Sporty Lesbots

Cork’s Derval O’Rourke wins silver at the athletics European Championships in Barcelona! Okay, Derval’s not a lesbian (or is she? …No.), but this is a magnificent win for her and for Irish women athletes. 100m hurdles in 12.65secs into a -0.5 headwind, apparently, and setting a new Irish record. Check it!

Elsewhere in the world of athletics, and far more importantly (apologies Derval) yesterday also saw the opening ceremony of the Gay Games in Köln (aka Cologne). This fine country is well represented at the Games by Team Ireland, and you can keep up via the following means:

• Team Ireland’s pages on OutInIreland

• Team Ireland’s Facebook profile

• Via Twitter, follow the #TeamCork and #GayGames hashtags (we’re not sure if #TeamIreland is being used – but sure give it a go!)

• One member of the Cork contingent of Team Ireland, @famron, is Tweeting live from the games!

From yesterday’s Tweets:

It’s official, #teamcork have landed & registered. #gaygames people so friendly n helpful. Off out soon for grub & the opening ceremony.

Just waiting to go into the stadium. #teamcork singing loudest n proudest. Team Ireland has 14th largest representation #gaygames

Going into the stadium the rain started pelting for #teamcork. Didn’t dampen our enthusiasm one iota. Up to seats now for entertainment.

Hackney women’s FC and #teamcork have met and now having a sing-off in the stadium.

(Heh, love that last one.)

Also at the Gay Games are several teams from countries where homosexuals are persecuted terribly: Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Mexico and Zimbabwe and several Eastern European nations. As a result, many of the athletes from these countries need to protect their identities during the competition. Nevertheless, they will be able to meet thousands of other LGBTs from other countries around the world, sharing their experiences.

Clare Balding-v-The Sunday Times

Speaking of sports, Britain’s own Clare Balding is giving The Sunday Times and their writer, A. A. Gill, a smackdown over the latter describing Balding as a “dyke” in a published article. A. A. Gill is the Times’ resident fop who seems convinced that London remains the heart of Empire, where he’s depicted visiting the colonies is ridiculous hats, scarves and poses. He calls himself “A. A.” for fuck’s sake. Somehow this makes him the Times‘ cultural correspondent.

Anyway, via The Guardian here’s the full extract of what he said and the exchange which followed, between Balding and the newspaper’s editor (you won’t be able to read it yourself, as the London Times website is now hidden behind a pay-wall):

Gill had written: “Some time ago, I made a cheap and frankly unnecessary joke about Clare Balding looking like a big lesbian. And afterwards somebody tugged my sleeve to point out that she is a big lesbian.”

After a mock apology, he continued: “Now back to the dyke on a bike, puffing up the nooks and crannies at the bottom end of the nation.”

Balding complained to Witherow. She was then “appalled” to receive a reply stating: “In my view some members of the gay community need to stop regarding themselves as having a special victim status and behave like any other sensible group that is accepted by society.

“Not having a privileged status means, of course, one must accept occasionally being the butt of jokes. A person’s sexuality should not give them a protected status.

“Jeremy Clarkson, perhaps the epitome of the heterosexual male, is constantly jeered at for his dress sense (lack of), adolescent mindset and hairstyle. He puts up with it as a presenter’s lot and in this context I hardly think that AA Gill’s remarks were particularly cruel, especially as he ended by so warmly endorsing you as a presenter.”

Balding responded: “When the day comes that people stop resigning from high office, being disowned by their families, getting beaten up and in some instances committing suicide because of their sexuality, you may have a point.

“This is not about me putting up with having the piss taken out of me, something I have been quite able to withstand, it is about you legitimising name calling. ‘Dyke’ is not shouted out in school playgrounds (or as I’ve had it at an airport) as a compliment, believe me.”

She added: “I am happy to be described as a lesbian, as and when relevant, but ‘dyke’ is too often used as a pejorative and insulting term.”

Stick it to ‘em, Clare. It seems the media are quite happy to throw around insults against lesbians – the BBC a few years ago, the BBC defended a couple of their Z-listers insulting lesbians in one of their countdown shows broadcast in 2008 over the Christmas time.

“DJ Spoony”, a talking head on the programme stated in relation to Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson: “Let the munters and mingers get each other – that’s cool because no-one really wants them. But when they’re hot and fit and Hollywood superstars, they should be saved for guys – not me, but other guys.”

Another contributor, Ron Jeremy, 55, who is a “porn actor”, said that he would like to have a threesome with the couple and even described ejaculating over them. He said: “Those two girls are both very good-looking, so I would love to be in the middle of that. They would do each other, do me, do each other, back and forth, then I do a pop and it’s over. The polite thing to do is to pop on both of them.”

The reply by email which I received at the time after a complaint included:

It’s important to note that this programme was a light-hearted and comedic look at people who have annoyed, amused or appalled us in 2008. The comments made by any of the programme contributors are their own opinions and don’t reflect the opinions of the BBC.

We’ve a strict set of guidelines, that all our programmes must adhere to, which relate to the representation of people of all cultures and backgrounds on all our channels and stations.

Naturally, we appreciate the strength of your views on this matter and so please be assured that your complaint has been registered on our audience log. This is a daily report of audience feedback that’s circulated to many BBC staff, including members of the BBC Executive Board, channel controllers and other senior managers.

The audience logs are seen as important documents that can help shape decisions about future programming and content.

Once again, thanks for taking the time to contact us.

Regards

Leanne Bennett
BBC Complaints

I doubt the Beeb and the Times would be so permissive if their writers were quipping about spicks, wogs, kikes and niggers – but dykes are fair game. We just need to lighten up, like. Maybe some corrective rape will sort us out.

Darlene from Roseanne comes out

On a happier note, and to ease the rage… You may be familiar with Sara Gilbert. She will always be known to me as “Darlene from Roseanne.” Well, apparently she has come out publicly as gay.

Now, no offence intended to Sara, but this surprised me about as much as Joe McElderry coming out. When I was a wee wan, watching Roseanne in my tender years avec famille, even then I knew she was a big gayer (even if I didn’t have the vocabulary to describe it).

NEXT, ON BREAKING NEWS: Pope is Catholic; Gay girls like gee.

Still, though, props to her (and wee Joe) to have the courage to say it on record. Sara lives with her misses and two kids in California. Good times for all.

Related posts:

1. Team Ireland at Gay Games VIII: Round-up
2. Gay Clare / OutWest Ireland / Gay Westmeath club night
3. Gaelick Highlights

So, what has been happening in that intervening period? Lesbian LOLs? Sapphic surprises? Dishing the dykey dirt? Well, here you are:

• Poor HAL has been continuing the endurance test that is watching and recapping the Real L Word. She is quite the selfless sister.

• Oh yes, and we had the 12th July events up in Norn Iron. It’s timely, then, to direct you to an article of ours from a few months back on the love that Orangemen everywhere dare not mention: the fact that William of Orange was (more than likely) a flaming ‘mo.

• Gooner gave it up for the real, non-airbrushed women who are gradually making forays into the cosmetics and fashion world.

