have a lot more to do
with love and forgiveness than with judging and condemning.

Laura

Thanks everyone for sharing. I really became grateful for this outlet
today when I came across a string on the Interference.com Forums. I
found some really really disturbing stuff about homosexuality from U2
fans and even 2 people outed themselves in it and I inadvertently
outed myself by telling the other gay/bi/lesbian U2 fans have a place
to go that will be free of Homophobia! I think a big thing is the
Christianity and U2 correlation. Alot of the Christians have a BIG
ISSUE with US. And you know the irony for me? In High School I was a
total born again Christian and it was seeing an article on U2 in
Contemporary Christian Music Magazine thayt made me interested in
finding out what they sound like! I still have some Christian
beliefs, but they are now, shall we say, in perspective?

>The token intro: 22-year-old guy from New Brunswick, Canada.  Um, hetero.

Welcome aboard... you don't have to be queer, just a nice person. :) (this is
the argument I am using to try and get Modsavage to join. I miss not seeing his
"I LOVE U2" posts!)

Cheers,

E.

E. L. Shawcross <els@...>
http://shawcross.org
We thought that we had the answers
	 It was the questions we had wrong...

Your email address says a lot about you.
Express yourself @ another.com
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hmmmm.....I'd hate to do it....but I happen to agree with you.  I have often
gleamed much from lyrics and put it into use in my own life.  I remember when
One came out.  That song was the living embodiment of what my ex-lover (now
best friend) was putting me through.  He never quite understood why I was
unhappy with him, until he listened to One.  He made the connection and never
asked for another explanation.

Now I am in a wonderfully loving relationship.  However, my new lover only
tolerates U2.  In fact, when I do play One, he adds these lyrics to the tune:

Did I disappoint you?
Leave a cum taste in your mouth?

He makes me crack up because he has such great manners but he likes to be
evil with me.

Okay, enough shareing...i'm out of here:)

At 08:59 PM 9/26/00 -0000, you wrote:

Hi Dan and the rest of pride,

>This is Dan from Boston, Massachusetts.  I've been a U2 fan for, wow,
>going on 16 years now.  I thought I would join this group simply to
>check out what other gay people may have to say about U2's music.
>I'm somewhat skeptical of how there is a connection between U2's
>music and being gay, but heck, I have an open mind.

There are a lot of connections between U2 and gay people. For starters, U2
has always sung songs of "political injustice - wronging the rights" if you
will. SBS, NYD, One, and of course Pride all have universal appeal. I can
only speak for myself but when I hear lyrics "one love...one life you've
got to do what you should..." it makes me realize that if people aren't
tolerant of all folks in this world we're all likely to wind up in our own
personal little hells. Maybe Bono when writing these songs didn't mean it
to appeal to gay people initially, but I'm sure he meant it to appeal to a
lot of folks. It's only natural that gay people would adapt U2 themes for
themselves, just as any hetero person would. WOWY, WTSHNN, UTEOW hold just
as much meaning to me as a straight person, the only differences are the
people you think about.

Let me tell you a little personal story. A few years back in '96-97 I was
in the midst of a relationship that was utterly pure hell. My now ex-gf was
a manic bipolar schizophrenic and literally tore me into emotional little
pieces. Anyway, she was a very big U2 fan and at the time when things were
absolutely crazy I would listen to AB and have tears rolling down my face
during most of the album - even today lyrics like "Waves of regret, waves
of joy, I reached out my hand to the one I tried to destroy - you said
you'd wait til the end of the world..." still hit me like very few artists
can. The absolute joy and beauty of U2 in my mind is the connection you
make with the music. Be it if you are gay, lesbian, bi, str8, or whatever,
U2 connects with their fans like very few other artists of our modern
generation.

As far as actual connections between gay people and U2, I think lyrics are
subject to personal interpretation. Therein lies the biggest connection of
all...how else do you explain even Emma wanting to start this list in the
first place?

