I, for one, am outraged by the blatant stereotyping going on in this article.

The Baraboo News Republic, on Wisconsin’s new domestic partner laws:

Roger Hanko isn’t in a relationship right now.

But the 57-year-old gay man says it’s comforting to know that if he meets someone in the future, he and his partner would enjoy some of the same rights as married couples.

Language included in the state’s two-year budget — signed by Gov. Jim Doyle late last month — legally recognizes domestic partnerships for the first time by creating a statewide registry of same-sex couples.
The rules go into effect Aug. 3.

“I think that’s very important,” said Hanko, who runs a floral and gift shop in downtown Baraboo.

The story included a picture of Mr. Hanko:

So lemme get this straight:* the only guy the paper could find to interview for this story was a dapper, well-groomed older man wearing a pale pink shirt and an earring…

…who runs a floral shop?

Could this be any more stereotypical?

Can I just ask: how’d they decide to call him in the first place? “Oh, that guy Roger – he’s really neat, and wears pink, and runs a flower store. He must be gay.”

* not a pun.