Politics
19th August, 2007
Land of the "Free"?
Open letter to America.
I`m not sure what I find more disturbing, the fact that this is going on in the first place, or that the crowd see nothing wrong in this act. I cant even call it an act, as to do so would mean the perpetrators do not believe the hatred they are spouting, and that is clearly not the case.
Some are saying to lighten up, it just a song. But its so much more than just a song. Is it just a song to the young gay guy, who already scared about what it could mean for him to leave the closet hears this song of hate paraded on national TV. Is it just a song to the lonely gay guy who often cries himself to sleep because he feels isolated and cut off from a society that seems to hate him, just for being.
Would you America allow them to sing a racist version of this song to a couple of black guys. I don`t think so. Yet by your own admission (or lack there of) there appears to be nothing wrong with their homophobic rant. I thought maybe this was a isolated incident, but then after very little research it turns out this song is practically the supporters club anthem. Now I`m all for a bit of banter, hell I can character assassinate at twenty paces, but this video is completely inexcusable. When did homophobia become socially acceptable, even applaudable? and when did it become acceptable for a group of grown men, to ridicule and intimidate a couple of kids. Am I missing something, or has persecution become light entertainment.
Shame on them and shame on you America for allowing this.
Disappointedly,
ITGG.
To read more visit www.insidethegaygate.com
There is nothing that I love more than a really funny drag act. I love the campness, the bitchiness and the humour. I remember the first time I saw the very interactive show of the late HRH. Regina Fong at the Black Camp. Today I love the over the top drunk antics of Kandi Kane and the humorous criminal activity of Laquisha Jonz.
I remember the first time I went to the cinema to see ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’ I wanted to get drag up and mime to ABBA songs. It will not come as a surprise to find out that I have worn a dress and makeup in the name of drag. The first time was all down to my hairdresser friend, Willie.
One day while cutting the hair of the manager of the band ‘Dodgy’ they struck up a conversation about the bands up and coming gig at the Kentish Town forum. The manager mentioned that he had an idea of getting a couple of drag queens to host the concert and warm the crowd up with some jokes and give out some free gifts with the bands logo on. He then asked Willie if he knew of any professional drag queens that would be up for it.
Without thinking Willie said he could sort it out, little did I know that this would be him & I in drag. To get me onboard Willie promised me a nigh of free booze and coke as well as appealing to my sense of adventure and craving for a laugh. With less than a week to go until the gig Willie got to work on some amazing wigs. Using my fashion PR contact managed to beg, steal and borrow some clothes from Nicole Farhi and Vivienne Westwood. It was decided that I would go for a classy, elegant look, while Willie would be more outrageous and tarty.
I should have seen the writing on the wall literally when we turned up at the Kentish Town forum to find the word ‘Trannies’ on our dressing room door. At this point I’d never heard of a band called ‘Dodgy’, but I was reassured that they had a top ten album and single. After a few strong vodkas and a couple of lines we were ready to go on stage. Luckily they had a mock full stocked bar on stage and Willie & I had to tell a few jokes (most of which we stole from old Lily Savage routines), do live drinking games on stage (any excuse for us to get drunk) and throw some freebie prizes into the audience. The whole thing last no more than 30 minutes then we introduced the band. What we did know was we had to sit on the stools at the mock bar for the duration of the concert.
Afterwards we headed up to the bar in the Kentish Town forum which had been cornered off as a
VIP section, I can’t remember much but I do remember talking to Paul Heaton, the lead singer from The Housemartins. I left the venue at 2am, very drunk, I know I was very drunk as I decided to walk from Kentish Town to my flat in Camden in full drag.
I dragged up one more time and once again it was instigated by Willie. After our success at the Kentish Town forum, Willie signed us up to mime to a song at a talent contest at his local pub. So out came the wigs and outfits again and we dragged up and tried to learn the word to ‘Enough is Enough’ by Donna Summer & Barbara Streisand in less than an hour. Once again a few stiff drinks were needed but even that could help us. We sucked and we didn’t win, but scarily enough I did managed to pull in full drag, needless to this was a one night stand.