Amy
------------------------------------------------------------
"Touch me
Take me to that other place
Teach me
I know I'm not a hopeless case..."
	 -- U2, "Beautiful Day"

In memory of my dog: Hank, 6/5/85-5/12/00

tapestries of life:
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Square/2514/
http://www.geocities.com/pink73floyd83/
------------------------------------------------------------

Hey everyone

Well I think this was an absolutely fabolous idea from Emma - this intro
thing, although i'm beginning to wonder if it's a PFLAG meeting, lol. For
those that have never been to one, you sort of go around and say "Hi I'm so
and so and I'm gay, etc." So here I go:

First off you've already heard from Laura (blackdubh) - I actually have
been emailing laura for over a year and we met on Wire. She's rather
cool...so everyone be nice to her!

Anyway, I'm 24, and also a practicing pagan, and a lesbian. I came out when
i was about 19, although I knew I was a lesbian long before that. I've got
a lovely gf named Holly who lives in Michigan, and I'm from ny, so you know
how long distance can be. I'm an editor at a newswire service called
Business Wire (yes, Island records is one of our clients so occasionally we
do U2 related news, no I haven't actually talked to them ever), but I'm
trying to find a new job. I've been a die hard U2 fan for about 5 or 6
years now but I always liked the band from a very early age after seeing
Bono wave a white flag at red rocks during SBS. My favorite U2 album is
Achtung Baby and it's a very personal album. I believe Terminello asked
what the connection is between gay fans and U2 and I'll reply to them in
another posting. I haven't had a chance to see U2 in concert (don't hate
me) for various reasons. I've lived in a bunch of places, most notably
Ohio, when I went to Ohio State for 2 years, Bakersfield, California for
about 4 months, and have traveled cross country living out of a tent. I'm a
born and bred new yawker and I grew up on long island. I currently live in
queens, ny about a half hour via subway to nyc.

Other favorite artists: Roger Waters, and his era of Pink Floyd, NIN, Tori
Amos, Skinny Puppy, Ministry, Front 242, Ani DiFranco, Radiohead, Sebadoh,
Sarah McLachlan, KMFDM, Depeche Mode, and many others. I play guitar and I
write. I have a homepage: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Square/2514 it's
pretty bad but it's got some of my writing on it, if any of you are
interested in checking it out.

I'm very excited about this list. Looking forward to many U2 and other
related discussions :)

Amy
------------------------------------------------------------
"Touch me
Take me to that other place
Teach me
I know I'm not a hopeless case..."
	 -- U2, "Beautiful Day"

In memory of my dog: Hank, 6/5/85-5/12/00

tapestries of life:
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Square/2514/
http://www.geocities.com/pink73floyd83/
------------------------------------------------------------

Evenin', all...saw Emma's post on alt.fan.u2, figured I'd check y'all out.
So to speak.

Man, I can see that I'm gonna get myself in all manner of trouble 'round
these here parts... :)

The token intro: 22-year-old guy from New Brunswick, Canada.  Um, hetero.
(Sorry, couldn't find a nice way to just kinda come out and say that.)  IT
guy - I'm a network tech, working a couple of years between my BA in
Politics and my MBA in marketing.  Love golf, mixed martial arts (ie: the
UFC, Pride, and King of the Cage fights; watching and actually fighting),
writing, driving my Volkswagen, good scotch, Jack Daniels, and, of course,
four fellas from Dublin Town who just happen to be releasing a new album a
couple of days before my birthday...

...hmmm...aside from the U2, writing, golf and scotch comments up there, I
sound like quite the little redneck... :)

I figured I'd drop by simply because I thought y'all might be a little more
non-judgemental than the average poster in the alt.fan/music.u2 groups.  I
don't know about everyone here, or even if people here are reading the
a.f/m.u2 groups, but it ain't the friendliest place to be hanging your hat
these days.  This seemed like a cool spot; guess we'll find out, huh? :)

Right, that's enough outa me...nice to meet y'all.

