Media, Identity and Changing Times

It must have been back in 1999 or 2000 that I was travelling in the back of a cab from the Sheffield gay club Planet (long since closed).  I had a young man by my side, a copy of the magazine Boyz (with the infamous naked 'Backroom Boy' photo - which they no longer seem to do) and a copy of the newspaper Pink Paper.  I thought if this gay malarky means you end the night with an attractive male friend, a free magazine with soft porn and a free newspaper, this is my sort of sexual identity.

Scroll forward to the latter part of that decade, and I would provide copies of the Pink Paper to my Law and Sexuality students in a bid to immerse them in 'gay' news and events, and as a way around the apparent reluctance of straight students to visit 'gay' websites.  Then, in 2009, the Pink Paper suspended their hard-copy print run.  They suggested it could be temporary due to the decline in ad revenue but I observed at the time (as did many) that a print return was unlikely.

So it continued, with a reasonable website, but failing to replicate the experience of the newspaper edition.  Pink News continued to grow as an online news player, and did it better in a fresher, more responsive way than the Pink Paper.  Tris Reid-Smith - who I felt had been a dreadful editor at Gay Times causing it to have a weird personality disorder- ran both the Pink Paper and Gay Times until jumping ship and heading up a new venture - Gay Star News.  This new service - which launched at the start of the year - has demonstrated itself as having a fun, interactive, responsive and winning outlook on 'gay' news.  Reid-Smith has done a tremendous job, clearly assembling a terrific team and carving out a clear ethos which works with their readers.  The site is by all accounts going from strength to strength.   

So it is that Gay Star News served as perhaps a further nail in the coffin of the Pink Paper - increasingly lacking in energy and seeming to be on life support.  In September 2012, the decision was made to put the poor thing to sleep after 25 years.  

Consequently, earlier today I finally removed the RSS feed from my blog, and as part of my return to blogging, can pay my over-due tribute to an important publication, now sadly a part of history.  

As sad as the demise as something which evokes powerful memories is - at least for those of us in our early 30s and above - we can also rejoice in the continued operation of a range of online media services.  The Pink Paper was important as a free news-sheet, a way of obtaining 'our' news not contained elsewhere, of promoting a sense of community and identity.  Today, someone contemplating 'Coming Out' (and last week saw National Coming Out Day) can interact with people via countless sites such as LadsLads, Fitlads, Gaydar, Squirt and so on, and increasingly via Apps such as Grindr or Skruff.   They can explore how their identity is reported and formed in the mainstream media, specialist media and via blogs and social media.  

The Pink Paper's demise can arguably be seen as part of the process of a dramatically changing sexual landscape - arguably fuelled by unprecedented legal change -and a warning to other media outlets of the importance of recognising such a change, and responding to it, and an evolving use of media. 

Coming out at university

Freshers week kicked off for us today, but for some students starting Uni this week and in the coming weeks, the question of 'coming out' remains an important one.   Here's a nice short piece on coming out at University.

Schools OUT Conference

Readers with an interest in education may be interested in this event - particularly if you are a school teacher. As always the Schools OUT Conference will be held on the first Saturday of February 2012. It is entitled: Educating OUT Prejudice through the LGBT Lens. Featuring the Classroom, The Rainbow Project and presenters and speakers from the other protected characteristics, the Conference will be rich in resources and ideas for practitioners in the classroom and stakeholders in education.

To register call the Drill Hall box office: 020 7307 5060

Fees
Until Jan 26 2012 Student or Unemployed £10, Retired £15 Individual £40 Organisation £50
After Jan 26, 2012 Student or unemployed £15 Retired £20 Individual £50 Organisation £60 

EDUCATING OUT PREJUDICE THROUGH THE LGBT LENS

Celebrating our new website the Classroom Gender Intelligence, Mermaids and GIRES will explore how to challenge the concept of binary gender Disability History Month will explore challenging disability HMI/Ofsted will explore how we can use the curriculum to celebrate diversity Workshops will explore the lesson plans on the website and there will be an opportunity to view the Rainbow Project films and hear from young people how they are working on the issues ...plus the usual chance to network and Schools out AGM vote in the new committee

More information here.

