The final programme to comment on in Ch4's Gay Season is 'How Gay Sex Changed the World'. I actually found this a very easy and interesting viewing. It mixed a discussion of the evolving legislation with pop culture references and consequently involved the interviewing of a number of celebrities and politicians who were all gay. I thought it was nice to see such a varied portrait of the modern homosexual. It was also nice to see people expressing "rebellious" views. Both journalist Mark Simpson and the actor Simon Callow expressed ant-homosexual views. This queer analysis is one well established in the States but not something we see all that often here - at least on the media. It was the type of theme that this season should have explored - pushing the boundaries and exploring contemporary debates rather than reflecting on debates of the past. The programme flirted with another modern debate on the subject of Gaydar (the "dating" website). They explored the multi-functionality of the site - the chat space for the young kid coming out, the dating site for the modern day guy, the escort site for the guy wanting a rapid commercial sexual encounter or as seemed to be the consensus, the main function - a way of meeting lots of guys for sexual encounters. Some of the "talking heads" asked - is this a male thing? Is it a consequence of what happens when women aren't in the relationship mix? etc etc. Again, something that could/should have been explored much further. For what it's worth I think there's a lot of value in the "it's just men argument". Whilst I know of some guys who don't use Gaydar in that way of know of hundreds of others who do. Many in relationships but who just can't give up on at least "checking messages" on Gaydar. The continued search for another bloke, a better bloke or indeed several blokes all at once.
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