The LGBT Alternative

I had an interesting exchange with Gary McLachlan the other day on Twitter over his rejection of the label 'LGBT'. He makes a compelling argument for the use of the term MSGI. Check out his blog for more (and to find out what MSGI stands for if you don't know). Read it here.

It's IML but not as we know it... *updated*

As I mentioned last week, I'm off to Chicago tomorrow for the Law and Society Annual Conference. Really looking forward to it although I have no idea how I'm going to fit my paper into the time allowed. My full paper is linked to on this post should you be interested.

My mind keeps turning to the events that will be taking place at a nearby hotel (literally a few doors away). The Hyatt Regency will be hosting International Mr Leather 2010 and this is a major event in the international kink diary. I originally stated that it is an 'exclusively male environment' but it's pointed out in an anonymous comment that there is a female judge - which indeed there is, so it's perhaps fairer to say a male dominated environment. Happy to be corrected.

The event gained a lot of publicity last year for banning bareback vendors from 2010. There are an extensive number of vendors attending this year according to the IML site - including the cruising website Squirt, hook up site Manhunt along with all sorts of other stores. It's open to the public so I might pop along myself over the weekend and have a look myself. The Leather Archives and Museum is also based in Chicago so (assuming I can figure out how on earth to get there on the 'L') I'll hopefully also pop my head in and take a look.

I previously blogged on the bareback ban at IML here and I can't help wondering whether regular attendees will find the ban changes the character of the event. Will people still be fucking in corridors - if so, will they be wearing condoms? Will the tone of the event change? Less sleazy, more 'respectable' and will that have a positive/negative effect on proceedings. I would have guessed they would - at the very least, you'd think some people would be disappointed to miss out on the prospect of a random shag with Jessy Karson et al. I'm curious to hear any thoughts - please do post them as a comments.

Identity Focus: SM Dykes

The 'dyke' will be considered as a separate post on 'identity' but given a forthcoming conference on the subject, it seemed good timing to mention 'SM Dykes'. A variance of the dyke - what we traditionally thought of as 'a butch' lesbian identity but which might also be thought of as assertive - or firm, the SM Dyke identity is therefore perhaps a natural extension, embracing sado-masochistic play. You can find out about a Manchester based group that offers a safe and supportive environment for SM Dykes here. The site also has an excellent resources section on further reading.

I've pasted in details of the forthcoming International Women's SM Conference below. You can register/read full details at this link.

Friday 28th - Monday 31st May 2010

2 whole days of workshops, discussions and a chance to get together with other like-minded women and transguys. Oh, and buffet lunches and tea, coffee and soft drinks are also included. Plus, new this year, brunch on Monday before you head home!

Evening entertainment consists of an auction and cabaret on Friday, Lash for Lasses, Manchester's regular women-and-transman-only SM and fetish night, on Saturday night and the main play party on Sunday.

The prices this year are as follows:
Auction (Friday evening) £4 (SM Dykes Manchester members price £3.50)
Workshops (1 day - Saturday or Sunday) £28 (£26 members)
Workshops (2 days) £51 (£46 members)
Lash for Lasses (Saturday evening) £5 (special conference price, no members discount)
Main play party (Sunday evening) £12 (£11 members)
Brunch (Monday) £15 (special conference price, no members discount)

Full conference package £67 (£62 members)
Full conference package + brunch £82 (£77 members)

If funds are a problem for you then contact us and we'll see if we can work something out. Payment details will be sent with your confirmation email.

The workshop programme, including descriptions of the workshops and biographies of the presenters is now available.

SM Dykes Manchester would like to thank all those who have generously donated to the auction.

The conference is open to all women, regardless of sexuality, and to FtMs, intersexed and genderqueer people who feel that they still have links to the women's community.

Malawi judgment in full

You can read the full judgment in the sad case of Steven and Tiwonge’s at this link. When you read the PDF file, it is a reminder of the lasting impact of English law - the citations will be familiar to law students. I was slightly horrified to see an old out of date law dictionary cited at one point as an authority. Much of the document reads like a very poor student essay and yet unlike a poor essay it's had a profound impact on two lives immediately and will no doubt have cast a fearful shadow over many more citizens of Malawi.

Read the judgment here.

Identity Focus: The Twink

I recently asked on Twitter for some suggestions for LGBT identity categories. Thanks to all those who replied. I remain very short on lesbian ‘categories’/identities - any suggestions would be most welcome.

Where to begin? I guess for anyone who recently spent anytime in a UK gay village or flicked through a rack of porn ‘the twink’ would seem to be dominating the public presence of the male homosexual. This is particularly worrying as the twink is young. Smooth (either through waxing/shaving or natural) and without much body hair, slim and typically white. The twink is the ultimate celebration of queer youth – with the term coming apparently from the US ‘twinkie’ – a sugary and sweet and full of errr cream (famously used as the ‘Twinkie Defense’ in the trial of Harvey Milk killer Dan White). It’s not hard to see where the phrase ‘young, dumb and full of cum’ came from.

The twinks presence – however aesthetically pleasing one might find them in the short term, is significant for excluding those who are older – and do not conform to the category of what Whittle termed the ‘beautiful people’. The twink will inevitably grow up and what happens to them then?

The porn actor Brent Corrigan is perhaps a nigh profile example of the twink identity in porn and I recently blogged about him producing a safer sex campaign video here . The picture I include here a typical example of the twink we see in porn – boyish, and with faux innocence coupled with sexual suggestion.

Action on Malawi

If there is an upside to the terrible case of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga - sentenced to 14 years hard labour this week in Malawi for being openly homosexual - it is perhaps that we are talking about the state of gay rights in Africa. But goodness me, Steven and Tiwonge are paying too high a price for our consciousness raising. The Guardian carries a long and wonderful piece today talking to gay rights activists across Africa. I'm pleased to see African gay rights activists being given a voice. If Africa is to change, it must be within. Our job in the West must surely be to nudge their leaders along and offer what support we can to their own activists and their own campaigns.

Peter Tatchell - who has campaigned tirelessly on this, like so many issues, has offered some clear and practical advice on what you and I can do to help. I've reproduced it below.

Three things you can do to support our heroes

http://petertatchell.net/international/support-tiwonge-and-steven-in-prison-in-malawi.html

Big thanks to everyone who has shown their concern and anger at the outrageous 14-year jail term handed down to Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga in Malawi.

See background to their prosecution and sentence here:
http://www.petertatchell.net/international/14-years-for-malawi-couple-is-brutal.html

Here are three ways you can help:

FIRST

Send a letter or postcard of support to Steven and Tiwonge. In this difficult time, they need to know that people around the world love and support them. Get all your friends to do the same. Write to:

Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza, Prisoners, Chichiri Prison,
P.O.Box 30117, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi

SECOND

Write a letter to your elected political representative. Urge him or her to write a letter of protest to Malawian President and to the Malawian Ambassador in your country.