Project Bolo

I want to share a truly moving and important project with you.  The India-based Project Bolo is an LGBT oral history project, but given it operates in a country that regards homosexuality as a taboo - and whose recent attempts at decriminalisation are still stuck in the courts -means that the people who appear in these film are incredibly courageous.  The Project describes itself in the following terms:

''Project Bolo' records and documents individual profiles of LGBT persons who have, in their own way, stood up for what they believed in and challenged norms and stereotypes loaded on them by the society. They are also persons who have made a significant mark in their own professional areas of work, be it literature, filmmaking, law, activism, healthcare, journalism, IT, media, etc. Through these recorded interviews, 'Project Bolo' hopes to serve as an inspiration to the LGBT community and offer real-life role models.

This multi-generational oral history project, 'Project Bolo', hopes to serve as an inspiration to the LGBT community and reconstruct the unique history and progress of the Indian LGBT movement from the early 40s to the present day. Project Bolo in its first phase Vol 1, carried out during 2010-2011, recorded and documented oral histories of 20 LGBT persons in four cities - Mumbai, Pune, New Delhi and Lucknow : Aditya Bandopadhyay, Ashok Row Kavi, Betu Singh, Bindumadhav Khire, Dalip Daswani, Gauri Sawant, Geeta Khumana, Giti Thadani, Hoshang Merchant, Jehangir Jani, Lachi, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, Manvendra Singh Gohil, Nisha, Parmesh Shahani, R Raj Rao, Ruth Vanita, Saleem Kidwai, Shivananda Khan, Sunil Gupta. Project Bolo is produced by The Humsafar Trust in association with Solaris Pictures and supported by UNDP (India).'

The project has a wonderful website with transcripts and videos of the individuals who took part in phase one of the project.  Check it out here.   The ever brilliant Indian gay magazine, Gaylaxy also includes a piece looking at the project in their latest issue which you can view or download here.  There's also a rather brilliant piece about gay students coming out on college campuses.  Moving stuff.

Guest Post: Coming Out at University

I'm delighted to present another guest post, this time from Verne Lewis who expands on the blog post I previously flagged up.  If you would like to write a guest post for this blog, give me a shout at: chris.ashford@sunderland.ac.uk

I recently wrote a blog post about coming out at university, based on my own experiences. The reason I wrote it was because I think university is a great place to make a fresh start in telling a whole group of new people if you couldn’t find the courage to tell the existing people in your life. I am however completely aware that coming out is personal choice, and the process is completely different for everyone and would like to respond to those who have highlighted this after reading the blog, particularly those who have highlighted that some people choose not to come out at all.

 The problem is, coming out is something we as gay people will have to do for the rest of our lives, if we want someone to know who we really are, because people continue to make assumptions about sexuality and what they consider ‘the norm’. Although most people know about me I still don’t choose to come out to everyone, and often my decision is based on how well I think I’ll end up knowing the person.

 If a shop assistant said something about my 'boyfriend' I'd nod and agree, knowing I'd probably never see them again, and it being easier to agree than to come out to a 16 year old shelf stacker in the middle of the cake aisle at Tesco. But say someone at work asks if I live with my 'boyfriend'? Perhaps it would be easier to say yes, and hope you don't see them too much in the future. But then you might see them again, and again, and then at what point do you say to them 'actually, I made that up, and this is who I really am'.

As non-specific gender terms such as 'partner' become more popular, it is becoming easier not to have to say anything until you're ready, without having to lie, and for that I'm sure many of us are grateful. Unfortunately, a large percentage of people have still not caught on to this.