Todd McGillivray    Team Internet Paintball #467     toddmc@...
     Homepage: http://cplhicks.tripod.com/ - The Rev on alt.music.u2
     "Nobody asked how you looked, just what you shot." -- Sam Snead

At 04:58 AM 9/26/00 -0000, you wrote:
>If you want...its a conversation starter. I think I am going to be
>the OLD man here, I am 33! But look and act 25!

I'm 24. So don't feel bad. :)

viva a U2! :)

Amy
------------------------------------------------------------
"Touch me
Take me to that other place
Teach me
I know I'm not a hopeless case..."
	 -- U2, "Beautiful Day"

In memory of my dog: Hank, 6/5/85-5/12/00

tapestries of life:
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Square/2514/
http://www.geocities.com/pink73floyd83/
------------------------------------------------------------

--- In u2-pride@egroups.com, "C J" <always@u...> wrote:> If you want...its a
conversation starter. I think I am going to be > the OLD man here, I am 33! But
look and act 25!Hey, my name's Nate.  I live in Michigan.  I'm just turned 25. 
I'vebeen a U2 fan for about 10 years now.  I've got about 60 U2 CD's(albums,
singles, boots), about 15 VHS tapes.  I'm really excitedabout the new album
coming out. I've been "out" for about 5 years now.  So far, I'd have to say I
ama lot happier person than I was before I "came out".Other bands I like are
Beck, Pearl Jam, The Cure, Chemical Bros.,Radiohead, Tea Party, Tool, Depeche
Mode, Metallica, NIN, Nirvana,Red Hot Chili Peppers, etc.BTW, this is a really
great idea.  I'm glad so many people havealready signed up, you all seem
cool.Take it easy,Nate

Hi Dan, I dont think there is a connection except the fact that we
are non-heterosexual and love U2!!! Welcome aboard Dan!

--- In u2-pride@egroups.com, Terminello@a... wrote:
> Hello everyone,
>
> This is Dan from Boston, Massachusetts.  I've been a U2 fan for,
wow,
> going on 16 years now.  I thought I would join this group simply to
> check out what other gay people may have to say about U2's music.
>
> I'm somewhat skeptical of how there is a connection between U2's
> music and being gay, but heck, I have an open mind.
>
> Take care everyone:)

</steps up to the mike>

Hey-I guess its my turn. I'm a 28 year old queer, pagan woman, and I've been
a huge fan of U2 since I was 14.
I work as a massage therapist in a chiropractic clinic, and live in Seattle,
Washington (USA) with my girlfriend, who (fortunately) loves U2 as much as I
do. She's actually the one who introduced me to them, so there's a gay-U2
link for ya.
Books and music are two of my main passions. I listen to everything from
blues to folk to industrial, and other than U2, some of my favorites are:
Lorenna McKennitt, Sinead O'Connor, Etta James, Indigo Girls, Pearl Jam,
Sting, NIN, and Tori Amos.

I think U2-Pride is a great name, Emma, and thanks for starting this. I've
been on Wire for several years, and I'm always pleased to find other queer
U2 fans, since I know few others IRL. I'm looking forward to hearing
everyone's story, and being able to discuss U2 online without having to
scroll through the inevitable bashing every time a gay issue comes up.

Laura

Hello everyone,

This is Dan from Boston, Massachusetts.  I've been a U2 fan for, wow,
going on 16 years now.  I thought I would join this group simply to
check out what other gay people may have to say about U2's music.

I'm somewhat skeptical of how there is a connection between U2's
music and being gay, but heck, I have an open mind.

Take care everyone:)

Alright, I'll take my turn then.  I'm 33 and live in Durham, North Carolina, a
pretty good place to be queer, even though Jesse Helms is your senator.  I teach
English at a local community college and am finishing my dissertation.  I work
specifically with Irish literature and queer theory, although only the Irish
part has a real U2 connection.  When I was a junior, I studied in Italy for a
semester and then didn't want to come home.  I was a huge U2 fan, so I took off
for Ireland.  I wanted to stay as long as possible, so a professor suggested I
do an independent study on contemporary Irish lit and once I started reading I
got hooked.  When I graduated, I knew I wanted to continue working in Irish lit
so I got my MA degree from Univeristy College, Dublin.  So really, the boys are
a big reason why I do what I do today.
Ireland, oddly enough, is also where I first started sleeping with women and
figured out I was a lesbian.  So I guess I really do own the boys a great deal. 
I'm glad this list got started- Wire has always been a very homophobic place
(i've been there for 4-5 years now I think), so it is nice to have this place. 
I'm looking forward to hearing everyone else's stories.

