If you guys in the Mountain Time Zone & Pacific Time Zone have a chance to catch The Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight, don't miss it. He has Senator John McCain on who talks about Mark, and has some very nice things to say about him!

I saw that tonight on Leno. First time all day I was moved to tears. Not just to mention Mark but talk about him in detail. Member of a "gay rugby team...A true American hero...Fought for his country.." I was so proud when the audience cheered wildly. I hope all the homophobic a**holes saw the show as well and hung their head in shame. It would be a miracle if all government officals were as proud of Mark and gays as John McCain.

My friend who plays on the Fog has the inaugeral Mark Bingham cup at his house and I got to see it the other night. It was intense just to see it and touch it and realize what it stands for...

CBS did an interview with his mother yesterday AM. She was fabulous, and it brought me to heavy tears. Very nicely handled by all concerned. Really brought home the personal nature of the loss. As did the reading of the names at Ground Zero.

Apparently Mark's mom, Alice Hoaglund, was interviewed on - yes - Dr Laura's show yesterday. Either Dr Laura didn't know (or pretended not to know) Mark's story; she gushed about what a fine young man he was, what a fine set of values he must have had, etc. Then she asked his mom how her life has changed since 9/11, and she answered that she has become a vocal advocate for two issues: airport security and gay rights. Dr Laura was strangely silent after that. (Reported by Dave Morey of KFOG San Francisco.)

I know it's a bit of a paradox, but believe it or not, Dr. Laura's best friend (outside of her family) is a gay man.

Unfortunately some of the worst backhanded slaps have come after "But my best friend is ______."

Enter gay, black, jewish, etc.

Dr. Laura has proven that she'll pull any stunt also to try and improve her image. So, the best friend claim seems doubtful. And if it's true, too bad for him.

[quote]Originally posted by dupontred:
Silly me, I thought it stood for the winner of a rugby tournament.

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Right, like the Stanley Cup stands for the winner of the NHL playoffs. The Bingham Cup stands for two things, in my mind. The growing presence, acceptance and triumph of queers in sports and the sacrifice made by so many individuals on 9/11, particularly those who chose to put themselves in harm's way, knowing they could (rescue workers in NY) or would (those on flight 93) die. To me, that's what the Bingham Cup stands for, well that and a bunch of idiots beating each other to a pulp to get an oblong spheroid of an airfilled leather bladder over some arbitrary line drawn on the ground.

It's the first annual Bingham Cup meant to reward the best gay rugby team and their results during the tournament. Since it's newly created and named after Mark Bingham, who died on 9/11/01 fighting terrorists, it appears to stand for something more than just the winner of a rugby tournament.

I hope that helps, dupontred...

Sounds like a nice moment and memory for you Bryan. Kind of amazed that you needed to provide a justification for your feelings.

Mark was clearly so well thought of and respected that they chose to name the trophy after him and it means something quite special to those whose lives he touched, either directly or indirectly.

I found this thread, and figured I'd bump it with this newest news.
Design for Flight 93 memorial chosen

There is also apparently a Discovery Channel special on the flight called "The Flight that Fought Back" on Sunday night at 9PM - commercial free. I will be traveling that day, but would love to hear from anyone who sees the show - would love to know if they even mention Bingham's sexuality. It would be great to see a gay hero recognized as such.

Flight that Fought Back

I was also intrigued by this line in the CNN article on the memorial:

Middle-aged same-sex roommates with the same last name? I wonder if there is more to that story.