If you live in the UK:
Email your MP and all your MEPs via this website: www.writetothem.com

Ask your MP and MEPs to protest to the Malawian President and to the Malawi High Commission in London.

Ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 564, which protests against the prosecution of Tiwonge and Steven. See here:
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=40143&SESSION=903

THIRD

Make a donation by post or BACS electronic transfer to the Malawi Defence Campaign, organised the UK-based LGBT organisation OutRage!

OutRage! will use all money donated to support Tiwonge and Steven with food parcels, medicine, clothes, blankets etc. and to help fund the campaign for their release.

By BACS electronic transfer:
Account name: OutRage!
Bank: Alliance and Leicester Commercial Bank, Bootle, Merseyside, GIR
0AA, England, UK
Account number: 77809302
Sort code: 72-00-01
For electronic transfers from overseas (outside the UK), please
ADDITIONALLY quote these codes:
BIC: ALEIGB22
IBAN: GB65ALE1720001778093 02

By cheque:
Write a cheque payable to “OutRage!” and send to OutRage!, PO Box 17816, London SW14 8WT. Enclose a note giving your name and address and stating that your donation is for the Malawi Defence campaign.

Thanks for your concern and commitment to justice for Tiwonge and Steven.

Solidarity! Peter Tatchell, OutRage!

www.petertatchell.net

www.outrage.org.uk

Australia and the Porn Question

Well here's a note of caution of you're planning a trip 'down under' anytime soon. Australia has apparently introduced a new requirement for those incoming to customs. The card new asks if you are carrying porn. This would include those cock shots you keep on your phone or the video you made of yourself and your partner getting up to all sorts of fun on a recent trip. Let's not even mention your laptop...Read the full story here.

I always end up sat next to people who don't speak the language and after working through the various Canada immigration farm queries with a Polish passenger (I made the relevant animal noises), I am terrified of how I will explain the porn question to someone on my next trip to Oz. Wanking hand gestures? Moaning noises? Oh, it's all too terrible to contemplate.

The Fairoaks Project: Visions of a 70s Bathhouse

This is really exciting. The drkrm/gallery in LA is showing a series of Polaroids called The Fairoaks Project. The photographs are from a San Francisco bathhouse of the same name taken in 1978. The gallery describes the photos/exhibition:

'In celebration of Gay Pride Month, drkrm/gallery proudly presents an extraordinary, never-before-seen glimpse into pre-AIDS gay sexual culture. The Fairoaks Project is an exhibit of Polaroid photographs taken by Frank Melleno during the spring and summer of 1978 at The Fairoaks Hotel, a San Francisco bathhouse.

Situated in a refurbished Victorian building near a black ghetto, The Fairoaks was known for its laid-back and racially integrated ambiance. Bold and unapologetic, Melleno’s images capture an aspect of gay life rarely seen in snapshot photography: sexually candid encounters that are playful, spontaneous and often affectionate. The dark storm of drug abuse and pandemic disease that would soon overtake the community is not visible in these celebratory pictures.

Melleno’s collection of Polaroids was put in a box shortly after they were shot and have not been seen until now. Many of the images contain nudity and frank erotic scenes, but they also capture men dressed in festive attire and engaged in other aspects of the counter-culture lifestyle the Fairoaks promoted. Many artists lived at the hotel, and ongoing therapy-support groups and monthly theme parties enhanced the Fairoaks’ reputation as a neighborhood center for gay men as much as a bathhouse.'

The photos represent a pre-AIDS time in the history of queer community. There are no bathhouses today in San Francisco as a result of AIDS and the policies followed by city officials. These photographs therefore take on a heightened relic like quality, depicting acts that might now be regarded as radical but were then defined as ordinary. This is despite our transformed socio-legal/socio-political attitudes. This makes for a rather captivating exhibition.

See more about the Fairoaks Project here. I can't make the LA exhibition but I have ordered the book (link on the gallery page) and I'll hopefully be able to see some of the pictures that are in the Chronotopia exhibition at SOMArts in San Francisco next month. More details here.

Will you / your group lobby government about sexual rights?

Please see and action as appropriate the following notice from CAAN:

CAAN, which is a pressure group, is preparing to propose a different approach to sexuality rights and we need to ally with the correct expert groups to refer government to.

For example:

For LGBT matters we work with Peter Tatchell and welcome a representative org to come on board also.
For extreme pornography we refer to Backlash.
For sadomasochism we refer to Spanner Trust, SM Gays and SM Dykes.
For sex work we will refer to International Union of Sex Workers and English Collection of Prostitutes and academic Jo Phoenix.
For film and pornography we refer Anna Span and also have the support of performers Cristian Torrent, Buck Angel and Paul Stag.
For photography we work with Del LaGrace Volcano and Ben Westwood.
For censorship issues we would refer to Feminists Against Censorship and to information within Melon Farmers and Index on Censorship for background.

This list is not complete and there are other people behind the scenes also.

You get the idea?

Get in touch if you want to be involved!

If there is enough support from various groups we will look to see if it is possible to put together a broadly based white paper on the future of sex and sexuality in the UK.

In solidarity and for unity!

Clair Lewis (AKA Dennis Queen)
National convenor
Consenting Adult Action Network

Contact CAAN at info@caan.org.uk

On the edge: BDSM and heteronormative denigration

Back in April I organised the Gender, Sexuality and Law Stream of the Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference. One of the papers was a little different -presented by an activist and writer rather than an academic. Daryl Champion presented a really interesting paper on BDSM and was only able to do so thanks to the generous support of Backlash. His paper is now available in full as a PDF on the Backlash website and I would encourage you to go and download it. The title of the paper is 'On the edge: BDSM and heteronormative denigration' and can be viewed here.

Racy Relic

NY Daily News has a rather wonderful story about what it describes as a 'racy relic'. It shows and details a 30,000 year old dildo. It's a reminder that sex toys are not an invention of the twentieth century. Read the full story here.

Things you didn't know about the penis?

Annoyingly, I can't re-produce the image here but check out The Sword for a rather brilliant infographic on the penis (some images on the Sword NSFW) and it's a gay porn blog so if you wouldn't like to look at such images, don't go poking around the site! :-)

Chris in Chicago: Queer theory, cyber-ethnographies and researching online sex environments

I'm off to Chicago next Tuesday (subject to nasty ash clouds) for the Law and Society Conference and I'll be presenting my work on queer theory/cyber ethnographies. I haven't got long to speak so I won't be bothering with PowerPoint slides so I'll have nothing to share with you -or so I thought! I've just discovered that the article that I'll be presenting an element of is currently free on the publisher website. You can download it in PDF or HTML format at this link. Any comments/feedback much appreciated. I'll be staying in downtown Chicago so if you're going to be in town too, give me a shout and we can grab a drink. I've pasted in the article abstract and keywords below.

