Oh, my stars, where to begin.
First and foremost, my heart goes out to any gay man who is publicly outed in a manner not of his choice. Doesn't matter if he's a flaming d-bag when it comes to other peoples' rights, this is a tough place for any man to be in and I wish anyone in this position tranquility, courage, and a brave circle of loved ones who will undoubtedly extend to him the tolerance he may find so difficult to extend to others. Self-loathing is a killer and it's hard for me to cackle with glee, watching someone from either party go through this. I don't like a thing Michael Berry has to say on the air and I hate what he represents, but, like they taught us in kindergarten, often the biggest bullies are the ones with the most insecurity. If such is the case, I'm sorry for him and hope
it gets better for him, too, and his family members who must deal with private, possibly painful details of their lives and marriages suddenly thrust into the spotlight.
That said...oh, my soul, where to begin.
a.) Perez Hilton. My goodness.
b.) @rageradio: Some would answer your question with a most emphatic yes.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-big-questions/201106/homophobic-men-most-aroused-gay-male-pornc.) @Filio, although I find your theory most plausible, there's absolutely no breath or blood evidence of DWI and so we cannot assume it was the case. But I do know that any DWI/DUI lawyer in Houston worth his salt will tell you that reckless driving and leaving the scene are preferrable charges in Harris County than DWI with a collision (as despicable as we may find it to flee the scene of a place where one has allegedly reversed 70 feet on a crowded street and plowed the venue staff's car, causing significant property damage and endangering anyone else who happened to be on the public street that evening).
d.) I find it troubling that an eyewitness and a license plate are not sufficient to charge any suspected hit and run driver. It occurs to me that many people in the Harris County and City jails who have been identified in this manner, by witnesses who didn't know their names at the time,
may have been convicted as a result of these self-same identification markers. Those other inmates should consult with their attorneys, as they may be entitled to a review of the state's evidence against them to determine whether or not they got a raw deal. If a victim/eyewitness who wrote down the tag number isn't sufficient for HPD to bring charges, this could be a revolutionary new way that HPD conducts these kinds of investigations, and we should all pay close attention to this abrupt new change in policy.
e.) However, Michael Berry has committed no crime by (allegedly, according to venue staff) enjoying the drag show on a regular basis. If he is seeking a warm and welcoming group of like-minded individuals, consensus is that at least TC's is trying to bring in better talent from out of town and the drink prices can't be beat. Being in a gay bar isn't a crime.
f.) Of of the strengths touted when Former Councilman Berry first joined the Clear Channel family is that he wasn't a radio veteran. This may have come back to bite him, since most industry pros are aware of the PeeWee Lesson: if you job is kids, don't get caught with your willy out in public. If your job is riling up the Conservative base with cultural-war hotbuttons, it might be a good idea to think of your image before you hit the drag show and destroy another's vehicle. Allegedly.
g.) I am no longer surprised when certain media companies attempt to restrict the flow of information which could prove embarrassing to their operation or brand. I'm thinking of layoffs timed to coincide with national political events, train derailements with toxic gas clouds released, or the stray cash-cow host who may have been arrested in a Miami airport coming home from the Dominican Republic with Viagra prescribed in someone else's name but instead admits only that he has a prescription drug problem due to a back injury. You know,
hypothetically, of course. My guess is that the local television stations did their work to prevent this story from being buried, and they did it well, and should be commended.
h.) I am relieved to live in an area where there is not a complete one-media-company monopoly on stories of local news interest.