 I don’t really think it’s an issue about homosexuality being all you’re about, but for someone to completely know you I think it’s important for them to know that part of you. I live with my girlfriend, so obviously it’s a massive part of my life, but even if you’re single I still see it as an important step, not just for others to understand you but also for your own self approval. I’ve known many people who have spent years not telling people, but as they keep it from others it also keep it from themselves, often meaning they live a completely different life just to cover something that they can’t admit. They end up doing things they regret and giving themselves unnecessary stress and upset as a result – keeping something to yourself often turns situations into much bigger problems than they need to be.

 Coming out to yourself is often a long and difficult process, with self-denial a big part of the initial stage, and then once you’ve gone through that you have the rest of the world to come out to for years to come. I completely understand making the choice not to come out to every single person you meet, but I do think it’s important to at least be honest with yourself and those closest to you.

Ricky Martin

The guardian carries an interesting article today with the singer Ricky Martin. A gay celebrity isn't that surprising, but a gay celebrity who is latino is. Read the full interview here.

Anton Hysén

The Guardian today carries a wonderful interview with Anton Hysén - the only professional footballer to be 'out'. More photos are included in the print edition (in the G2 section) with his mum and dad, which do add something to the story. The main picture (also online) left me pondering towels of all things - they do look rather random and manky in the background - I was expecting immaculate towels. This may seem a random observation but it left me wondering where it was shot and whether that was significant. I would expect his club's changing rooms (perhaps wrongly) to be turned out a little differently and thus is the photo a reflection of a lack of club support for this sort of story or what? It's probably my over-active mind but I did wonder if there was another aspect to the story.

The more obvious aspect of this story is the state of homophobia in football. One out footballer is a start but it's absurd to believe that Hysén is the only gay professional footballer. That others have yet to come out, tells us an awful lot about the limitations of the law, and the new protections and freedoms that have been introduced in the last ten years or so.

Read the Guardian story in full here.

Coming Out at Work

The Guardian offers great value today. First off, a piece on 'coming out' at work. The piece links to, and draws upon some interesting research by Stonewall and also recognises the important challenges that remain for people in 'coming out' in the workplace despite recent advances in legislation and legal protection.

The read the article in full here.

It Gets Better...Today

I blogged yesterday about the US 'It Gets Better' campaign which comes in the wake of a series of high-profile suicides among gay teenagers in the States. As is so often the way, England has followed suit with Stonewall launching a campaign called 'It Gets Better...Today'. It's actually a good idea but it might have been nice to more formally link it into the US campaign and try and get a global community (which YouTube does rather well anyway). Stonewall has filmed a series of professional films and the one I find the most compelling is from Lance Corporal James Wharton - an openly gay soldier. For all those in the US fearful of a world post DADT it is essential viewing. For all those seeking hope, it is equally compelling. You can view the video below and check out the Stonewall YouTube channel here.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Life at West Point

The New York Times carries a powerful, moving and fascinating piece today, on life under DADT at the US military training 'base', West Point. Read it in full here. It's a reminder for us all that there are still so many people in supposidly free societies that have to lead double lives and hide in the closet.

Coming Out as HIV Positive

Many of us know that coming out about our sexuality is not a once off event. You come out to friends, to family, the employers and then you move, come out to new friends, new work colleagues, new employers and so on. Yet, to then 'come out' as HIV positive is to create another barrier - the need to 'come out' yet again, coupled with the inevitable fear of rejection at a time when you're trying to get your own head together. The Sword blog has a story on its site about gay porn star Mason Wyler 'coming out' as HIV positive which he first did on his blog earlier today. You can can read his blog post here (NSFW).

Not only does Mason face the personal issues (which he has apparently had the last twelve months to reconcile) but not he has to come out as positive again, with his positive identity defining his porn identity as much as his sexuality. It will determine the work he is offered, the studios that offer it and perhaps even the fanbase he secures. It's a reminder of the complex identities that porn stars have to negotiate and it no doubt heralds the new-found regulatory, legal and social pressures that Mason will need to confront. Stick in there buddy.