Both the act and the commission of the act of sex have been transformed by technology. This has in turn led to emerging research that seeks to consider online research methods and methodologies that take account of the new medium, with a number of studies examining specific groups and the behaviour of those groups from a socio-legal perspective. This paper will seek to consider the application of queer theory to researching so-called 'virtual' or online sex groups. It will examine how the virtual spaces, and the researchers who survey them, are constituted. The ethical and practical issues that emerge in surveying these groups from a queer theory perspective will also be explored.

Keywords: queer; ethnography; research methods; Internet; sex

9th Stonewall Lecture

Next month sees the 9th Stonewall Lecture delivered in London at the Law Society. The title for the seminar is Sexual Diversity and Gender Identity in the Judiciary: Judicial experiences, institutionalised prejudice and recommendations for change, and it's delivered by the brilliant Les Moran - who I'm sure many of you will be familiar with.

The lecture will take palce in the Common Room, Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL, Thursday 24 June 2010, 6pm. The lecture will be delivered by Professor Leslie J Moran, Birkbeck College, University of London and chaired by the Rt Hon. Lord Justice Etherton. Daniel Winterfeldt of the InterLaw Diversity Forum will also discuss the recent LGBT judicial diversity report after the lecture. This will be followed by a reception in the Reading Room. RSVP Bimla Safka who can be contacted at bimlas@stonewall.org.uk Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

I'll be attending so do give me a shout if you'll be going along and fancy meeting up. You might also be interested to know that Les has just written an article on this subject for a special issue of Sexualities that I'm editing (on Law and Sexuality) and which should be coming out in a few months time.

Advancing Sexuality Study Course Materials

I've been meaning to flag up this resource that was brought to my attention last month. It's a short course with free materials on advancing sexuality produced by SexualityStudies.net. They describe their purpose/mission below and the site is a brilliant resource - packed with info that any student of sexuality will find of great value.

The course can be accessed here.

'SexualityStudies.net is a website for people engaged in the study of human sexuality – researchers, teachers, students and those working in the field. Our aim is to provide a hub for the community of people working in this area to interact, share information and engage critically with key questions concerning sexuality studies.

The site is the product of an ongoing project to develop an international short course in sexuality theory and research methodologies.

The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society in collaboration with the International Association for the Study of Sexuality, Culture and Society has been given a grant by the US based Ford Foundation to develop this course which will have a focus on HIV/AIDS, and sexual and reproductive health and will be delivered in developing countries.

The project seeks to fill a significant gap in sexuality education offered at an advanced level in the developing world. The final course will target academics, researchers, research policy managers and other professionals working in HIV/AIDS and related sexual and reproductive fields.

The proposed short course aims to stimulate key players in various countries to ‘shift gears’ in relation to their countries’ understandings of their sexual cultures, sexuality issues, and research responses. Eventually it is hoped that such training will make a significant impact on sexuality research and policy globally. The project consists of four phases, which will roll out over approximately four years:

1. a scoping and feasibility study
2. curriculum and resource development
3. piloting and evaluation
4. roll-out of final course.

Personnel working on the project in Melbourne are: Prof. Gary Dowsett and Dr Sean Slavin.
This website is one of the first products of the project.

Web development and design by Paul Kidd. Stock images used on this site from istockphoto. Creative Commons licensed icons by famfamfam.com. The use of images on this site should not be taken to imply anything about the sexuality of individuals in those images, except where explicitly indicated.'

New Look

Do you like my lovely new banner? I'm quite chuffed with it. It's all thanks to Miki or @gigoslurp on Twitter - you can follow him here. He's also given my Twitter account a new logo too so I'm all refreshed. Don't forget you can follow me on Twitter and this is my Twitter page. I've also tried to tidy up the blog a little and I've added a series of new static pages at the top of the blog (under the banner) so you can read a little more about me and my publications without it cluttering up everywhere else. I know from the students around the world that do contact me, that you can be a little nervous about contacting academics - don't be - I'm always quite flattered that anyone has heard of me and it's a joy to talk about my work so I look forward to continuing to hear from you.

I'm not adding advertising to my blog -although I know more and more people are doing it - particularly on blogger. That said, should you want to send me a freebie (book, video's, fluffy handcuffs, that sling frame we've always wanted, you name it really) they're always gratefully received and I might even mention you on the blog and sometimes use stuff as student prizes etc (although the portable sling frame kit might take some explaining to our receptionist when I collect my post. lol). Yes, I really am that cheap.

Anyway, in all seriousness, let me know what you think about the blog - any suggestions for further change are always welcome.

B&B Discrimination Legal Action

You just know Teresa May is dreading being ask to comment about this story. Remember the controversy around the gay couple who went to a B&B but were turned away by the Christian couple because of their sexuality? Well, thanks to Liberty it's back. Part of me wonders what will be achieved by this -apart from potentially making some money for the gay couple and certainly making money for the lawyers. They're drawing on Equality Act provisions to bring a case and they are supported by Liberty who say:

"This case is as important to the principle of non-discrimination as Rosa Parks' refusal to go to the back of the bus. A business with a "no gays policy" is as bad as one that says "no blacks; no Irish". Liberty defends the rights of religious groups to preach their beliefs, even when we disagree with them, but not to discriminate in the provision of goods and services."

I think the Legal Director of Liberty got a little carried away there. Yes, they shouldn't have been turned away and yes, if they wanted to, they should have brought legal action. However, this will now become a struggle of movements -gay verses Christian and the various interest groups will line up behind each group. That leaves me feeling uneasy. Nonetheless, if choices must be made, then I wish Michael Black and John Morgan the best of luck in their case. Homophobia must be challenged - wherever it is found - and the law should apply to everyone.

I'm also curious what this means for 'The Swiss' - the bed and breakfast at the centre of this. It has a rather impressive website and it does look a lovely location - you can see why they chose it. One thing puzzles me. Take a look at the virtual tour. It seems to have a very odd bed arrangement -it looks like a sex club orgy space or is that just me? Go, on take a look. In fact, if you are gay, lesbian, or bisexual book in. Pack the place out. Bonk yourself silly. It'll drive them nuts and if they turn you away, bring a claim. Just a thought.

Interestingly, their website also has a 'conditions' section which states:

Check in/check out:	You may check in from 4pm onwards; latest 10 pm You must check out by 10 am This condition also applies for guests staying more than one night
Pets:	None please!
Payment:	Payment is accepted by cash or cheque (with bankers card). US dollars and Euros are accepted at the prevailing tourist rates
Deposit:	50%
Cancellation:	After a firm booking has been made, unless we can re-book, we will charge 50% on any cancellation.
No shows:	We will charge 100% of the full booking value in the event of a no show

Strangely, there's no mention of homosexuals. Can't think why.

IDAHO (pt 2)

Earlier today, together with a few other staff and students at the University we posed for a photo and story on IDAHO for the local press. I'm still waiting for that to appear (I'll then post the proper pictures) but in the meantime, have a listen to the Spark FM interview that was done at the same time (I'm not on it) and take a look at the picture that the Spark FM reporter took of us having our picture being taken. How postmodern! I'm the guy in the middle behind the flag. The umbrella ahs a story behind it as it was used by Frankie (holding the flag on the left) and her partner's Civil partnerships which I thought was rather sweet and made it a really great symbol to have in the pic.

