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"JER-REE! JER-REE! JER-REE!" Okay, okay, I confess. I'm a "Springerhead." I'm one of the estimated 20 million people who gets a big kick out of watching "The Jerry Springer Show."
On those days when I can't watch it as it's broadcast, I program my VCR to tape it. I have at least two of Springer's "Too Hot for TV" uncensored videos and have just completed reading his book, "Ringmaster!"
But that's not all: I also enjoy watching professional wrestling - particularly World Champion-ship Wrestling's "Monday Nitro" and "Thursday Night Thunder." The World Wrestling Federation? They suck.
And I'm ecstatic that roller derby is back on TV after a 15-year absence, thanks to The Nashville Network (It's the only show on the country-music channel that I'll watch, since I don't like country music).
Hell, I'm even finding myself watching NASCAR auto racing (I might even go to Thunder Road in Barre next summer). And I've been a hockey fan for more than 25 years, rooting for the New York Islanders (1972-81), San Jose Sharks (1986-94), Montreal Canadiens and the University of Vermont Catamounts (1994-present).
Jerry Springer. Pro wrestling. Roller derby. NASCAR. Hockey. Hardly the pastimes you would expect of a typical queer, right? You could even say that these pastimes would mark me as a redneck, as defined by comedian Jeff Foxworthy.
Only I'm red all over, as I'm part-Cherokee, part-Creole (African and French) and part-Irish.
It is the eve of Martin Luther King Day as I write this column. By the time you read this, we will be well into African American History Month.
Of all of the many quotations by Dr. King, the one that has stood out the most for me and has guided my life ever since he uttered it as part of his immortal "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963 was his dream that one day we will all judged not by the color of our skin but by the content of our character.
It was a plea to stop stereotyping people.
Stereotypes are the root of all forms of prejudice, not just racism. I am a multiracial man of color, but don't live my life in accordance with racial stereotypes.
I am openly bisexual, but don't live my life in accordance with sexual stereotypes, either. I'm neither a fence-sitter, not do I have a ravenous libido (far from it).
I am a Pagan, yet for years, I've had to battle the stereotype of being a "devil-worshipper." Excuse me, but Pagans don't believe in the devil any more than athiests believe in God (or Goddess). Why would anyone worship something they don't believe exists?
One more confession: I've been guilty of judging people on the basis of stereotypes many times in the course of my life; I'd be a liar and a hypocrite if I said I've never done so. But I'm putting a stop to that habit - now.
As we approach the new milennium, now is the time for all of us to once and for all stop judging people on the basis of stereotypes. When we stereotype others, we unwittingly stereotype ourselves.
This year, Dr. King would have been 70 years old. In his memory, we should all judge and be judged not by what's on the outside, but by what's on the inside - our character.
Skeeter Sanders is an FM radio DJ who can be heard Saturday nights at midnight on "The Point" (WNCS 104.7 Montpelier; WSHX 95.7 St. Johnsbury; WRJT 103.1 White River Junction) and Sunday nights on WGDR 91.1 Plainfield.
