The Independent has gone big today on Joel Burns - the Texan councillor who gave a moving elegy to young gay men who have committed suicide, and spoke of his own struggle growing up gay in a small town and with a Christian father.Thanks to the internet, it's turned him into an instant hero internationally - just add waterworks.
The Independent has published his speech in full online.
Yesterday The Guardian awarded Joel Burns their daily In Praise Of... editorial, applauding his "bravery".
It was moving, but in what way was it brave?
Mr Burns video was filmed by cameras in the council chamber and put on YouTube, and has been embraced as part of Dan Savage's It Gets Better Project.
As I type it's had over 2,224,000 hits.
I'm just a bit worried that it's become a kind of emotional pornography, with Burns breaking down in tears the money-shot.
There is another gay YouTube "sensation" this month.
Craigery Morgan's Surprise Party - where he lipsynchs to a Saturday Night Live sketch - went up a week before Burns'.
Craigery (sic) plays the part of an over-excited woman, but he doesn't perform in drag.
He's shirtless.
He's also really cute and buff and fit.
Young Mr Morgan has had over 4,540,000 views on YouTube - that's twice as many as Mr Burns.
Maybe Craigery should film an It Gets Better video?
Or maybe Joel Burns should have taken his shirt off in his?
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