I remember the first time I went to the cinema to see ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’ I wanted to get drag up and mime to ABBA songs. It will not come as a surprise to find out that I have worn a dress and makeup in the name of drag. The first time was all down to my hairdresser friend, Willie.One day while cutting the hair of the manager of the band ‘Dodgy’ they struck up a conversation about the bands up and coming gig at the Kentish Town forum. The manager mentioned that he had an idea of getting a couple of drag queens to host the concert and warm the crowd up with some jokes and give out some free gifts with the bands logo on. He then asked Willie if he knew of any professional drag queens that would be up for it.
Without thinking Willie said he could sort it out, little did I know that this would be him & I in drag. To get me onboard Willie promised me a nigh of free booze and coke as well as appealing to my sense of adventure and craving for a laugh. With less than a week to go until the gig Willie got to work on some amazing wigs. Using my fashion PR contact managed to beg, steal and borrow some clothes from Nicole Farhi and Vivienne Westwood. It was decided that I would go for a classy, elegant look, while Willie would be more outrageous and tarty.
I should have seen the writing on the wall literally when we turned up at the Kentish Town forum to find the word ‘Trannies’ on our dressing room door. At this point I’d never heard of a band called ‘Dodgy’, but I was reassured that they had a top ten album and single. After a few strong vodkas and a couple of lines we were ready to go on stage. Luckily they had a mock full stocked bar on stage and Willie & I had to tell a few jokes (most of which we stole from old Lily Savage routines), do live drinking games on stage (any excuse for us to get drunk) and throw some freebie prizes into the audience. The whole thing last no more than 30 minutes then we introduced the band. What we did know was we had to sit on the stools at the mock bar for the duration of the concert.
Afterwards we headed up to the bar in the Kentish Town forum which had been cornered off as a
VIP section, I can’t remember much but I do remember talking to Paul Heaton, the lead singer from The Housemartins. I left the venue at 2am, very drunk, I know I was very drunk as I decided to walk from Kentish Town to my flat in Camden in full drag.I dragged up one more time and once again it was instigated by Willie. After our success at the Kentish Town forum, Willie signed us up to mime to a song at a talent contest at his local pub. So out came the wigs and outfits again and we dragged up and tried to learn the word to ‘Enough is Enough’ by Donna Summer & Barbara Streisand in less than an hour. Once again a few stiff drinks were needed but even that could help us. We sucked and we didn’t win, but scarily enough I did managed to pull in full drag, needless to this was a one night stand.
2nd April, 2007
I can change a light bulb my self
Normally, being single would make me clinically depressed (CD), but not any more. Today I decided that being single was a choice, not my choice, but still a choice. I've decided to take my self out of the game. I am choosing SINGLE.
Why?
I have to conform to social preconceptions from the hours 9 until 5, why would I want to do so out of that time slot. I realized today that although I've always wanted a man, I've never actually needed one( I can change a light bulb my self). Being part of a couple is something ingrained onto our minds from an early age, from our parents, the media, images of hollywoods golden couples, even cartoons. I watched many a cartoon when I was young (still a huge fan of southpark. RIP) If you think about it its no wonder I'm gay and felt I needed a man, afterall pinkie had the brain,sharky had George, Bert had Ernie, beavis had buthead, and who could forget batman in fetish wear being unconditionally pursued by an adoring and ever eager robin, I could go on.
The fact is singles are feared, patronized and pitied. Why would someone choose to be single? I'm afraid being single for the majority of people was there second choice (of 2). I have no problem dealing with other people's misguided fears and pity, I've dealt with that all my adult life. What I do have a problem with is the law. Why should couples get tax breaks, financial backhanders from the government. The way I see it they've got two people to pay the bills, why should their tax bills be lower, if anything the single should pay the lowest rates of tax, they afterall have to pay for everything, they also consume nearly as much as a couple combined. They say its to encourage family's, but lets face it the traditional family is an endangered species. More and more couples are choosing pay over pampers. The main social group contributing to the cycle of life is the social under class, yester years working class hero's, themselves may of whom are hopeless granchildren of the late industrial age. One problem, marriage is not often top of the agenda. The single parent IS the new family. The reality is we live by outdated law which government lawyers and accountants cant be bothered to re write, and Chancellors choose to abuse. There are more single people now than ever before, a trend which will most definitely continue.We are afterall the internet generation. Why should we continue to get the short end of the stick.