                                          Tanya

As emma suggested im gonna take the plunge, step outta my shell and
intro myself.

They call me pandabean :) Im 23/Perth/confused! Im hoping maybe
soaking up a little PRIDE in a nonintimidating/judgemental/commital
environment will do me some good :) I've spent my life jumping both
ways but i think im pretty much leaning this way now... tho i dont
mind some old fashioned sex every now an then! :)

Like emma i was doing a BA (in philosophical psychology) but now im
just doing plain ol' nursing (a degree in the philosophy and science
of caring!:)

>My experimentations with men came about as a result of my
>realisation that I was attracted to Bono (& I still am, although I
>feel somewhat squeamish about the idea of actually doing anything
>physical with him

Bizarrely, my first lesbian affair came from a mutual Bono adoration!
And thats how it alllll started - girls, U2 - and ouila! here i am :)

What i wanna know is - does anyone have a crush on Ali??!! *G*

Anyone can find me on ICQ or IRC on omen.perth.oz.org as pandabean

Lets get this thing started!!

Im ready
ready for whats next
ready to duck
ready to dive
ready to say im glad to be alive

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the u2-pride
group.

   File        : /welcome
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Regards,

els@...

Hi,

Great to see that we already have 11 members, just some 24 hours after I first
started the list. I will try promoting the list on the newsgroups today to see
if that encourages more people to join, and in the meantime, feel free to
persuade as many as you know to join us.

Amy, thanks for the encouragement. I've noticed on Wire occassional posts from
people that set my gaydar off, so to speak, and I thought it would be fun if we
could make ourselves a bit better known. I chose the name "Pride" partly because
over here in Perth the annual GLBT festival & parade goes by that name and also
because of the song's encouraging message. If not "Pride", perhaps it would have
been NYD as I also feel inspired by the lyrics "The newspaper says it's true, we
can break the rule, though torn in two we can be one... I will be with you
again..."

CJ, no offense taken at your post. I'm sure there are quite a few gay male U2
fans around, but they seem to be a bit hidden...? I've known a few personally
and like you, my best friend is gay and quite a U2 fan but also totally hopeless
on the net... he has an email address, but I'm the one who has to check it for
him all the time! I remember reading a U2 article a few years ago about U2 in
Italy and this big Italian gay guy who had a total crush on Larry... he took
banners to the concert that said "I LOVE YOU LARRY!" :)

Since this is a small group (at the moment anyway) how about we all introduce
ourselves in some detail (including ages, as CJ suggested). I'm 22 (23 in late
Nov) and studying a B.A. with majors in history and politics (my "special
interest" is JFK). I live in Perth, Western Australia. Although I'm currently
taking part in Modsavage's U2 Lent and I could do so for the rest of my life, I
do enjoy other bands: Tori Amos, Joy Division, The Smiths, Smashing Pumpkins,
Elvis Costello, Depeche Mode, The Cure, Crowded House, Roxy Music, Frank
Sinatra....... too many! Apart from music and studying, I also enjoy cricket
(watching not playing), reading (but let's not get started into my favourite
authors), movies (fave director Wim Wenders), wine, and smoking (shame on me).

As you can guess from my email address, I'm a lesbian, although I'll admit I
haven't always felt that way. I've always been naturally attracted to
girls/women, but there have been moments when I've been tempted into
heterosexual activity and I did think I was bi for a while. My experimentations
with men came about as a result of my realisation that I was attracted to Bono
(& I still am, although I feel somewhat squeamish about the idea of actually
doing anything physical with him--but I don't think I will get the opportunity
somehow anyway *grin*). So *there's* a U2-gay link for you. :)

If we ever run out of things to say, I have some ideas for some queer U2 things
to talk about... however I think with everyone being new (including me) it would
be nice to get to know each other first...