• I have to confess to almost snotting myself at times while watching the “Funny or Die” spoof of those hot girl-on-girl phone lines. You know, those cringingly awful ones that are advertised on TV after you’ve staggered in from t’pub?

• CanuckJacq cut through the nonsense flying around the interwebs over the pretty awful and very public break-up between Melissa Etheridge and Tammy Lynn Michaels.

• The lovely Lucy Kennedy was the latest addition to our Álainn or Appallin’ polls. So far, 71% of voters say that she’s Álainn. Only 71%?! What is wrong with you people??

• Slayer told us about Roman Catholic bastion of the world number 87,831,023, Argentina, which passed a law which provides for marriage equality. That’s in addition to the likes of Spain, Portugal, Mexico City, and so on.

¡Arriba, Argentina!

• We ran our competition for 2-for-1 entry into last night’s Rock.Indie.Pop (if you missed it, you missed out!).

That was followed by an interview with one of the DJs on the night, the fabulous Scarlett Nymph of Sedition Industries.

• HAL met with entrepreneur, Grace O’Sullivan, who went from riding to roidin’ to run Ireland’s excellent online sex toy retailer, Secrets Ireland. And not an unnecessary giggle or whiff of Irish-Catholic guilt in sight.

• We were informed by Gooner of the new women’s night in Dublin, Miss-Match, which is aimed at over-25s and takes place in the plush surrounds of the Morrison Hotel.

• OMFG, Tori Amos!! Yep, Tori played the Iveagh Gardens on 16th July. Whether you think she’s god, or you think she sounds like a bag o’ cats, she’s definitely queer-tastic.

• One of our new contributors, Cherry Bomb, reviewed The Runaways, the new Joan Jett/Cherie Curry biopic starring Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart. Have a goo to find out her verdict!

• Oh yes!  Our mistress of the code managed to sort out the bugs which were causing Gaelick’s front page to look a right mess on the iPhone.

It should be all better now – let us know if you’ve any problems with it!

• Oh, us gays and gossip. There were rumours flying around that President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, was considering referring the Civil Partnership Bill to the Supreme Court, rather than signing it into law right away.

But, after all that, sign it she did. One of our readers, Soapie, gives her thoughts about the Civil Partnership Act.

What do you think about the Civil Partnership law? You can vote and comment in our latest poll.

• There was news of the EuroPride celebrations in Warsaw going off, but not exactly without a hitch.

The events courageously and proudly went ahead, despite anti-gay protests which included petitions to stop the parade, and pelting participants with eggs, stones, rockets and used nappies.

• There was news, via Activelink, of a conference taking place in Kerry, on the issue of violence against women and children.

The conference is hosted by Open Door Network, and takes place on 19th November 2010.

• Wednesay saw the launch of LGBT Diversity, a nationwide project to build strength in and support for LGBT communities beyond Ireland’s cities.

• There was much love, too, for the women who don’t conform to pretty-girl stereotypes: butch, trans, boi, genderqueer. How ever you identify, we love it.

• There was the unfortunate news of the technical glitch affecting the nominations for this year’s GALAS Awards.

All of the data were sadly lost, so if you had voted before Friday, make sure you do so again!

Related posts:

1. Gaelick highlights
2. Gaelick highlights
3. The abuse of “conscience” to defend inequality

The Roman Catholic church at every level of its hierarchy has a recent and consistent history of warning the world of some unspecified dangers of homosexuality. It is significant that this coincides with the revelations of endemic child abuse throughout the Roman Catholic church, historically and geographically.

Skipping between his views of “morals,” the Irish constitution, and “democracy,” Twomey’s argument against the Civil Partnership Bill is wide-ranging, but struggles to stand up to scrutiny.

His references to “collusion” and Nazism are at once dangerous, amusing and probably mis-placed coming from a member of the Roman Catholic clergy. It’s certainly an emotional subject, not least because so many homosexuals were persecuted and murdered by Nazis and their collaborators; but also due to the implied assertion that granting same-sex relationships some recognition in the Irish statute-book (far short of equality) is somehow “totalitarian.”

For regular users of the internet, this kind of argument is comically known as “Godwin’s Law” and is regularly employed in an attempt to silence critics.

For a member of the Roman Catholic clergy to employ it, however, is at best ill-judged. Yes, we have heard the disputed claims of Pope Pius XII’s connections with Hitler’s regime. We have also heard of the very much undisputed savagery of the Roman Catholic church in what is now Croatia, and their vociferous, public support of the brutal Ustaše regime. No priest, bishop or archbishop acts alone or against Papal authority in the Roman Catholic hierarchy, yet there they are, photographed for posterity.

I would like to know where is the centrality of conscience here?

In 1986, the current Pope Benedict XVI, then writing as Cardinal Ratzinger, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (a Vatican institution formerly known as the Inquisition) wrote to all bishops in a letter “on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons”. Beyond its opening line, “Homosexualitatis problema,” the letter states:

But the proper reaction to crimes committed against homosexual persons should not be to claim that the homosexual condition is not disordered. When such a claim is made and when homosexual activity is consequently condoned, or when civil legislation is introduced to protect behaviour to which no one has any conceivable right, neither the Church nor society at large should be surprised when other distorted notions and practices gain ground, and irrational and violent reactions increase.

Can Fr Twomey point to the centrality of conscience here?

Turning to the Constitution, it is unsurprising that the Roman Catholic church in Ireland would seek to preserve our founding document in the permafrost of 1937, with all its influences of John Charles McQuaid and co. We are far from that time and therefore the Constitution should be read as a living document, as it was in McGee v The Attorney General. I understand, however, that the role of interpreting the Constitution remains solely in the hands of the Supreme Court of this country, so neither I nor anyone else should ever presume to usurp that role.

Accordingly, the legislature must ensure that every piece of legislation falls within the bounds of the Constitution, and we have been assured by the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern, that the provisions relating to same-sex relationships are not at all like marriage (if you’re a member of the Select Oireachtas Committee on Justice); or that they are just like marriage (if you’re party to a same-sex relationship).

What is fascinating, however, is that the Roman Catholic church makes no comment in relation to the provisions affecting cohabiting heterosexual couples: surely, to remove the need for civil marriage by providing for automatic rights and obligations, this serves to undermine the institution of marriage? The religious sacrament of marriage, of course, remains entirely unaffected by the Bill.

Can the centrality of conscience be found here? Or perhaps double standards? Or worse, simple discrimination?

It is striking that Fr Twomey would seek to equate the Roman Catholic church with a defender of democratic principles. As every good theologian should know, democratic principles are not directly compatible with Roman Catholic hierarchy, and its dogma reflects that. This is not a controversial point, but rather a fundamental starting point, from which Roman Catholic teaching flows. Certainly, Pope Benedict XVI is no friend of liberation theologists, preferring a regression to the pre-Vatcian II church norms. Simply leafing through the pages of the “Proceedings of the Workshop on: Democracy” from December 1996 enhances one’s understanding. Indeed, historically, the establishment of democracy in Europe – through the French Revolution – was extremely bloody for members of the Catholic clergy as well as for so many others.