You can listen to the interview/news piece here.

You can read my earlier post on IDAHO and view the video produced by the Lesbian and gay Foundation as part of their Enough is Enough campaign here.

Student Writing and Sexual Justice

I've been a little bit (well - very) slow to pick up on this post on the Feminist Law Professors blog. It highlights a recent publication by Ruthann Robson (perhaps best known for Sappho Goes to Law School) in the journal Law & Sexuality (published once a year and edited by students - it's the official journal of the LGBT Bar Association). I've recently re-read Sappho in the course of a little project I'm working on (which hopefully I'll have excited news about in the next month or so) and she is a truly brilliant writer.

Her most recent article explores student writing and sexual justice. I've pasted in the full abstract below. The article is available for free download from SSRN here and will be of interest to scholars, students and their observers alike. Here's the abstract:

'Encouraging creativity and risk is an important—and underappreciated—dimension of the
mentor-student process in student scholarly writing. This Article models an imaginative reflection on collaborative supervision that produces student scholarship. The organizational motif of “sins” connects to extra-legal cultural constructions that permeate everyday life, including the life of writing, and more specifically confronts the conflation of “sin” and “sex” that persists in legal and nonlegal discourse. The boundaries of legal academic writing, like the limitations of sexual freedom, are sites of anxiety for both mentors and students; this Article suggests that these borders also can be places of adventure.'

OutRage National Conference

OutRage have announced details on Facebook events of a conference on Sunday 4 July in Central London (11am-4.30pm). They posted the following:

'The need for a lgbt rights organisation continues as we face a period of growing uncertainty. With the election of the first Conservative Government for 13 years; The appointment of a homophobic Equality Minister; An dramatic increase in homophobic attacks and murders; the prospect of funding cuts to lgbt support groups and other organisations; cuts to HIV+ Aids health care provision not to mention the emergence of organised Evangelical Christian lobbyists… the list is endless. And we need an organisation to fight back not only to defend what rights we have won in the recent past but also to fight for true equality in society and not just in law.

The 2010 OutRage! Annual Conference will be an opportunity to re-launch, revitalise and democratise the organisation to agree our strategy for the months ahead and to agree what should be our campaign priorities.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Please register for the conference for free by email at outrageconference@googlemail.com

Please Note: Conference Arrangements Committee. There will be a Conference Arrangements Committee to oversee the organisation of the Conference, if you would be interested in helping us with this please contact the Conference Organiser via email at outrageconference@googlemail.com

FURTHER DETAILS AND AGENDA TO FOLLOW…'

I'm hoping I might be able to make it along to this. In any case, I welcome any continued activity by this grass roots organisation and their continued radicalism and passion. I wish that Stonewall would look at what OutRage is doing and take more positive action to re-connect with its roots.

Sex Matters and Free Speech

I've previously flagged up the wonderful blog by Jane Fae detailing her transition. It is compelling reading. Jane has launched another blog this month on 'sex matters'. Jane sets out her aims in detail writing:

'Here is somewhere very different. Its about the issues that take my fancy and, since i write a lot about sex and sexuality, its about my take on what is in the news today concerning those matters.

A bit political. A bit radical. I’ll be talking about the law and politics. Censorship. Prudery. And since i will be writing about the government’s response to all these things, i suspect there will be a load of hypocrisy documented here, too.

Topics are likely to include sex and sexualities. The politics of identity. Orientation. Sex work. Disorderly conduct. Writing and Art. Kink. Sado-masochism, swinging and polyamory.

Oh. But if you are here for a quick thrill, you will probably be disappointed. That is the one thing i am not going to be doing. As it says on the label: sex matters – and this blog is about matters sexual.'

Fae is a brilliant writer and I'm confident the blog will be a fantastic source for information and debate. Today, Jane takes on the Dale McAlpine case (the homophobic street preacher) and the decision by the CPS to drop the case following Peter Tatchell speaking out in favour of McAlpine and his freedom of speech. Jane expresses her relief at the decision and puts forward an argument for freedom of speech over political correctness. I've long stated my concern about laws that seek to limit freedom of expression or act as 'thought police' and so I'm one with Fae on this. Check out her new blog here.

Queer Up North

Tomorrow sees the launch of the excellent Queer Up North festival in Manchester. You can get full details of the 2010 programme here. Sadly, I don't think I'll be able to make it down there this year but please do post your comments on what you thought of it, if you do manage to attend. As part of the festival there is a Sexuality Summer School of free public lectures which will be of interest to many of you. Here's the lecture programme:

Sexuality Summer School and Queer up North, 2010
Public Lectures Series at 5pm, Lecture Theatre A, University Place

Monday May 24th
(Co-sponsored with the Research Institute for Cosmopolitan Cultures, RICC) David Eng (UPenn): The Queer Space of China

This lecture explores the contemporary emergence of gay and lesbian life in the People?s Republic of China in relation to liberal distinctions between public space and private desires. Following anthropologist Lisa Rofel?s recent work on expressive desire, I investigate the ways in which certain self-identified Chinese gays and lesbians are positioning themselves as individuals who are uniquely capable of embracing their private desires and thus claim to represent the vanguard of a new modernity in China. The project explores the idea that when sexuality travels it becomes many other things as well: a discourse of development, an emblem of modernity, a
metric of human rights--and human rights violations. In this presentation, I will focus my discussion on Stanley Kwan's 2001 film, Lan Yu.

Tuesday May 25th
Mandy Merck (Royal Holloway, London): Screen Tests: Andy Warhol
Films Susan Sontag

He was a working class Catholic, trained in commercial art. She was a middle-class Jewish intellectual. He painted Coke bottles. She endorsed Absolut Vodka. He liked her look. She doubted his sincerity. They were both homosexual. In 1964 he filmed her portrait. In 1967 she called his work 'inhuman'.

Thursday May 27th
Richard Dyer (Kings College London): The Angel's Song: What about
Queer Music?

There has been much research in recent years into the presence of lesbians and gay men in music, but there remains the issue - can one hear their sexuality in the music itself? I shall look at some of the arguments around this question and focus on the case of the film composer Nino Rota (most famous for his scores for Fellini and The Godfather films), trying to think of the music of queers more in terms of strategies of pleasing, passing and pastiche than in terms of
sexual self-expression.

International Day Against Homophobia

I've been out raising awareness of IDAHO this morning -the International Day Against Homophobia - via a little photo-shoot with other LGBT staff and students at Sunderland University - photo to follow once they're up. Antony Cotton - Coronation Street actor and formerly of Queer as Folk fame - popped up on GMTV this morning to raise awareness of IDAHO and the LGF Enough is Enough Campaign. He also appears in their campaign video which is below (and the wonderful Ian McKellen does the voice over). You can see more details about that campaign here and also lend them your support. Please do!

Queer Toon to Get a Little Straighter?

