I wonder how the inability or lack of ease that men have in United States culture -- let's be honest, perhaps Canada has less hang-ups? -- correlates with some of the more taboo expressions of male-male intimacy. Pardon me for thinking a little twisted here, but there is some general knowledge about the dehumanizing, painful experiences of prison rape. Often, the aggressors don't even acknowledge that they're participating in anal course, but rather that they're dominating or taking "ownership" over someone else in their caste system of sorts.

Margaret Cho also talks about how the things gays and lesbians do are so stigmatized in everyday life, that when they get around to fucking, they can do it with a frivolity and joie de vivre unlike what heterosexuals experience. (It's a thoughtful point, to say the least.)

In general terms, I imagine we wouldn't have so many religious/spiritual, knee-jerk disgust reactions toward gays if everyday people weren't so easily threatened by the contact. And why the hell is this the case? I just never understood it. I come from a cultural background that doesn't make a big deal of affection anyway, just because giving someone a hug or a kiss or an embrace doesn't mean that you want to bone 'em.