Can the centrality of conscience be found here? Or is this espousing of democratic values an example of mental reservation?

And so, to morals. Thankfully, this nation is governed by the carefully considered rule of law, rather than arbitrary morals. Thus, while laws may become outdated or otherwise require modification from time to time, there is a legislative procedure to do so. On the other hand, if undefined “morals” are our guidance, this nation would be governed by aribitrary whims, be it the questionable morals of those in the financial and banking sectors; or the morals of those who see fit to take the law into their own hands; or of those who see fit to telephone Joe Duffy about every conceivable outrage; or of the myriad religious faiths, denominations and interpretations; or of those who see fit to perpetrate, protect and conceal child abuse and genocide.

Update:

• A response to Fr Twomey’s article from Angela Kerins of the Equality Authority appears in today’s Irish Times, here.

Related posts:

1. Bishops again get their spake in on Civil Partnership
2. Civil Partnership Bill 2009 – Mary A and the Supremes
3. Gaelick Highlights

Not content with seeking to influence the workings of government and the legislature, they are now trying to interfere with internal party machinations: in calling for a “free vote” in respect of the Civil Partnership Bill, the bishops are demanding that Ireland’s elected political parties abandon the whip: effectively calling on parties to abandon the party line on this particular policy issue.

(They’re regurgitating the florists’ cop-out, too, this time in respect of registrars, who are civil servants – employed by the State – and who are obliged to carry out their functions.)

The bishops are also claiming to be able to correctly interpret the Constitution of this State when they say that the Civil Partnership Bill is unconstitutional. A Department of Justice and Law Reform spokesman has this morning rejected this claim, and let’s face it no-one with a brain in their heads could possibly regard civil partnerships as unconstitutional. The provisions in the Bill concerning cohabitation, however, might be another matter. Nonetheless, interpreting the Constitution is the exclusive domain of the Supreme Court of Ireland.

Still, it’s not a secret that the Roman Catholic church is opposed to the principle of democracy. This is not a controversial statement. It’s a principle of Roman Catholic dogma so fundamental that it’s taken for granted.

Isn’t there a provision in the Constitution outlawing subversion and sedition? Oh yes. The Catholic hierarchy should be familiar with it – it’s in the provision outlawing blasphemy:

6. 1° The State guarantees liberty for the exercise of the following rights, subject to public order and morality:

i. The right of the citizens to express freely their convictions and opinions.

[…]

The publication or utterance of blasphemous, seditious, or indecent matter is an offence which shall be punishable in accordance with law.

Enactment of Civil Partnership legislation

RTÉ’s Joe Little reported on today’s Morning Ireland on when we can expect the Civil Partnership Bill to become law. Around Pride? August-September? Who’s to say…

Mr Ahern’s spokesman conceded that because of a log-jam of Bills, the Minister anticipated a possible delay until the autumn in the measure becoming law.

However, the Green Party spokesman forecast that it would be enacted within three weeks before the summer recess begins.

• You can read more on Civil Partnerships on this blog here.

• You can follow the discussion of Civil Partnerships on Twitter using the #cpbill hashtag.

Related posts:

1. Civil Partnership Bill 2009 – Mary A and the Supremes
2. The abuse of “conscience” to defend inequality
3. Civil Partnership Bill 2009 – Committee Stage resumed

The countries – including Egypt, Sudan, Qatar, Pakistan, China, Russia, Angola and Burundi – are members of a committee in the UN who decide which non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can be accredited to the UN. Other countries on the committee who supported the NGO include the US, the UK, and Romania. Turkey abstained from the vote.

(It’s not clear how the remaining committee members voted: Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Guinea, India, Israel and Peru.)

[update]
Sara in the comments tells us of how the remaining committee members voted: Colombia, Israel and Peru voted against the motion of no-action. Guinea & Cuba voted for it. Dominica was absent when the vote was taken. India abstained.
[end update]

The IGLHRC (International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission) was seeking accreditation to the important Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The vote has prevented the committee from making a decision on accepting the IGLHRC’s accreditation. Accreditation allows organisations to make representations to the UN on human rights issues within their expertise.

Reuters quoted the head of the IGLHRC:

“IGLHRC is disappointed by the vote of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations to block action on our application,” Cary Alan Johnson, head of the New York-based group, said in a statement to Reuters.

[...]

Johnson said it was “a clear case of discrimination against an organization because it defends the human rights of LGBT people around the world and promotes non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.”

Radio Netherlands Worldwide has an audio interview with Johnson, here.

[update 2]
The LGBT Intergroup, a committee of the European Parliament, made the following statement to Gaelick via Twitter:

We deplore conservative countries’ attitude; we count on EU countries to further help IGLHRC get the consultative status.

[end update]

The UN was was established as a result of World War II and its atrocities, including the atrocities perpetrated against minorities, the marginalised, and political dissedents, among others; and following the relatively short-lived League of Nations (itself set up following World War I). Eleanor Roosevelt played a crucial role in the formation of the UN, and was instrumental in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The records of those trying to halt the work of the IGLHRC on gay rights are pretty appalling.

In Egypt, homosexual behaviour is not specifically criminalised. Since the beginning of this century, however, the authorities have used “Public Order & Public Morals” laws dating from the 1990s to persecute homosexuals. Famously, the authorities raided a boat party on the Nile in Cairo, charging 52 men with violating vaguely-worded laws, such as “violating the teachings of religion”, “propagating depraved ideas”, “contempt of religion” and “moral depravity.”

Sudan jailed a woman, Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein, in 2009 after she refused to pay a fine for wearing trousers. Earlier in the same year, several women who were arrested with her were subjected to “lashes” for the same supposed crime. The laws in Sudan are based on Shari’ah. The penalty for homosexual behaviour is death.

The death penalty is also applied in Qatar for same-sex relationships between both males and females.

In Pakistan, homosexuality is outlawed under both colonial laws which remain in force, and under Islamic laws. Islamic law applies particularly in the tribal areas near the border with Afghanistan, which are effectively autonomous.

China appears to have a complicated relationship with homosexuality. There are no laws explicitly criminalising homosexual behaviour. Until now, however, gays and lesbians were barely tolerated. This vote appears to clarify matters on how Chinese officialdom views gay rights.

Homosexual acts were decriminalised in Russia in 1993. There are no protections under law for LGBTs, however. The authorities in Russia – notably in Moscow – have in recent years cracked down, often violently, on attempts to hold Pride marches. This year’s Pride march took place only due to the organisers releasing false details of the event.

Homosexual acts are criminalised in Angola as “an offense against public morality”. The penalty for “repeat offenders” is to be sentenced to a labour camp. Earlier this year, Angola refused to accept the Ambassador for Israel, Isi Yanouka, due to the fact that he is a gay man.

In 2008, Burundi criminalised homosexuality when the president, Pierre Nkurunziza, secretly signed the legislation into law. Those convicted face imprisonment of two to three years and a fine of 50,000 to 100,000 Burundian francs (42 to 84 US dollars).