I'm sure I've mentioned before that each year I take my students on explorations of queer space, exploring the intersection of space, law and identity. The first one we always go on is down the road to Newcastle and the small 'Pink triangle' or village that is based aroudn the Centre for Life. It's not exactly Canal Street (which has its own problems) but it doesn't say "destination" either. I usually ask my students for the words that they immediately think of when in the space; "dark", "depressing", "run-down", "neglected" seem to come up every year. I've long wished that the council, community and queer businesses would come together to really sort the space out and create somewhere that the LGBTQ community can be proud of. That seems further sunk by the story reported today in the Chronicle that Traflagur Leisure wants to convert an abandoned warehouse into a straight lap Dancing Club - thus severely damaging this queer space.

There has been much academic literature on the impact of these sort of venues and the de-queering of space. We also have lots of personal experiences from Manchester about the damage an influx of straights can have. Anyone who knows anything in the queer community should be declaring firm 'no' to these unwise proposals.

Yet, that isn't happening. The owner of the Eagle and the Yard is described as 'understanding' why the owner of Trafalgar Leisure wouldant to open such a venue. So, no resistance there then. Interestingly, Trafalgar Leisure already has a foothold in the queer space (as noted in the Chronicle piece) as they own Twist, the Baron and Baroness - venues that are mixed but can become predominately gay at night, and the gay club Powerhouse.

Thankfully, the ward councillor, Nick Forbes is fighting the application stating: “My concern is that it would have a big negative impact on the gay village and I’m concerned that it would destroy the concept of a safe area by introducing all sorts of undesirables.” Forbes is a Labour councillor and leader of the Labour group.

I've got no objections to the presence of lap dancing clubs but this isn't the right location - and the focus needs to move to creating a successful and safe village.

Public Sex, Local Press and a Familiar Dance

It's obviously been a quiet time for the press in West Suffolk as of late. They've turned to that staple of local journalism - finding and exposing cruising websites (quite why they go looking for these sites is a question they never seem to deal with) and shock horror - a local location is detailed revealing that people have sex in public places - near them! They are so outraged that it had previously passed them by until they found out about it on this website. This latest story has a brilliant quote from the Police in which once again, they get the law wrong stating:

'A police spokeswoman said while sex in a public place was not an offence under the law, “any sexual activity in a toilet to which the public has access is a criminal offence, regardless of the sexual orientation of the offenders”.'

Well sure s71 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 does create a specific offence of sex in toilets as I've noted many times previously on here, in academic articles, and in evidence to the House of Commons, but there are additional statutory offences that could be applied - around exposure/voyeurism and (more likely) the common law could be applied.

Nonetheless, I welcome the approach of the Police of not getting bothered by these reports. The council responded to the journalists by saying they were not aware of any cruising. So looks like the journalists in another area will have to trawl a few cruising sites. Read the full story here.

Elena Kagan and the Supreme Court

The US Supreme Court appointments process passes by most UK law students but the decision by President Obama earlier this month to nominate Elena Kagan has caused a spot of bother on the other side of the Atlantic. The Guardian picks up the story today for UK readers. The fuss around her nomination is focusing upon the possibility that she is a lesbian. Or, to be mroe accurate, the fact she looks like a lesbian and old photos of her show her to 'look like a lesbian'. The Wall Street Journal - yes another jewel of the Murdoch news empire - is at the centre of the most recent old photo story, but it was CBS News that got the ball rolling in declaring her to be gay. That post on the CBS News site was subsequently pulled when the White House complained that the network had made "false charges". You can read more on that in the Advocate.

The debate is now focusing around whether she needs to clarify her sexuality -as that might have a bearing on whether she is approved and would potentially impact on future judgments. Obviously she has little choice in disclosing she is a woman and that's no doubt a hindrance in the eyes of some. Her sexuality on the other hand remains largely hidden.

The Guardian story notes the comments of Sunday Times columnist and gay conservative, Andrew Sullivan who stated: "Since it would be bizarre to argue that a justice's sexual orientation will not in some way affect his or her judgment [on gay rights], it is only logical that this question should be clarified."

I disagree with Sullivan on many issues but I think he's right on this one. Of course, part of me thinks someones sexuality should be a private matter but on the other hand it is clearly has the potential to impact on her thinking - hopefully for the better - so yes, she should state how she defines her sexuality and then we can all move on.

You can watch president Obama nominating Kagan below:

Notes from a Porn Island: Barebacking Bloggers and the Utopian Pirates of San Francisco: Presentation Slides

A little while back I mentioned I was speaking at the Mediated Sexualities Research Day at the University of Sunderland. It was a really interesting and enjoyable day. I decided not to hold back and showed the unedited trailer for Ryan Sullivan's Island (to various gasps and I think one person shouted "fucking hell"). It was a good crowd and I'm told people are still talking about it - obviously marked for life. I've now uploaded the slides from my talk to SlideShare. You won't be able to view the videos I showed and I've removed one picture. Apart from that, I've also added a number of purple stars over the nudity in order to comply with SlideShare and Blogger T&C's so apologies to those of you hoping to see a few cock shots. For those of you worried that you might, panic ye not! The slides are all safe. I welcome any comments/thoughts.

Notes From A Porn Island (Edited)

View more presentations from Chris Ashford.

Prague, Gay4Pay and the Porn Industry

Another story that I've saving up for a while is this one about gay porn in Prague. The site of East European boys - celebrating the twink performer identity - in porn out of the Czech Republic has become an increasingly common one and a short documentary (embedded below) explores what's going on there - and why men are performing as 'gay 4 pay'. It makes for interesting reading. I'd be curious what other people make of it.

The article/doc don't make for a flattering image of the industry. The piece concludes that: Having worked on the other side of the business, [one interviewee] now understands. “It always starts with ads for modeling and goes slowly from there,” he says. When a guy shows up, he is always told it’s nude modeling. Some guys leave right away, some will stay. A producer will tell them they could get more money if they did solo masturbation. Some think about it and accept. Then even more money if they do a sex scene with another guy. It progresses slowly, but “you wake up and realize you are on a train that you can’t get off of.” Or, even before that happens, the producer might say “they no longer need you because you are old news.”

In porn, everyone is always looking for the next thing, the new guy. Porn is fantasy. People don’t want to keep seeing the same faces and bodies. The models want to know what’s next and, usually, end up as escorts and hustlers.

Resource Focus: Prostitution and Scholarly Thinking

It's been a while since I did a resource focus so I have not one, but two sites for you to take a look at. First up is a site called 'An Anthology of English Pros'. The blog is run by Stephen Paterson and looks at 'prostitution law in the UK'. it does so with excellent detail and humour. Well worth a look.

The next site is also a blog called 'Gary's Law Blog' and is written by Gary McLachlan who is a PhD student at the University of Exeter. His blog is described simply as 'containing and about law'. it's a great resource, including his amsters theis entitled 'How Gay is the European Court of Human Rights' and an interesting undergrad project. My undergraduate and postgrad students will find the blog very interesting.

