whether partners in a same-sex marriage find it harder to keep from cheating than partners in opposite-sex marriages.

I agree with Geoff -- HOWEVER (and this is a big however), I think gays engage in more casual sex than straights.  Also, I think men think of sex differently than women.  For me, it's never been an "intimacy" thing (I love my husband!), but more of a biological drive.  To put it in the words of my friend Todd, "It's just sex."

I think men think of sex differently than women.  For me, it's never been an "intimacy" thing (I love my husband!), but more of a biological drive.

I completely agree that men and women view sex differently, but I think you are short changing intimacy.  For most women, they must feel intimate with a man to have sex.  For most men I know sex leads to intimacy.  I agree for most men there are times when its just sex --- all you want to do is get laid.  And I know from experience there are a fair number of women who can be interested in only the physical, bilological act.  But I do think relationships change the way one views the act and it can become an expression of initimacy between two loving partners in addition to a biological drive.

I think that all couples, regardless of orientation, tend to lose their individuality when they're together with someone for a long time.  But that's a concious choice that they make. 

My partner and I have completely different hobbies and interests, I'm a scuba diver, wind-surfer, modeler, painter (amoung other things) and Eric has a completely paranoid fear of the ocean.   His hobbies include world history, he's a college history professor, and enjoys travel (so do I, we just often have different ideas of where to go and what to do) ... but we don't deny one another our enjoyment just because the other doesn't share the same passion for it.

I agree with Tom that men tend to think of sex differently than women do, which is why it's so important if you want a long term relationship that you set the ground rules for it before hand, and know as much about your partner's likes and dislikes (sex wise) as humanly possible before commiting to one.

I appreciate what you said, Michael, really I do.  But even as a teacher, I don't work as hard as some.  As a music teacher, I'm considered a "special" -- the CLASSROOM teachers work far, far harder than me. 

That's about as humble as I get.

If I had teachers like Tom, I probably would have paid more attention in school.

You know, everyone says that, but I've never known a kid to have a crush on me.  They may have... who knows?... I've just never been aware of it.  (I mean, I remember the way I used to crush on my high school football coach's ass, but I didn't think he knew...)

My high school kids, while in Scotland, saw me shirtless for the first time.  I got a lot of "Mr. French, you're so buff..." etc, like they'd never noticed before.

Maybe Eric is right and I do dress too straight...

Methinks you are being too modest, Tom. Being a teacher is a tough gig, yet one that is so important. You and your colleagues don't get enough praise or thanks.

Plus, I'm one of those folks who believes that music and arts should be considered essential parts of a good education. Obviously, reading and math are vital, but not to the exclusion of other important subjects. So keep up the good work, Mr. French!

Good point about teachers. I've gone all the way to university studies (incomplete) and I think I've had THREE good teachers.

What these teachers had in common is genuine enthusiasm for the material and a passion for transmitting it to the student.

The remaining teachers in my experience just treated the thing as a job ... doing as little as they could to not get fired.