The Long Legal Shadow of Section 28

I've just had another short webzine piece published entitled 'The Long Legal Shadow of Section 28'. I offer my reflections on the legacy of the mow repealed 'Section 28' in the wake of the recent Opera North controversy. There's a link with background on the main article for non-UK readers (and anyone else who doesn't know the ON background). Check it out here. Please feel free to comment on the post.

Growing Opera North Outrage

I first learnt of this story via outraged tweets last night. The Guardian reports that Opera North's plans for the opera, Beached was cancelled. According to the Guardian, the writer and playwright Lee Hall, who wrote the libretto, said he was asked by Opera North to remove explicit references to the sexuality of one character. He refused.

The demand to cut the references came from the primary school, which had nearly 300 children involved. The school felt it was age-inappropriate for a production involving children aged from four to 11.

The story goes on to state that: 'the central problem is a scene – which does not involve any children – when the main character is confronted by a group of lads. He reveals: "Of course I'm queer/That's why I left here/So if you infer/That I prefer/A lad to a lass/ And I'm working class/ I'd have to concur."'

The unwillingness of the local authority to enter into discussions is depressing and I suspect as this story gathers momentum, they will suddenly become more communicative (if they haven't already).

The story will serve to remind many of the days that Section 28 did so much to limit the arts for fear of 'promoting' homosexuality. It is unsurprising that Hall and many readers will therefore find this set of developments seems to hark back to an earlier age of state-enshrined homophobia. Section 28 has gone, and with it should have gone the fear and homophobia that characterised many schools and local authorities in dealing with the subject of sexuality.

I hope that the project goes ahead, and another school(s) come forward with more informed and open approach to education.

"Don't Say Gay"

The Advocate reported earlier in the week on the decision of the Tennessee senate on Friday to pass a 'Don't Say Gay' measure in schools with a 20-10 vote. The measure passed after an amendment was added to restrict the ban only to lessons related to homosexuality, and not all speech, specifically unplanned discussions in classrooms.

UK prof, Ian Rivers considers the development in the context of the historic section 28 offence, and although the measures do have some slightly different contexts, the section 28 story offers some insights into potential implications for such measures. It's also a reminder of the difficult legal battles that lie ahead in the US.

London Mayor

Much of the UK goes to the polls next week in our local elections. In London this includes the race for mayor. The election was recently covered in The New Yorker and last Sunday, The Sunday Times did a piece following Ken Livingstone as he had a slightly odd campaigning trip to Soho in London which included going into the gay nightclub Heaven and an encounter with a Labour MP in the Gaydar club. Well you can also view a recent hustings that Stonewall organised via YouTube. Pink News have pulled them together and they can be viewed at: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7470.html

International viewers may wish to take a seat before viewing the phenomenon that is Boris Johnson. Pink News have also put up a clip of Johnson being questioned by the Pink NeWS editor on his gay rights positions. I'm rather fond of the collective "oooo" moment. lol.



That said, I do think they are a little too harsh and seem unable to listen to his answer. Whilst Boris has made some worrying comments I think that the record of Livingstone (particularly in light of the Sunday Times piece) needs much more analysis and his positions seem out of date. The focus off the panel on section 28 is another example of gay rights campaigners dealing with the battles of twenty years ago rather than the issues that face us today.

Lithuania turns to s28?

A very interesting story on PinkNews about Lithuania where a law that creates a form of section 28 is before Parliament: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-5444.html

The law would ban the "promotion" of gay, lesbian or bisexual relationships to children. The question of what amounts to promotion is one that English public authorities tied themselves in knots over. It's also interesting to see fixed categories of sexuality enshrined into legislation, perhaps most interestingly, bisexuality.