Lecturer in Law Job @ Sunderland

So maybe you've been reading my blog and thought to yourself "wow, I'd love to and work at that amazing Law School". Well now you can. Check out this job advert that has recently appeared. Please don't contact me about it - but use the link/details on the advert.

Faculty of Business and Law
Lecturer in Law
£29,854 - £35,646 per annum
Based in Sunderland

You will be required to support the delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in law in a manner concomitant with providing an excellent student experience; to support and develop the research profile of the Department and to contribute to income generation activities.

You will be required to;

Engage in teaching and assessment of students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels by preparation of high quality learning materials within the subject area, via lectures, seminars and workshops. Pro-actively engage in the support of student learning and achievement and contribute to the maintenance of the Department’s reputation for excellence in respect of the National Student Survey. Teach as a member of a teaching team in a developing capacity within an established programme of study.

Teach in a developing capacity in a variety of settings from small group tutorials to large lectures. Ensure that content, methods of delivery and learning materials will meet the defined learning objectives.

Develop own teaching materials, methods and approaches. Transfer knowledge in the form of practical skills, methods and techniques. Identify learning needs of students and define appropriate learning objectives. Supervise the work of students, provide advice on study skills and help them with learning problems. Provide administrative and programme support as agreed with the Department Head.

Develop the skills of applying appropriate approaches to teaching, challenge thinking, foster debate and develop the ability of students to engage in critical discourse and rational thinking.

Select appropriate assessment instruments and criteria, assess the work and progress of students by reference to the criteria and provide constructive feedback to students.
Seek ways of improving performance by reflecting on teaching design and delivery and obtaining and analysing feedback, including peer review of teaching.

Agree and manage own teaching, research, reach-out and academic management/administration responsibilities. Maintain or develop an active research profile which is supportive of the curriculum generally and of specific
teaching workload. Engage in appropriate reach-out activities to generate income in relation to Departmental objectives. Develop and implement personal research and reach-out plans.

Conduct individual and/or collaborative research and reach-out projects. Contribute to writing proposals for external funding for research and/or reach-out activities and contribute to the subsequent delivery of projects that are funded. Disseminate the outcomes of research and/or reach-out through publication, presentation or exhibition.

Continually update knowledge and understanding at the forefront of the academic discipline and, if appropriate, also at the forefront of the relevant area of professional practice. Translate knowledge of advances in the subject area or professional practice into the course of study.

It is essential that you have a First degree in Law recognised as conferring QLD status, can demonstrate commitment to a student-centred approach in teaching, learning and assessment, have experience of teaching and assessment in Higher Education and have an active research profile or research potential which is supportive of the
curriculum at Sunderland.

You must possess sufficient breadth or depth of specialist knowledge in law to work within established teaching, research and reach-out programmes. Engage in continuous professional development and possess the qualities and transferable skills necessary for the exercise of personal responsibility and largely autonomous initiative in
complex and unpredictable situations, in professional or equivalent environments.

A postgraduate qualification (normally doctorate or Masters, LPC) or equivalent, fellowship of the H.E.A, experience of module/programme leadership and/or administration are desirable for this role and an interest in, or willingness to develop an interest in International Law and/or International Human Rights would be welcome

Ref No: FBL034 / 1851

For additional information about this post please contact Karen Hadley, Head of Department on 0191 515 3435 or email karen.hadley@sunderland.ac.uk.

The University of Sunderland application form and Role Profile for this post can be obtained by contacting the Human Resources Department on 0191 515 2055 or www.sunderland.ac.uk/jobs

Closing date: 11th June 2010.

Brent Corrigan Does Sex Education

Apologies to those who realise this story has been around a little while - it didn't really fit with my recent election focus so I've been holding it over. Brent Corrigan is a self described 'director, actor, performer' in the world of pornography. It seems fair to say, he has a rather large following. The 23 year old star (born Sean Lockhart - a better name in my view) is a personification of the 'twink' identity and although he was known for some bareback porn in his early days he is now a firm safe-sex campaigner. he's now joined a campaign to promote safe sex by showing people how to use a condom - literally. he's naked and shows people how to put a condom on by - putting a condom on. He does it with humour and it feels so much better than the usual naff productions we get in safe sex campaigns. This campaign - the FUK|!T Campaign also has a website that you can view here. It also has explicit content. The Campaign is Washington DC based but I'm sure other organisations will be inspired by it.

It seems a really good idea to me (although I remain critical of some safe sex campaigns - and the hypocritical and hectoring tone that characterise some in this area). I can't embed the video as that would mean I'd have to add the adult warning on to this blog but you can check it out here.

New Resource: Guardian on Law

On Friday the Guardian launched its new Law webpages. It's a welcome return of something the Guardian used to do - although sadly it's only online. It's a great resource and well worth a look. Check it out here.

Gender Sexuality and Law Special Issue

Now the blog is back to normal, you might be interested to know a special issue of Liverpool Law Review has beee published on Gender, Sexuality and Law. It's edited by moi so be nice! lol. You'll need a subscription to access the articles except mine which is available as a PDF on the website here. The contents consist of:

Socio-Legal Perspectives on Gender, Sexuality and Law: Editorial
Chris Ashford, 1-12

Pacific Perspectives: Fa’afafine and Fakaleiti in Samoa and Tonga: People Between Worlds
Sue Farran, 13-28

Against Myths and Traditions that Emasculate Women: Language, Literature, Law and Female Empowerment
Julia J. A. Shaw, 29-49

Trajectory of Reform: Catholicism, the State and the Civil Society in the Developments of LGBT Rights
Maria Federica Moscati, 51-68

Public Space, Public Morality: The Media Construction of Sex in Public Places
Sean Hennelly, 69-91

A New Government

Well, it's all over. The coming days will determine whether the deal now struck between the Conservatives and Liberal democrats is a good one or not - and if it is a good one - for whom. David Cameron set out his goals on the steps of 10 Downing Street and I have reproduced his words below. On policy, it seemed a re-run of Cameron's speeches - strong references to family, responsibility and the line that reminds me of a line in House of Cards about "coming together" (the comparison is made in HofC to a brothel slogan).

I would also have liked to see more humility, a recognition of the need for a fusion of policy and a clearer recognition that he failed to win the election. The Lib Dems have 5 seats at the Cabinet table but the Tories have locked the foreign office, defence and the economy. This essentially locks any decision as a Tory one. Quite where Huhne will go on nuclear power for example in his role at energy and environment will be fun for Tories to watch and nerve jangling for progressives.

The deal is now down to personality. The various Tories last night talking of a Tory government suggested they didn't get it - they contineud to view this as a Tory government propepd up by the Lib Dems. It is not. The question is, will Cameron and the Cabinet set them straight? We will get a clearer picture of the policy detail later today (or so the BBC tells us) and only then will we really know where we stand. Will the Tories have shelved their planned repeal of the Human Rights Act? How will sexuality and gender figure in this 5 year policy agenda? If we get further homophobic remarks from Tory MPs will Cameron sack them/remove the whip? Will Lib Dem members of the Cabinet pressurise him if he fails to? Finally, what on earth will Nick Clegg do? DPM without a department seems a massive mistake to me but we shall see.