The Vatican and the Organisation of Islamic Countries hold observer status at the UN.

Related posts:

1. Civil Partnership Bill 2009 – Committee Stage resumed
2. Human Rights for All
3. The abuse of “conscience” to defend inequality

The good

As part of marking IDAHO, a Great Global Kiss-In was organised, and appears to have generated a massive response, with thousands of participants across the world – and still growing!

If you have participated – or would like to – Gays.com are continuing to accept everyone’s photies and videos, by email (to idaho@gays.com) or upload (at gays.com or their YouTube group) – or you can simply tag photos on Flickr with ‘GreatGlobalKissin’.

Oh, and word has reached us thatGays.com are giving away some t-shirts to the best entrants (pics and vids), so let that motivate ya.

And to round off the whole thing for posterity, a fabulous super-video is being compiled, with as many of the kiss-ins from the 40-odd locations around the world.  It makes me think of Travelling Matt, only gayer.

In other good news coinciding with IDAHO . . .

Yay! No sooner has the country’s door hit Il Papa Ratzy on the arse on his way out (see below), but Portugal’s President, Anibal Cavaco Silva, swiftly signed a law allowing for civil marriage of persons of the same sex.  It seems that the country’s Prime Minister, José Sócrates, promised to have the legislation signed into law after the pontiff’s visit – and they didn’t hang around!  If you’re a Lusophile – that is, a speaker of Portuguese – check out some great videos here, here e here.  (And if you can translate them, even better – let us know!)

To celebrate – and since our own government insists on denying us equality here – why not celebrate by participating in International Same-Sex Hand Holding Week this week?  Okay, the name doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue, but it’s the perfect complimentary activity if you’re going for a Kiss-In – or, indeed, it’s something that is feasible if you can’t find your local Kiss-In or if it’s just not safe to be so bold.

The bad

In terrible news, Malawi couple – Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20 – have been convicted by a court of “unnatural acts and gross indecency”. The judge in the court stated that the charge had been proven “beyond a reasonable doubt” by the prosecution. Which is disturbing, given that the men were arrested for conducting a commitment ceremony together. The wider implications for the country and the region are causing concern for LGBT and HIV/AIDS activists, who fear that the ruling may push LGBT people “underground” and may make people more reluctant to come forward for advice and treatment for HIV/AIDS. Steven and Tiwonge have been detained since their arrest in December. They have been subjected to beatings during their detention. They will receive their sentence tomorrow.

You can take action via Amnesty International’s UK office.

Closer to home, Bulgaria has been classed by member of its LGBT community as the most homophobic country in the EU.  Data from the EU’s Eurobarometer was cited to provide examples of discriminatory attitudes by employers, and of refusal of applications for refugee status based on sexual orientation.  Lithuania could give Bulgaria a run for its money, with hysterical heteros getting their knickers in a twist over a handful of queers going for a walk.  You can watch the locals and neo-Nazis of Vilnius getting apopleptic here.

In Turkey – a potential candidate for EU memberships – a number of trans people and activists were beaten, and were arrested and detained by police in the capital, Ankara.  ILGA-Europe provides an account in English of the events that took place:

Transgenders who are members of Pink Life Association were arrested after being brutally beaten up in Ankara. On the night of May 17th, in Esat district, Ankara police brutally attacked and dragged 5 transgenders to the Esat Police Station.

Police’s response to those who called the station was “Why do you care about these? Mind your own work.” 5 trangender individuals were kept at the station till morning.

Arrested 5 transgenders were later taken to medical jurisprudence as a result of insisting demand of Pink Life and Kaos GL members and after lawyers showed up at the police station. After medical jurisprudence controls, 5 transgenders were again taken to the police station, where they were released at 06:00.

If the other European countries mentioned above are anything to go by, Turkey’s application for EU membership should be a cake-walk, so.

The fugly

I alluded to him earlier on in this post – yes, it’s everyone’s favourite Pope Nazinger.  Shortly before marriage equality was signed into law in Portugal, Joseph (aka Benedict) launched another verbal attack on the gays.  He thinks that marriage equality and a woman’s control over her own body – or, as he might put it, gay marriage and abortion – were among the “most insidious and dangerous challenges that today confront the common good.”

What’s the matter, Joseph?  Worldwide and systemic child rape and abuse, and cover-up, is not insidious and dangerous enough for you?  Or are you just spinning wildly against the gays in another predictable attempt to distract from just that very issue?

• So, what’s been happening elsewhere during these past few days? Were there any events taking place in your neck of the woods?

Related posts:

1. IDAHO 2010
2. March for Marriage 2010
3. Countries try to ban gay rights NGO from UN

What is this IDAHO? Well, here’s an explanation:

In 2004, Louis-Georges Tin, university professor, intellectual, and homosexual rights activist, took the initiative of launching a International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, and founded the IDAHO Committee, an international association aiming at developing this initiative.

[...]

The Day has been launched with the idea of creating a worldwide community of activists and committed people, sharing the ideal of a world without homophobia nor transphobia in which everyone can freely choose their own sex life and gender identity.

The date, 17th May, is chosen as this is the date in 1990 that the World Health Organisation (WHO) removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders.  The day is officially recognised in certain countries, too, which is fairly remarkable. Perhaps Ireland needs to catch up on such a radical notion.

To mark IDAHO, this year sees the Great Global Kiss-In take place. Co-ordinated by Gays.com, the idea is for every country – if not every major city – in the world to see a big ol’ snog-fest take place place at a recognisable landmark. Think flash-mob with smooches.

This year for the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia, we want YOUR help in organising kiss-ins like this in major cities around the world between May 14-17 — that’s the weekend before IDAHO2010!

Gay, straight, black, white — whatever you look like and whatever your political stripes are — as long as you believe in love and equality for ALL people everywhere, we want you to join us in a kiss-in near where you are.

Details will be up soon on this very website, but if you think you can help us put together a kiss-in in your city, don’t hesitate and write to us at idaho@gays.com!

If there isn’t an event taking place near you, the organisers are encouraging people to send in photos or videos of themselves and their kissing partner locking lips.

Unfortunately, I haven’t heard word of a Kiss-In taking place in Ireland – but if you know of something happening this weekend or during the week, let us know in the comments or by email!

There are, however, inclusive events taking place in Dublin, Cork and Belfast, organised by Changing Attitude Ireland (CAI). The details are:

Sunday, 16th May 2010

International Day Against Homophobia

Dublin: Christ Church Cathedral, 3.30pm
Belfast: St. George’s Church, 3pm
Cork: St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral, 7pm
A Service on the theme

“OPEN DOORS”

ALL WELCOME
Come with friends and family

www.changingattitudeireland.org

What do you think about IDAHO, about the Kiss-In, and about the CAI events?