In other news...

Couple of other minor stories. First off, as Joe McElderry pops out, actor Tom hardy runs back in. The Advocate reports that he is now suggesting remarks he made about past same-sex sexual experiences were taken out of context and he's strictly hetero. The Advocate notes there seem to be some flaws with his statement. Read more here.

Thanks to Sean for flagging up this next story. The BBC have reported that the High Court ruled this week to ban sex parties at a mansion. Worth a read. It seems a perfectly reasonable decision given the facts presented in this story. So long that is, as the next round of political fundraisers or other such activities held in neighbouring or nearby properties are equally banned.

Joe McElderrry Comes Out whilst Balding Goes on the Offensive

So Joe McElderrry has come out. I guess my reaction like many is "well yea, I kinda thought it anyway". That makes it no less brave for McElderry. The Sun (amazingly) breaks the story and does so in a very sensitive way. Read the full story here. Sometimes, our sexuality might be obvious to others but is something that we find more complex and difficult. This seems to be the case with McElderry. Of course, it's worth noting that coming out is often seen as a one off event. It rarely is. In reality, new friends and acquaintances, new social clubs, new employers can all mark the need to come out again. McElderry comes out amidst a different legal landscape to the one I did eleven years ago, but it remains a complex social landscape.

Meanwhile - and interestingly the story that seems to be getting more media coverage - is that BBC Present Clare Balding, an out lesbian, has lodged a complaint with the Press Complaints Commission. The original piece was by AA Gill who wrote:

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

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

Yet, I suspect nothing would have come of this but for the response by John Witherow - editor of the Sunday Times - the paper the piece appeared in. He wrote back to balding (who had written, raising concern at the piece) with an astonishingly cack-handed reply:

'In my view some members of the gay community need to stop regarding themselves as having a special victim status and behave like any other sensible group that is accepted by society'.

Balding responded to this remarks by commenting:

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

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

I have only one thing to add: "go Clare!"

Read the full Balding story in the Guardian here.

Coming Out and Public Life

The Guardian carried a really interesting piece on Saturday reflecting on former BP head honcho Lord Browne's remarks on Friday. The piece links to his remarks. See them both here.

Gender and Sexuality in the News

Couple of great stories that I wanted to flag up with you all. First off, an interesting piece in the Guardian yesterday called 'A Change of Heart' (different title online) which asks what it's like to discover that you are married to someone who is gay. It's an interesting piece and can be read here.

Secondly, there was a surprisingly well informed and engaging piece in the Daily Mail yesterday which Jane and Andrea. Jane was until the start of this year, John, a well known journalist and Andrea is standing by Jane. When I heard Jane and Andrea were doing the piece I thought in the words of Yes Minister's Sir Humphrey Appleby, it was a 'courageous decision' but I'm pleased the piece has turned out well. Take a look here.

Coming out at Christmas

With the countdown to Christmas, our minds are probably less focused on issues of sexuality. Yet for many, the switching on of festive lights, the scrums in shops and other annual events that herald the arrival of Christmas can give rise to anxiety as gay men and women are thrown back into the heteronormative world of their parents and family. This can mean several days in which otherwise openly 'out' queers open up the closet door and jump back in, assuring elderly relatives that they just haven't met the right person yet etc etc. Despite our legal reforms and apparently progressive society, the continued presence of the Christmas closet is a reminder that we still have a long way to go.

The London Gay Men's Chorus did a great song on Coming Out at Christmas. You can watch it below.