I'm going to take a little rest for a few days from this blog and I'll be tweeting less so I can catch up with all the work I should have done over the past few days. The blog will revert to more stories about law and sexuality - thanks for staying with me over the election period.

Here's what Cameron said:

'Her Majesty the Queen has asked me to form a new government and I have accepted. Before I talk about that new government, let me say something about the one that has just passed. Compared with a decade ago, this country is more open at home and more compassionate abroad and that is something we should all be grateful for and on behalf of the whole country I’d like to pay tribute to the outgoing prime minister for his long record of dedicated public service.

In terms of the future, our country has a hung parliament where no party has an overall majority and we have some deep and pressing problems – a huge deficit, deep social problems, a political system in need of reform. For those reasons I aim to form a proper and full coalition between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

I believe that is the right way to provide this country with the strong, the stable, the good and decent government that I think we need so badly. Nick Clegg and I are both political leaders that want to put aside party differences and work hard for the common good and for the national interest. I believe that is the best way to get the strong government that we need, decisive government that we need today.

I came into politics because I love this country. I think its best days still lie ahead and I believe deeply in public service. And I think the service our country needs right now is to face up to our really big challenges, to confront our problems, to take difficult decisions, to lead people through those difficult decisions, so that together we can reach better times ahead.

One of the tasks that we clearly have is to rebuild trust in our political system. Yes that’s about cleaning up expenses, yes that is about reforming parliament, and yes it is about making sure people are in control – and that the politicians are always their servant and never their masters. But I believe it is also something else. It is about being honest about what government can achieve. Real change is not what government can do on its own – real change is when everyone pulls together, comes together, works together, where we all exercise our responsibilities to ourselves, to our families, to our communities and to others.

And I want to help try and build a more responsible society here in Britain. One where we don’t just ask what are my entitlements, but what are my responsibilities. One where we don’t ask what am I just owed, but more what can I give. And a guide for that society – that those that can should, and those who can’t we will always help.

I want to make sure that my government always looks after the elderly, the frail the poorest in our country. We must take everyone through with us on some of the difficult decisions we have ahead.

Above all it will be a government that is built on some clear values. Values of freedom, values of fairness, and values of responsibility.

I want us to build an economy that rewards work. I want us to build a society with stronger families and stronger communities. And I want a political system that people can trust and look up to once again.

This is going to be hard and difficult work. A coalition will throw up all sorts of challenges. But I believe together we can provide that strong and stable government that our country needs based on those values – rebuilding family, rebuilding community, above all, rebuilding responsibility in our country.

Those are the things I care about. Those are the things that this government will now start work on doing.

Thank you very much'.

A Progressive Future for Politics *Updated*

I expected that today I'd be changing my banner back to normal (unless a lovely person wants to design and donate me a new one that stretches across the top of my blog), thanking you for indulging my election blogging and telling you the blog would now be 'back to normal'. Yet, here we are, two days after a general election and still no-one knows who will be the new government. Since January I thought we'd have a minority Tory gov. In the 24 hours before the vote, I couldn't decide and thought it would be anything between Cameron short by twenty seats through to a majority of 5/6. I was sort of right but I didn't see it being this messy or wide open. I didn't see the chaos - and still possible legal challenges - to the shambles at polling stations, nor did I see the Lib-Dem election disaster (in terms of seats). It may well be that we end up with a minority Tory gov. The favoured option at the moment is a Lib-Con coalition. I don't buy it.

Yesterday, I watched every speech live and felt Cameron gave Clegg nothing. On the other hand, propping Brown up would not be palatable to the public. This was in my opinion, an election in which Brown was rejected - but not I would suggest, the Labour Party. The Lib Dem vote collapsed as people reverted to choosing between the Tories and Labour. Poor Nick Clegg is now pulling left and right by Cameron/Clegg and his own party (which did make me think of the cartoon above).

People are now speculating on alternatives and I can see a progressive and workable option. I would favour - and think it possible in a way I would have said "never" 48 hours ago - a Lib-Lab-Others coalition. Pull the Greens, SNP, Plaid and Liberals into a coalition with Labour - and a new Labour leader. Constitutionally, that is now feasible - I would have thought David Milliband the obvious choice as coalition leader.

Brown would discharge his constitutional duties by informing the Queen he has a workable government that he can recommend and he would stay on as Labour Party leader -but not have a role in government.

The progressive coalition would promise two referendum's in October with a general election to follow in November (with the election called as soon as the referenda results are announced). Referenda on more power for a Welsh assembly (in Wales), a two stage referendum in Scotland - more power devolved or independence, and across the whole UK, a referendum on changing the voting system to PR - with a specific model of PR on the table. Caroline Lucas would be given the environment and energy portfolio. SNP and Plaid offered the chance to nominate the Wales/Scotland Secretaries of State.

There are those (well, Tories) who argue that only they have a mandate. Let's be clear, most people said no to a Tory government. That's worth repeating - most people said no to a Tory government. The will of most people would be represented in the scenario I outline above.

There are also those (well, Tories) who say that the country can't accept another unelected leader. Cameron would be unelected! Most people rejected him. Coalitions are no place for pure ideals and the above statements are rooted in 'pure politics'. Coalitions are about deals and compromise and a new leader - such as Milliband - leading a coalition would have no less democratic authority than David Cameron. I would suggest they will have more authority.

I doubt we'll get a deal this weekend which means Brown will be left in Downing Street echoing a predecessor (who resigned fearing he was about to die and then regretted it when he didn't), Harold Macmillan who famously (so the Thatcher anecdote goes) repeatedly asked his son "has the call come?".

My 'progressive coalition' scenario outlined above might just be a wild dream but admit it, it doesn't sound as bonkers as it once did does it?

Cameron ditches his gay marriage 'contract' pledge?

David Cameron did an interview with the BBC PM programme earlier today with Eddie Mair. The interview should have been 25mins long but was cut short due to the Ash cloud impacting upon travel arrangements. The interview was very revealing. Take this exert which you can listen on the PM blog here.

EM: Is gay equality a fundamental human right?

DC: Yes

EM: So you'll support gay marriage?

DC: I think that civil partnerships get over the err disadvantage that gay people had of not being able to have the advantages that married couples have - that's why we support civil partnerships and for instance where we've said err let's have tax recognition for marriage, that also applies to civil partnerships

Yes folks - he ducked it. That doesn't sound like a guy "considering" gay marriage as he pledged to do in his 'contract' less than 24 hours earlier does it? It sounds like an argument to do exactly the opposite. It will be interesting to see if any other media picks up on this. I continue to be dismayed at Tory flip-flopping on this issue.