How long do you think it will take people to stand up and take action. Forget gay pride, which has in the past changed societies perceptions of gay people for the better, but now I feel alienates gay people further- ask your self how many guys do you know who walk down the highstreet wearing nothing but a pair of Manolo Blanhiks, briefs, a feather headrest and a sprinkle of glitter? exactly- yet this is the image many straight folk have of us - (think Priscilla Queen of the desert) - Singles pride will soon be hitting the streets. Single people standing up proud and demanding fair treatment both personally and financially, equal rights and above all equality.
24th February, 2007
Government Restrictions on Photography
The UK Government are about to propose restrictions on photography in public places which could make street photography and documentary photography against the law.
There's a petition on the Downing St website against the Government's proposals to restrict the use of photography in public areas.
Sign, and forward, if you are so inclined by clicking here.
There are a number of moves promoting the requirement of 'ID' cards to allow photographers to operate in a public place.
It is a fundamental right of a UK citizen to use a camera in a public place, indeed there is no right to privacy when in a public place.
These moves have developed from paranoia and only promote suspicion towards genuine people following their hobby or profession. Please sign the petition if you live in the Uk and tell as many people about this journal as possible. We want to try and stop this damned legislation!
16th October, 2006
Fighting for The Pink Vote
The Pink Vote is a tricky one, isn’t it? In today’s political arena it’s growing more and more important to be aware of gayness and its ability. It’s not that the number of actual homosexuals is growing to a majority, rather it’s those associated with the homosexuals that is the problem: parents, siblings, friends, etc. I seriously doubt that the current gay friendliness evident in political campaigns and speeches is nothing more that an effort to make everyone happy, to ‘do the right thing.’ If said politician is a member of a liberal party, this will be easy only because it is expected, but conservative parties are having it more and more difficult these days to find the appropriate stance. Being blatantly homophobic gives an all too easy weak point to the opponent, but fighting for family values provides a straight up and defendable backbone, a corner worth defending with the ferocity of a terrified beast.
While the UK has been redefining its political norms to accommodate homosexuals and their sympathisers, the Land of the Free is having a much more difficult time of it. Republican Party frontrunner John McCain has received the nod of approval from gay republicans for voting against the Federal Marriage Amendment but accepted the invitation to keynote the graduation ceremonies at Liberty University which gives a tacit endorsement to the actions of founder and notorious anti-gay campaigner and University founder, Jerry Falwell.
On the other side of the national conscience, the National Democratic Party, the liberal American political party, infuriated the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) when, after donating $5,000 to the gay group, the party’s chairman Howard Dean later told the Christian Broadcasting Network that the NDP’s platform declares marriage is between a man and a woman. This obvious attempt to court the powerful conservative Christian vote was a slap in the face to the gay group prompting them to return the donation.
The only clear message from the two postulating sides of the same disconcertment is the evident-to-everyone fact that there is no true friend of the homosexual voter.
While the UK has been redefining its political norms to accommodate homosexuals and their sympathisers, the Land of the Free is having a much more difficult time of it. Republican Party frontrunner John McCain has received the nod of approval from gay republicans for voting against the Federal Marriage Amendment but accepted the invitation to keynote the graduation ceremonies at Liberty University which gives a tacit endorsement to the actions of founder and notorious anti-gay campaigner and University founder, Jerry Falwell.
On the other side of the national conscience, the National Democratic Party, the liberal American political party, infuriated the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) when, after donating $5,000 to the gay group, the party’s chairman Howard Dean later told the Christian Broadcasting Network that the NDP’s platform declares marriage is between a man and a woman. This obvious attempt to court the powerful conservative Christian vote was a slap in the face to the gay group prompting them to return the donation.
The only clear message from the two postulating sides of the same disconcertment is the evident-to-everyone fact that there is no true friend of the homosexual voter.
16th October, 2006
The Home Office Minister loves the gays!