"I've conquered my past
The future is here at last
I stand at the entrance to a new world I can see
The ruins to the right of me
Will soon have lost sight of me
Love rescue me..."

Emma.

E. L. Shawcross <els@...>
http://shawcross.org
We thought that we had the answers
	 It was the questions we had wrong...

Be whoever you want to be with another.com
Just click here:
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

If you want...its a conversation starter. I think I am going to be
the OLD man here, I am 33! But look and act 25!

Welcome aboard Matt!!! Wow, 20 years old! That means you were 4 years
old when I saw my first U2 concert!!!! That makes me feel soooo old.


--- In u2-pride@egroups.com, "Matthew Joseph Savelkoul"
<msavelkoul01@g...> wrote:
> I'm so glad this group was started.  I'm a gay guy, 20 years old in
Minneapolis and I love U2.
>
> Matt

I'm so glad this group was started.  I'm a gay guy, 20 years old in Minneapolis
and I love U2.

Matt

Oh and I just wanted to say I am totally cool with my U2 Lesbian
sisters!!! Didnt mean to impy I was not happy with ALL who are part
of this group!

--- In u2-pride@egroups.com, "C J" <always@u...> wrote:
> I just want to say how glad I am to find this group! I just hope
will
> find something intersting to say! Are there actually any gay males
> (like me)in this group? I think we are a minority, gay men who are
> passionate about U2. One of my very good friends loves U2 and he is
> gay but he is clueless with the internet! He just uses AOL! Like so
> many people!
>
> Anyway come visit me at my homepage sometime...
>
> http://www.camilosworld.com

I just want to say how glad I am to find this group! I just hope will
find something intersting to say! Are there actually any gay males
(like me)in this group? I think we are a minority, gay men who are
passionate about U2. One of my very good friends loves U2 and he is
gay but he is clueless with the internet! He just uses AOL! Like so
many people!

Anyway come visit me at my homepage sometime...

http://www.camilosworld.com

Yes, it's working...

Welcome to the list, and many thanks for joining :)

E.

E. L. Shawcross <els@...>
http://shawcross.org
We thought that we had the answers
	 It was the questions we had wrong...

Be whoever you want to be with another.com
Just click here:
http://another.com/jump.jsp?destDesc=another.com/login.jsp?sig=390



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

At 10:55 PM 9/25/00 -0000, you wrote:
>Test 1,2,3,4

It most certainly is!

Welcome!

Amy
------------------------------------------------------------
"Touch me
Take me to that other place
Teach me
I know I'm not a hopeless case..."
	 -- U2, "Beautiful Day"

In memory of my dog: Hank, 6/5/85-5/12/00

tapestries of life:
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Square/2514/
http://www.geocities.com/pink73floyd83/
------------------------------------------------------------

Test 1,2,3,4

Hello!

Thanks Emma for starting this. As a lesbian U2 fan I was wondering where I
could at least feel comfortable being a U2 fan and with a group of people
who are the same.

How appropriate this list is called u2-pride! Whenever I hear pride, I
think about injustice in the world and never losing hope and they can't
take one's pride away. That's one of the reasons I love U2 so much. They
have always believed in justice for all, no matter what color, creed, etc
you are. It really is one love.

Here's happy pride flag for everyone *waves flag* hehe.

Viva a U2!

Amy
------------------------------------------------------------
"Touch me
Take me to that other place
Teach me
I know I'm not a hopeless case..."
	 -- U2, "Beautiful Day"

In memory of my dog: Hank, 6/5/85-5/12/00

tapestries of life:
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Square/2514/
http://www.geocities.com/pink73floyd83/
------------------------------------------------------------

Hooray

this is the first message!

I don't know what to say... yes I do: I might be a lesbian, but Bono
is still gorgeous!

Allright. Time to get serious and intellectual, everybody...

Have fun on the list

Emma.