In the same interview, Cameron had no problem making it clear that he disagreed with Ken Clarke on a recent announcement regarding Northern Rock. This is despite Clarke being his Shadow Business Secretary and favoured by the City to reprise his role as Chancellor rather than appoint George Osborne. Cameron continues to be unable to condemn those close to him - including his Shadow Home Secretary int heir homophobic remarks so make of it what you will.

BTW - it's also worth listening out for the 'voluntary'/big society line of questioning.

Tories Equality 'Contract' Analysed

The Tories are trying. Desperate to show they are a changed party as well as the party of change, they are seeking to set out a series of 'contracts' on a range of issues. These are essentially the manifesto re-packaged and re-sold in order to get some press attention among targeted audiences. Thus we learned today via Pink News that the Tories had launched an equality 'manifesto'. On reading the news, I went looking for it - Labour and the Lib Dems published their LGBT manifesto's some weeks ago. I couldn't find it on their site but after sending out a plea on Twitter I was pointed in the right direction by @gigoslurp (well worth a follow).

You can read the document in full here. The Tories have lumped all equality issues together so LGBT forms one bit of a wider document encompassing disability and gender with the central message seeming to be "it's alright, we're not going to hurt you" or as they phrase it: 'make no mistake: the Conservative Party has changed. We have updated our policies, and our candidates better reflect modern Britain'.

Two pages of the twenty six document are devoted to 'LGBT Issues'. The intro page from Teresa May is a page and a half. The LGBT section begins by setting out that 'there are three openly gay members of the Conservative front bench (Nick Herbert – the Shadow DEFRA Secretary, Alan Duncan – the Shadow Prisons Minister, and Greg Barker – the Shadow Climate Change Minister). In addition, there are a number of openly gay Conservative Party parliamentary candidates in winnable seats, including Nick Boles in Grantham and Stamford and Margot James in Stourbridge'.

Strangely, no mention of the Shadow Home Secretary's comments on gay rights and other Tory candidates - most recently Phillipa Stroud and her attempts to 'cure' homosexuals through faith. Cameron has still to comment on this most recent Tory revelation - and detractors will inevitably interpret silence as quiet support at worst and weakness at best.

Pink News goes with the slant that the Tories are promising to "consider" gay marriage. That's not the whole story and is actually miss-leading in isolation.


Let me explain. The first area of policy discussed is civil partnerships and the the section concludes that the Conservatives will 'consider the case for changing the law to allow civil partnerships to be called and classified as marriage'. This means firstly, nothing - I consider joining a gym but I'm still an unhealthy so and so who's not set foot inside one for two years. Secondly, if they do change the law it will be to abolish civil partnerships and not create two separate routes. This will disappoint those who would like a range of partnership routes.

Their other commitment under Civil Partnerships states : 'our plans to end the couple penalty in the tax credits system and to introduce a new system of flexible parental leave will apply to all couples, regardless of whether they are heterosexual or same sex couples'.

Well that's a relief. Anything else would be a breach of Convention rights contained in the Human Rights Act so essentially it's a pledge not to break the law.

We then move on to a curious commitment on homophobic bullying. They seem to be saying that by allowing teachers to restrain pupils, they will tackle homophobic bullying. Yes, folks, a good clip around the ear will sort out those pansy hating buggers. The additional powers for schools are a slant on a long established schools policy and are a long winded way of saying they will do nothing. I thought with a pretty competent shadow schools minister like Michael Gove, they would have come up with something a little more inspiring.

On inciting homophobic hatred, the Tories state they supported the government. Good to know. No promise of doing anything else if they were elected. Also good to know.

The one seriously welcome policy is to 'amend the law so that men with convictions for consensual gay sex would be able to apply to have those convictions omitted from their CRB certificate. This would only apply to convictions for activity that is now lawful'. It only affects a small number of people but it's welcome nonetheless.

The policy on international campaigning is a little woolly stating: 'we would
use our relationships with other countries to push for unequivocal support for gay rights'. If I was a Foreign minister I'd look at the new intake of MP's and Chris Grayling in the Shadow Cabinet and laugh. 'Mr Cameron, youz are havingz a laff, no?"

That said, I will welcome a second commitment in the policy (although in my view it is simply abiding by domestic and international human rights law): 'we would change the rules so that gay people fleeing persecution were granted asylum. At the moment gay asylum seekers are often returned to countries with homophobic regimes and told to keep their sexuality a secret'. Quite right.

So there we go. I think the contract, coming as it does, four days before the country goes to the polls is unlikely to change a single vote. Nor does it go far enough in changing perceptions of the Tory party as an orgnaisation with a homophobic core. However, it will do much to re-assure LGBT Tories and enable the Tory party to state it has policies addressing an LGBT audience. It also means that we're talking about something other than another Tory putting their foot in it.

Tory Homophobes Strike Again

I was at a funeral in Manchester this week. Over a buffet and drinks later I found myself talking to a nice couple who coincidentally were from Sunderland. They'd both retired and I was chatting to the husband for around an hour - this and that, the North East Region, his local church etc. All lovely and nice when suddenly he mentioned 'homosexuals' and how much he hated them. He suddenly became a boggle eyed loon and the nice chap I'd been talking to vanished to be replaced by a ranting homophobe.

I can't help thinking that the British public are having a similar experience with David Cameron's Conservative Party. They seem nice. They've changed. Some sensible policies. You have a good long conversation with them. Social Justice. Excellent. Tax benefits that would apply to Civil Partnerships as well as married couples. Jolly good. Then from nowhere someone mentioned homosexuality adn they turn boggle eyed. The Observer and Telegraph today report on Phillipa Stroud. She is the Tory PPC for Sutton and Cheam and as the Director of he Centre for Social Justice (Iain Duncan-Smith's baby) she is prima facie a good sort. Only problem is it turns out she has allegedly founded a church to 'cure' homosexuality in the past. Oh dear. Even Stonewall comes off the fence and criticises the remarks. Must be serious.

This would be bad enough if it didn't follow Chris Grayling saying it was OK to turn away gay people from B&B's if you just didn't fancy poofters staying in your home and Julian Lewis suggesting a different age of consent do to the dangers of homosexuality. In both these earlier cases David Cameron did exactly bugger all. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Then along came Philip Lardner - who you say? Indeed, an unknown Tory twit standing in North Ayrshire and Arran who said that 'most Britons considered homosexuality to be “somewhere between unfortunate and simply wrong” and that it should not be supported by the state'. Interestingly, Cameron rode into action and suspended him. So now we know exactly how far you can go. It seems, as far as you like unless you're senior in the party.

The Tories appear to be likely to be the governing party come Friday, but it remains to be seen if they will have a majority. You might agree with many Conservative values. You might, like me at that funeral be thinking "what a nice chap". Think long and hard - do you want someone in power who continues to think you are less than them, that you are not entitled to the same rights and freedoms as your straight counterparts? Do you want a Home Secretary - the man responsible for policing, for law and order, who thinks you should be discriminated against when you choose to access good and services?

This Thursday, you have a choice. You decide. Think very carefully.