Related posts:

1. IDAHO 2010: The good, the bad, the fugly
2. March for Marriage 2010
3. Gaelick Highlights

The IDGTF programme contains the following blurb:

The story the world must not forget. In October 1998 Matthew Shepherd, a gay twenty-one-year-old student at the University of Wyoming was kidnapped, severely beaten and left to die, tied to a fence in the middle of the prairie outside Laramie. Moisés Kaufman and members of Tectonic Theatre Project made six trips to Laramie in the aftermath of the murder and conducted over 200 interviews with the people of the town. This breathtaking theatrical collage explores the depths to which humanity can sink and the heights of compassion of which we are capable. Unabridged.

There is actually nothing I can fault about the play. The 8 actors involved gave phenomenal performances, each playing several characters throughout the production. They moved seamlessly between their characters, using jackets to symbolise which person they were playing.

The Laramie Project is quite possibly the most moving and powerful play I have ever seen. There wasn’t a single dry eye in the theatre after the statement that Denis Shepard (Matthew’s father) read to the court was read out as part of the play.

This play is definitely a must see for all LGBT people.

The International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival runs until the 15^th of May. For details on this week’s productions, download the festival programme here: http://www.gaytheatre.ie/downloads/IDGTF_Brochure_2010.pdf

For more information on IDGTF, go to www.gaytheatre.ie

Related posts:

1. Dublin Gay Theatre Festival
2. Review: Cracks
3. Review: And Then Came Lola

I’d always be one for speaking out and have done in the past, shaming people into realising that they haven’t a bog’s notion of LGBT issues/people. But this was in work, so sensitive, and I was completely unprepared. We are talking about a workplace with a Diversity Committe, so most people are open-minded.

I was at lunch in the canteen with my workmates to whom I am out and open. They are all grand and couldn’t give a monkey’s, just as it should be. However, there were three people sitting at the same long table, chatting away to each other about gays. But it’s ok, because they know gay people.

Some of the choice phrases about gay men:

It must be so hard to meet people as they only have two pubs.

You’d want to be out of your head (implying drugs) to go to these places, they are hardcore

They meet on the internet

There’s always one in the relationship who wants the domestic ideal and one who wants an open relationship

They are so much fun!

The three people in question all said they know gay men. Emmm……no you don’t. The stereotypes they believe and the patronising tone shout out “I met a gay once, he seemed nice” or “I have the Will & Grace box-set”.

No one who has any gay friends would believe any of the above. The scene is pub-centred sure, but gay men don’t all go to boogie in lycra in The George every night. The image of the gay man as addicted to sexual gratification also seems rife, until they ’settle down’, then it’s just the, and I quote, “fairy” in the relationship who wants to bake while the other shags his ass off.

They saved their best for us lezzers though. Prepare for ire – you’ve been warned:

I don’t understand lesbians. They hate men but want to be men

They all have really short hair

I’d love to know a lesbian, just to get the inside track

They’re all feminists

Where do you start? Ok, most lesbians are feminists but not the ball-chopping, kill all men variety. All women are feminists too, by their very insistence for equality.

We hate men. No and I hate this myth! I love men, I love their energy, their sensibility, their balance of fierceness and softness -  I just don’t want to have sex with one. Just like straight women and other women. They’re fab, good mates, great fun and I love many men. Lack of attraction does not equal hate.

We want to be men? No! I am a woman – all woman baby   Being a woman is a powerful thing, there is a primal strength to it that fascinates me. My gender is not an issue.

Cameron Diaz and her lesbian hair

The hair thing, what is it with the hair thing? Ok, some lesbians have short hair, but some straight woman have short hair, some lesbians have long hair, some straight women have long hair, some lesbians have medium-length….

My favourite. “I’d love to know a lesbian, just to get the inside track”. What? How dare you! Would you like to know a black person, an American person, an Indian person oh! a person of mixed-race just to spice it up a little?

The thing that really gets my goat is that these three people would never in a million years consider themselves to be homophobic. They wouldn’t shout “fag!” at us in the street and probably think we deserve the same rights as they do. Gee thanks. It’s a pity that thought and understanding aren’t on their list.

Let’s not straight-bash though. I was angry and ranted to my workmate about it. Her thoughts “it’s pure ignorance, you can’t educate everyone”. I know she’s right, but maybe I had the opportunity to educate these three people and let that chance pass, just so I didn’t make my workmates, or myself, uncomfortable.

What do you think? Shout loud or blog in anger? I know I should’ve said something, being afraid to leave my comfort zone just isn’t good enough. I think that I was so shocked I was dumb. What should I have said?

Related posts:

1. Homophobes Apologise to Johnny
2. US Military: Lesbians more likely to be dismissed
3. The Beauty of Online Dating

One of the main aims of the Week is to encourage non-LGBT people – young people, project workers, youth centres, schools – to show support for their LGBT friends.

As part of the Awareness Week, BeLonG To are focusing on youth projects and centres in Ireland to participate in the planned activities. The hope is to expand the campaign to include schools all over Ireland next year in 2011.

As any Irish person knows – especially LGBT pupils and teachers – this is especially important in a country where the Roman Catholic church has control over the majority of schools, and have an exemption when it comes to equality.

Notably, today saw the launch of Console’s Snow Drop campaign to help raise funds for their suicide bereavement and prevention services. At the launch, Anna Nolan raised the pressing issue of homophobic bullying and young peoples’ mental health:

[Homophobic] bullying remains a serious problem in Ireland – driving some teenagers to consider taking their own lives, former Big Brother star and television presenter Anna Nolan warned today.

The broadcaster said younger people dealing with their sexuality can be plunged into suicidal thoughts because of taunting.

Ms Nolan said those behind the bullying were putting lives at risk.

“Teenagers who feel isolated and threatened can be prone to suicidal thoughts,” she said.

[...]

“A young person’s mental health can become affected if they feel animosity, non-acceptance, ridicule and fear when telling others about being gay,” she said. “They need support and acceptance.”

Religious deference aside, research from the University of Limerick in February this year showed that of almost 2,000 parents surveyed, the vast majority wanted bullying to be tackled by including discussion of homophobia on the school curriculum:

The research of almost 2,000 parents found that the majority wanted the issue of homophobia on the curriculum because of widespread bullying in schools. Three-quarters of parents indicated that they would trust their sons’ teachers to deal with sexual orientation and homophobia in the classroom.

Researchers visited 120 Irish schools surveying 1,915 parents and conducting follow-up calls to 24 randomly selected families. They found that sexuality and homophobia were major issues, with many parents and teens struggling to cop with the pressures surrounding them.

The vast majority (93pc) of the 1,915 parents surveyed described themselves as Roman Catholic. The study, entitled ‘Gender and Education’, was written by Orla McCormack and Jim Gleeson from the University of Limerick’s department of education and professional studies.

To prepare for Stand Up! LGBT Awareness Week, training sessions and workshops have been taking place nationwide throughout the month of March, to equip youth leaders and project workers and help them to participate fully with the Week; as well as resource packs being sent out to youth projects and schools. During the Awareness Week, youth workers can select activities from the pack, and use them with young people on day(s) that suit.