Home office minister Tony McNulty has recently promised editors of a gay magazine the he’d review the lack of law to stop the incitement of anti-gay hatred. He was photographed with a stupid grin on his face while holding open a copy of the magazine, I suppose the attempt was to give the impression that he is a cool queer-friendly guy who is down with the homos, but the actual image is simply insulting and rings truer like an insult to intelligence rather than a pledge to further homosexual’s acceptance on a social front.
He said he’d review the lack of law to incitement of anti-gay hatred. What does that mean, really? Although gay rights activists were chuffed with his remarks, I don’t know if I really understand his intention. Well, that’s not true, his intention was of course to get on gay’s good side, but aside from that what could law preventing anti-gay hatred dictate? That it be illegal to fan the fires of homophobia? To voice one’s opinion regarding their belief of things?
There’s a couple of people in their crosshairs, the first is Christian Voice director, Stephen Green who is said to be under investigation for inciting gay hatred. Look at the language, inciting gay hatred, is this possible? People are homophobes or their not, and if they are, that doesn’t really bother me. In fact, letting someone stand before an audience spewing idiotic and baseless fear is the best way to light their ignorance and that of those who follow. Don’t we know that we can not legislate thought and feelings? These people are a dying breed, let them go out noisily and ridiculously. Then there was Brighton Councillor Peter Willows, charged for allegedly likening homosexuals to paedophiles—doesn’t this say enough about his personal calibre and moral fibre?
Our time shouldn’t be wasted with photo ops and transparent stroking from someone who really doesn’t care talking about things that are really unnecessary and actually impossible. Want to control thought and opinion? Suddenly we’re as bad as them. I recognise that the intent is to prevent hate crimes and brutal murders as is with the case of barman Jody Dobrowski who was killed by, supposedly but no one knows, a gang of thugs in London, or Jacqueline Queen, stabbed to the point of near decapitation by her ex-boyfriend after coming out to him. I doubt, however that a law preventing the ‘incitement’ of anti-gay hate would have made much difference. The above murders are savage idiots and beyond the boundary of a law. Sad to say it, but the fact is that in the end such murders only act to further the acceptance of homosexuals and their lifestyle.
No, it’s never fair to have to be the martyr, and there will be more, but a cocky politician wanking us about isn’t the solution either.
He said he’d review the lack of law to incitement of anti-gay hatred. What does that mean, really? Although gay rights activists were chuffed with his remarks, I don’t know if I really understand his intention. Well, that’s not true, his intention was of course to get on gay’s good side, but aside from that what could law preventing anti-gay hatred dictate? That it be illegal to fan the fires of homophobia? To voice one’s opinion regarding their belief of things?
There’s a couple of people in their crosshairs, the first is Christian Voice director, Stephen Green who is said to be under investigation for inciting gay hatred. Look at the language, inciting gay hatred, is this possible? People are homophobes or their not, and if they are, that doesn’t really bother me. In fact, letting someone stand before an audience spewing idiotic and baseless fear is the best way to light their ignorance and that of those who follow. Don’t we know that we can not legislate thought and feelings? These people are a dying breed, let them go out noisily and ridiculously. Then there was Brighton Councillor Peter Willows, charged for allegedly likening homosexuals to paedophiles—doesn’t this say enough about his personal calibre and moral fibre?
Our time shouldn’t be wasted with photo ops and transparent stroking from someone who really doesn’t care talking about things that are really unnecessary and actually impossible. Want to control thought and opinion? Suddenly we’re as bad as them. I recognise that the intent is to prevent hate crimes and brutal murders as is with the case of barman Jody Dobrowski who was killed by, supposedly but no one knows, a gang of thugs in London, or Jacqueline Queen, stabbed to the point of near decapitation by her ex-boyfriend after coming out to him. I doubt, however that a law preventing the ‘incitement’ of anti-gay hate would have made much difference. The above murders are savage idiots and beyond the boundary of a law. Sad to say it, but the fact is that in the end such murders only act to further the acceptance of homosexuals and their lifestyle.
No, it’s never fair to have to be the martyr, and there will be more, but a cocky politician wanking us about isn’t the solution either.