RIP Stephen Gately

I was shocked to hear this morning about the death of Stephen Gately. Given Boyzone's manager, Louis Walsh is due on the X Factor tonight I would expect that show to pay some sort of tribute. The reason I mention the death of this musician on a blog about law and sexuality is that the singer was an important figure for many coming to terms with their own sexuality. In 1999 the singer came out in an interview with The Sun newspaper. I remember at the time there was speculation that he was about to be outed anyway and so he chose to 'jump first'. In any case, it was part of that social transformation in attitudes to sexuality that was taking place in the 1990s and it's now easy to forget just how significant a member of a high profile group like Boyzone coming out - and being accepted - was.

Pink News reports on his death here and a BBC report (including video, pics) can be viewed here.

Celebrity and Coming Out

Rachel Johnson (sister of Boris - he of whiff-whaff, HIGNFY and mayoral fame) wrote an interesting piece in the Sunday Times yesterday following the revelation of Kelly McGillis that she is a lesbian. This is the week that the Guardian reproduced a piece by Stephen Fry in which he wrote a moving letter to his teenage self. The original is published in the latest issue of Gay Times which is celebrating it's 25th anniversary. Johnson suggests that both celebrities are making a similar assertion this week which is:

'Despite the Internet, gay chatlines, gay parades, the ubiquity of men-seeking-men personal ads, even though being gay has gone from a matter of deep personal shame to pride over many years via Stonewall rioters and Harvey Milk, it’s still tough out there'.

She quotes Fry who wrote:

'For millions of teenagers around Britain and everywhere else, it is still 1973. Taunts, beatings and punishment await gay people the world over in playgrounds and execution grounds'.

Beyond the technological and social shifts that Johnson points to, we have also witnessed an amazing change in legal measures affecting he lives of gay men and women over the last ten years and yet, for all of that, there continues to be these continued fears in the UK and beyond. This should also act as a warning for those who believe that further legislative change - such as the Equality Bill - will transform this issue. In truth, there has been two much faith that law alone can transform the lives of gays and lesbians. It has undoubtedly made a significant impact but the fight for rights, respect and perhaps even hope goes beyond law.

40 Years Out

40 Years Out was a Newsnight review style show presented by David Aaronovitch that was designed to look back at 40yrs of 'gay liberation' but in reality the discussion was somewhat inward looking focussing on the channel 4 season and particuarly around Clapham Junction.

The panel included Matthew Parris, Paul Sinha, Mark Simpson, Simon Fanshawe, Julie Bindel, Brian Paddick and QBoy.

Another show wasn't televised but explored whether the media helps to broaden minds and push boundaries. Clips of the show can be viewed at:
http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/0-9/40_years_on/debate.html

Queer as Old Folk

I've just been catching up with the rest of the Ch4 gay season. Queer as Old Folk was an interesting documentary that followed the lives of a number of "old" gay men. Proably the most likable character we met was Seventy-three-year-old Alan who came out in his teens, and has never hidden his sexuality. We also meet his partner of 40 years, Jimmy. We see them finally tie the knot in a civil partnership.

In contrast, 58-year-old Clive always suspected he might be gay, but got married to subdue his homosexual urges. Eighteen months ago, however, he decided things had to change. Clive lost weight, got fit and came out. He's still married, and living with his wife and teenage son, but this doesn't stop him from lining up dates, surfing Gaydar and cruising saunas to have sex with dozens of men each week. The details of which he shares with his son. In one worrying scene we see him informing his son he's off for a threesome later. Clive is also diagnosed with an STD in one scene but despite clear advice from his doctor continues to meet for a sexual encounter.

Unlike Clive, 64-year-old Roger always knew he was gay, but nevertheless he married and had two children, continuing his gay life on the side. He says his wife knew he was gay, but they continued their marriage, had two children and stayed together for 30 years. Then at 58 Roger met Ian, who was just 18: they've now been a couple for six years, and Roger manages Ian's career as a male stripper (yes, I'm a bit mystified too though I did learn something about how rubber bands are used by strppers).

The programme was good in showing a diverse range of men of an older generation and it was nice to to see some personal stories from a generation that have a fascinating story to say but are all too often neglected by the gay media.