For information about the campaign, BeLonG To, and resources for the parents of LGBT people, please peruse the following links:

• Stand Up! launch (Facebook page)

• Stand Up! LGBT Awareness Week (BeLonG To website)

• Stand Up! LGBT Awareness Week (Facebook page)

• BeLonG To (Twitter. The Twitter hashtag for Stand Up is #standup)

• BeLonG To

• BeLonG To (Facebook page)

• Loving Our Out Kids (LOOK) (Formerly “Parents Support”)

Related posts:

1. Growing Up Gay
2. Educating the Educators
3. BeLonG To Website Launch

As a football fan I have to admit that the game does take over a lot of my life.  If you look at the calendar on my phone you will see I have all of Arsenal’s televised games in there, just to make sure I don’t tell someone I can see them on those days, football comes first after all.  Everyday I go onto the news websites and worry about the next game.  Anyone who supports any team in any sport can relate to this.

I spend quiet a lot of my time defending football to those of you who follow GAA, rugby or other contact sports.  I defend the “simulations” in the box, I try to defend those pathetic players who crumble as though they have been shot simply because someone brushed against them, I defend it all.  However, I have now, for the first time in my life, come up against the indefensible and for the first time in my life I am ashamed of my sport.

The football association (FA) have been forced to cancel the release of a video aimed at eliminating homophobia from the game.  Why?  As they could not get any footballing stars to appear in it!  I have to say I am beyond disappointed.  For this reason the FA had to rethink their video, eventually coming up with this.

Homophobia at some football grounds is a real problem and it must be stamped out.  It’s not that long ago since arrests were made when Spurs played Portsmouth.  The FA have planned this video for two years and now this.  It’s heart breaking.

Graeme Le Saux, the former England and Chelsea defender, is hetrosexual, but he was never into the “laddish” side of the game.  In his autobiography he wrote,

I was like a bullied kid on his way to school to face his tormentors

What kind of a way is this for adults to behave? It happens in many work places but footballers are looked up to by children and as such must behave with some amount of respect and decorum.  There are around 4,000 professional footballers in England and Wales and not one is out.  That is just crazy in this day and age. Let’s hope that out stars like GAA player Donal Og Cusack and rugby legend Gareth Thomas can lead the way for some football players.

So what can clubs do about it?  I know that at Arsenal, if you hear any racist or homophobic chanting you can text the seat number and a steward will arrive on the spot, never acknowledging you in any way as the person who text.  I have no doubt that other stadiums have similar procedures. This kind of thing does seem more prevalent in certain clubs though and one can only hope that those clubs are doing something about it.

It appears that they won’t be getting any help from their stars.

UPDATE: I found this link of the BBC website, it’s about the campiagn and well worth a look

Related posts:

1. Hundreds at anti-homophobia vigil
2. Jesus Datalo in trouble for Gay Mag Pictures
3. World Cup Lovers

Nobody is denying that gay blogs, media outlets and the community in general have latched on to this story and others like it, giving column inches (virtual and otherwise) to each excruciating and salacious detail. There would be no point in denying that. Nor can we claim, as the mainstream media do, that the financial allegations are the primary public interest here. No, for the gay media and community, the minutiae of sexual impropriety are indeed central to our interest.

Are we, as gay people, simply more honest about our interest in all things sexual? Are we all drama queens? Is our delight at the age of Iris Robinson’s lover an indication that we simply love to be shocked? Are we singularly obsessed with the sex lives of public figures?

Well, maybe a little bit! However…

These scandals afford us the opportunity to point to a truth: that homophobia is morally suspect and is largely espoused by people who are likely to be less than moral in other areas of their lives as well.

Although the anti-gay and ex-gay movements are the causes célèbres of the right wing and fundamentalists, homophobia is in no way a Biblically honest position. If they were adhering to strict Biblical standards, they wouldn’t be focusing on the gays to the exclusion of divorce, adultery, women who refuse to wear head coverings in deference to their husbands, etc. Homophobia, transphobia and anti-choice movements are so popular because the “opponents” in these battles — gays, transpeople and women in crisis pregnancies — are seen as easy targets, and because they are minorities, fair game.

It is vital that people see that homophobes refuse to be judged by their own standards, and fail miserably even held against the basic standards of honesty and trust.

To be clear, I don’t think that all people who disagree with homosexuality are homophobic per se. Opinions are allowed, and must be. In this situation, disagreeing with homosexual behaviour becomes homophobic and immoral when a person with power and influence is happy to say hateful things about a vulnerable group of people, ignoring the devastating impact their words can have.

Homophobic individuals also attempt to impose their religious or other beliefs as law, even if the resulting legislation will create inequality and/or hardship for gay people and the status quo had no negative effect on themselves or other non-gay people whatsoever. These attitudes are egocentric, narcissistic and wantonly sadistic — not exactly the words that one would print on campaign posters.

Are we surprised when someone who is careless with comparing homosexuals to child molesters turns out to be on the take? Is negligence to the safety and dignity of one’s constituents that far from skimming a bit off the top? Is a total lack of respect for your own marital vows a huge leap from denying the right to those vows to an entire group of people, when allowing that right would have no impact on your life or the lives of non-gay people at all?

When a homophobe falls from grace and shows her or his true colours, it’s our opportunity as a community to say, “there you go. This is what people like that do.” We get the chance to show people that homophobia is dishonest and very much a sign of serious moral weakness that will ultimately show itself in other ways.

Related posts:

1. Stand Up!
2. Should heterosexuals face execution?
3. Elena Kagan? Who’s Elena Kagan?

Unless you’ve been under a rock (or several feet of snow) during the past week, you will be aware that Iris Robinson has been caught in a big, giant, public tangle of scandalous revelations woven by none other than herself.

On 6th January, UTV broke the story that Iris Robinson had been having an affair and that there were questions over expenses and financial dealings. The programme broadcast two separate statements from Iris Robinson and from her husband, Peter Robinson. Who also happens to be First Minister of the Northern Ireland Assembly, and leader of the DUP.

The following night, BBC Northern Ireland’s Spotlight broadcast their investigative report, based on revelations from individuals who had direct dealings with the Mrs. Robinson, including her former adviser, Selwyn Black; and her former lover, Kirk McCambley.

Now, some people may say that it’s a very ugly exercise, to lower oneself to the level of taking pleasure in someone else’s misfortune. Well, I say bollocks. This whole shitstorm in which Iris Robinson finds herself is brilliant. The woman is a gross, hypocritical gee-bag.

Fun Iris Robinson facts

This is the woman who has offered to recommend homosexuals for therapy (what, like “Pray the gay away”?!). In the same week that a man was badly beaten in a gay-bashing incident, she stated that homosexuality is “an abomination” and makes her feel sick. Later, she said in parliament:

“There can be no viler act, apart from homosexuality and sodomy, than sexually abusing innocent children”

I wonder what makes her feel sicker now: the gays, or this week of horrendous publicity she’s received? It’s actually funny that she refers to homosexuality being an abomination, when Leviticus makes far more statements admonishing adulterers than queers (and even the latter is disputed by scholars).

Also, I’m not surprised that she ranks the gays as being worse than child abusers: she was shagging a teenager. Whom she’d known since he was aged 9. And, after comforting him at the death of his father, she said that she’d like him to be another son to her and for her to be a mother to him. And then she, at the age of 59, shagged him. When he was 19. You sick, oedipal freak-woman!

Reports in today’s Sunday Tribune and The Sunday Life (a tabloid published by The Belfast Telegraph) now allege that she had affairs with two other men – one described as a fellow DUP member, and one described either as “a former shopkeeper” or as Billy McCambley, the late father of Kirk McCambley.

While a member of a local authority, Mrs Robinson secured £50,000 from two developers, in order to set up his business. McCambley claims that she demanded £5,000 in cash from him, which she used to clear her debts.

After McCambley ended the relationship, Robinson demanded the money back from him. Initially, Robinson asked Selwyn Black to obtain two cheques from McCambley: one to be made out to her, and one to be made out to the church of which she’s a member, the Light ‘n’ Life Church.

McCambley is younger than Iris Robinson’s own two sons. McCambley’s mother is younger than Iris.

And now, the end is near

Since the scandal broke, Iris is due to step down from her seats in both Westminster and Stormont, and most recently has been pushed out of the DUP. Her husband’s position as First Minister – and possibly leader of the DUP – is uncertain. The Tribune also reports today that former DUP leader, Ian Paisley, is livid. UTV today reports that the church founded by Paisley, the Free Presbyterian Church, has split.

I’d say they’re not so much “the swish family Robinson” anymore (“swindle family Robinson”? Or, “sleaze family Robinson?”). In your hypocritical, lying shitting faces, you high-and-mighty, judgemental, faux-pious, holier-than-though arseholes.

I’m sure there are smiles on the faces of gays across Ireland and the UK (and I’d imagine on plenty of northern Catholic or nationalist faces, too). The whole thing is delicious!

Haven’t had enough of this wonderful story? A second BBC investigation, this time by the Panorama team, into Iris Robinson’s affair and her financial dealings will be screened tomorrow, Monday, 11th January 2010 at 8:30pm on BBC One.

Related posts:

1. Why we love a good fall from grace (and why that’s ok)
2. IDAHO 2010
3. Cool Talk

(For background reading, have a read of Ugandan ‘Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009’ Proposed.)

Since outrage at the (original) poll, a BBC sub-editor (the director of the BBC World Service) issued an apology-that’s-really-an-excuse:

The original headline on our website was, in hindsight, too stark. We apologise for any offence it caused. But it’s important that this does not detract from what is a crucial debate for Africans and the international community.

The programme was a legitimate and responsible attempt to support a challenging discussion about proposed legislation that advocates the death penalty for those who undertake certain homosexual activities in Uganda – an important issue where the BBC can provide a platform for debate that otherwise would not exist across the continent and beyond.

Oh. Oh, the headline was “too stark”. “Sorry if you were too overly sensitive to get upset by it.” “Sorry if you were too overly sensitive, but this is a legitimate question to ask: whether state-sanctioned murder of people based solely on their sexual behaviour is a good idea.” Oh, I see.

Not, “It shouldn’t even be regarded as something for discussion whether homosexuals should be murdered by the state.” Or not, “We apologise for the initial question for discussion, which led to a litany of horrific homophobia to be aired on our website.”

So, if the BBC thinks this is a legitimate question to ask, let’s logically pose the converse question:

Related posts:

1. Civil Partnership Bill 2009 – Report Stage
2. Civil Partnership Bill 2009 – Committee Stage resumed
3. Civil Partnership Bill 2009 – Dáil Debate

We arrived at the Bull & Castle, a place we go to regularly, in Dublin’s Christchurch. We had a drink upstairs while waiting for a table and for our other friends to arrive. They came, we gabbed away and the four of us went down to our table. All good in the hood.

We chatted away, ate a lovely meal and were having a nice evening when my partner went to the bar. She ordered some drinks and the barman said to her “you and your friends would want to watch the Fs and Jesus Christs”. She was so shocked that she mumbled something, came back to the table and told us. At first we thought it was hilarious, and were joking about it at which time the couple at the table beside us, got up suddenly and left.

Now, we weren’t loud, rowdy, or cursing that much, just talking as anyone does with their mates. We’ve been thinking about it since and maybe the couple who left so abruptly were offended by our conversation, which was about gay stuff. Nothing bigoted, nothing overtly sexual, just chat. Did they go to the barman and complain? I dunno.

Maybe it had nothing to do with them and it was because I kissed my partner. Once on the cheek. Did the barman take offense to this and wanted us to leave? Again, I dunno.

Maybe the barman just hates cursing. Well then, buddy, you’re in the wrong job.

I sent two emails to The Bull & Castle about this and have heard nothing since. So, am I being gay-paranoid, or was this aversion to the F word an excuse to get us to leave? What do you think?

No related posts.

This kind of news is sickening and the frequency with which we read such stories really tells us what a long road we have still to travel. However, I was delighted to see the positive reaction of the Mersyside people as they attended a candlelit vigil against homophobia in large numbers. At the scene of the attack 1,500 people turned out to lend their presence to make a stand that this kind of thing should never be tolerated by any society.

‘Friends of Liverpool Gay Community and Scene’ representative Carl Alderdice has said

We had councillors, MPs, young and old and gay and straight. James’ partner Tom came and he spoke about looking forward to James being back on the streets in his job.

It’s wonderful to see all these various types of people join the LGBTQ community at times like this and showing support. Sometimes we can forget all the straight people out there who are horrified that things like this can happen and are willing to take to the streets and make that known. Many marches/parades/vigils here in Ireland are well attended by the straights and I for one welcome them with open arms.

Mr Parkes partner has said

He knows nothing about the incident, it is just a complete blank in his mind, its probably due to the severity of his injuries and its probably a good thing that he doesn’t…… It is going to take us some time before we pluck up the courage to go back out and enjoy ourselves with our friends

Mr Parkes left hospital on Friday and will hopefully recover from his injuries soon. What he and his partner went through is disgusting and affects us all. Violence against any person is violence against every person and it is up to everyone, regardless of colour, creed, sexuality, gender or anything else, to fight against it in all its forms.

I’m sure Mr Parkes will make a wonderful police officer when he is back on the streets and wish him well.

• Previously on Gaelick: It is what it is: Tracing the logic of homophobia

Related posts:

1. FA’s Anti-Homophobia Video Snubbed by Stars
2. It is what it is: Tracing the logic of homophobia
3. IDAHO 2010

(Her article appeared in the UK edition of the Mail, but not the Irish edition. Clearly, the tiny-minded powers that be in that rag continue to think little of the Irish – we can access to your website, you know.)

Moir issued a few mealy-mouthed words of self-pitying “apology” shortly after literally thousands of comments, Twitter and Facebook messages, and blog posts poured scorn on her assertions (she was the victim of an organised internet campaign, apparently). Now that she’s sufficiently and callously “raised her profile”, the stupid bitch has done a Brenda Power and cobbled together her follow-up article purporting to include an apology to Gately’s family members and then proceeding to basically defend her original article. (“Absolutely none of this had anything to do with his sexuality. If he had been a heterosexual member of a boy band, I would have written exactly the same article.” Bullshit.)

And no, I’m not linking to the latest article. Off you go to Google, if you want to give the paper the traffic.

Notwithstanding the disgusting comments in her piece last week, this is more than about Jan Moir, however.

A report in yesterday’s Guardian cited research by the Metropolitan Police showing an increase of 20% in reported homophobic crimes in London over the past year. Policing and relations between LGBT people and the police appear to have improved; however homophobic crimes appear to be on the rise. Homophobic crime has also skyrocketed in recent times in Northern Ireland, including serious threats and violence.

In the 26 counties of Ireland, there are many Garda LGBT Liaison Officers nationwide, and they do sterling work – within the limits they are prescribed, however. The organ of the State for which they work – An Garda Síochána – does not see fit to record crimes as homophobic or hate crimes. Therefore, unlike in the UK, there is no official way of understanding levels of crimes and abuse based on actual or perceived homophobia. (This is last I checked, by the way. I would be delighted to be corrected on this.)

Instead, we can only rely on anecdotes and surveys by interested organisations to provide us with indications.

What is certain, however, is that certain people in society need very little to ignite whatever malice and latent violence that exists within them. Words light a spark, then inflame and turn this destructive feeling into a roaring ball of hate fire, blazing unchecked and unmediated across society.

This is not intended to add any further pain to Gately’s loved ones, by referring to him in yet another online opinion. Nor, indeed, is this is about the Jan Moirs or Brenda Powers of the world. And certainly, this is not about silencing those who preach homophobia.

This is, however, about speaking – as loudly as possible – to those preachers, to name their vicious polemics for what they are; and to plainly set out the undeniable logic which runs between thinly-veiled, mealy-mouthed homophobia, right through the spectrum of such phobia, to its violent manifestation resulting in injury and killings.

And no amount of poor-mouth non-apologies from the authors of homophobic diatribes will detract from that.

Related posts:

1. Hundreds at anti-homophobia vigil
2. FA’s Anti-Homophobia Video Snubbed by Stars
3. Stand Up!

Ugandan MP David Bahati is trying to get a bill through that would create a new law against “aggravated homosexuality”.  If this bill becomes law it could lead to some homosexuals being subject to the death penalty.  On October 10th Mr Bahati introduced his ‘Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009’ which proposes that if a person is found guilty of homosexual acts with a person with a disability or any person under 18 years of age they would be executed.  It also says that if a person with HIV/AIDS is found to be having gay sex they should be put to death, interestingly this punishment does not extend to heterosexual sex even if the person is infected.

Homosexual sex is illegal in Uganda but Mr Bahati feels that this new bill is necessary to protect the family.  I think I’ve heard that before! Scott Long, director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program at Human Rights Watch has said:

“This draft bill is clearly an attempt to divide and weaken civil society by striking at one of its most marginalized groups, the government may be starting here, but who will be next?”

It’s bad enough that LGBTQ people are arrested and beaten without taking away even more rights.  I’m sick of people talking about trying to hault the “promotion” of homosexuality, for God’s sake, it makes me sick, as if things aren’t bad enough.

Related posts:

1. Faith Schools and Homosexuality
2. Should heterosexuals face execution?
3. Civil Partnership Bill 2009 – Dáil Debate

So this begs the obvious question, do gay men make us lesbians the butt of their jokes too often or is it all a bit of fun?  On the one hand I usually don’t get annoyed when a gay person makes a gay joke, I usually just let it go or even have a good laugh myself.  On the other hand, however, things like this do get between my teeth and make me shake my head.  Let’s be honest, Norton doesn’t exactly have the grace of someone like say, Panti, who could pull off a lesbian joke and more to the point, this particular joke does reinforce the stereotype and he should have known better than to have gone there.  I for one am sick of LGBTQ stereotypes and it’s frustrating in the extreme when we all work so hard to encourage a sense of diversity within our community to then see one of our own say something like this in such a flippant way.

Actress Ruth Jones (Gavin and Stacey) was one of Norton’s guests on the night and she actually called him on it, round of applaus for Ruth.  Jones said

‘She may not be a lesbian, come on now.’

and our Graham decides to dig even deeper by saying

‘You’re right, she could have gone to a very bad hairdresser.’

‘I know I am just saying what does a lesbian look like?’

That

So Norton had a few chances to change his tactic or to see that perhaps not everyone was laughing but the penny didn’t seem to drop.

Lucy Masoud, a journalist on Love Girls, which describes itself as a fun website for gay girls, says

“If you’re seen as being at the bottom of the pile, you want someone to be further below you. In theory, all minority groups should be fighting together. People experiencing racism should be fighting with gay people and disabled people for equality together.”

I have to say that for me Ms Masoud is spot on.  There are gay men who say lesbians are all hard and some lesbians who say all gay men are promiscuous, there are members of our community who make jokes at the expense of transgendered people and others who go as far as to say that bisexuality doesn’t even exist.

So are we an LGBTQ community or are we a bunch of people who can’t see past our own letter?  Is there a sense of togetherness or are we just kidding ourselves?

You can watch the offending piece of the show here:

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2. Lesbians – Are we our own worst enemy?
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Tel Aviv, a secular city, has long been regarded as one of the most open and accepting cities in Israel. This has always been something of a relief to hear from a country where Muslims, Jews and Christians alike vent their visceral hatred of LGBT people. A relief, until now, that is.

In years past, we have seen participants of Jerusalem LGBT Pride celebrations stabbed by an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man. We have heard statements from Muslim and Jewish leaders alike condemn such celebrations and events (including to date). The most recent voiced opposition came not only from religious leaders, but from the Israeli government’s current Interior Minister, Eli Yishai. That condemnation was from the leader of the ultra-Orthodox party, Shas, and was in relation to last month’s pride events – in Tel Aviv.

What is so indicative, and so disturbing, is that in a land where sectarian and ethnic violence dates back (according to protagonists, at least) to many centuries before Christ – in a land where civilians are murdered in their homes, where houses and farm lands are levelled with bulldozers, where civilians are murdered by suicide bombers in the streets – that these two historically and violently opposed groups can come together, overcome all of that, and agree in their hatred of homosexual people: this shows how frighteningly LGBT people are despised by certain sections of society in Israel and the Occupied Territories.

And those attitudes, in my mind, are simply the logical conclusion to mindsets where LGBT people are treated as “other”, as different; where LGBT people are allowed to be discriminated against, in law and in practice; where LGBT people are not accepted, by society or by political leaders; where LGBT people are viewed not as people but as solely defined by certain (sometimes perceived) sexual acts.

May those poor children rest in peace, and heaven help their families.

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1. Civil Partnership Bill and religious cop-outs
2. Countries try to ban gay rights NGO from UN
3. The Queer’s Speech