Categories: Opinion
Tagged: lgbtq, polari, suicide prevention, trevor project
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Opinion
Working together to prevent LGBTQ youth suicide and promote acceptance 0
Jacqueline Wing, 24, is a straight ally and the communications manager at The Trevor Project. The Trevor Project is the leading national organization in the US focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. The Trevor Project operates The Trevor Helpline (866-4-U-TREVOR), the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGBTQ youth.
Celebrating 40 years of Gay Liberation 0
This year we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in 1969, and formation of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) in New York. Next year, we will celebrate the establishment of GLF in London.
GLF was a defining, watershed moment. For the first time, thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people stopped hiding in the closet and suffering in silence. We came out and marched in the streets, proclaiming that we were proud to be LGBT. There were no pleas for tolerance or calls for mere law reform. Our goal was to transform society, to eradicate sexism, homophobia and all oppression.
Categories: Opinion
Tagged: gay liberation front, glf, peter tatchell, polari, stonewall
Gino Meriano on Civil Partnerships 0
In December of 2005 on a cold brisk morning we saw history made: the Introduction of Civil Partnerships became a reality and thousands of gay couples had their chance to express their love and commitment to their family and friends under the eyes of the law.
Some four years later we still see many Civil Partnerships happen and couples enjoy not only a fantastic day but gain their long awaited legal rights. We have moved so far in our fight for equality from the Civil Partnership Act to the Equality Act, something we should not take lightly.
Categories: Opinion
David Hoyle on the Promise of Spring 0
Our guest columnist this month is the incomparable David Hoyle. David is a performance artist, actor, writer and comedian who gave birth to the legendary Divine David. David returns to London this month with a new series of uncompromising and unmissable shows.
Well, Ladies und Gentlemen, spring it seems has sprung. I am, like many of you I know, a somewhat sensitive soul and during the winter months, well, I can get a bit down. But now that the trees are in bloom I’m feeling replenished, reborn and even, I might say, a little frisky – just the sort of mood, in fact, where I should like to deliver an essay. And my essay for today is, loosely, about the obligation of the artist to tell the truth. But in such a way that it is user-friendly.
Categories: Opinion
Tagged: david hoyle, gender, identity, lgbt, quentin crisp
Start the Revolution Again by Brian Robinson 0
Brian Robinson joined the Belfast Gay Liberation Society in 1975 and been a gay activist ever since. He is currently Senior Programmer, London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and a founder member of The House of Homosexual Culture.
Just as each succeeding wave on the beach never meets the others that preceded it, so there are waves of gay men, lesbians and queers who feel they are the leading edge, dimly aware that thousands have been there before them.
Categories: Opinion
Tagged: brian robinson, london lesbian and gay film festival, queer studies
Paul Baker On Why Gay Used To Be Such A Nice Word 0
Men who fuck men and women who fuck women have been called a lot of things over the decades. The word homosexual was coined in the 1860s by Karl Maria Kertbeny – he’d hoped it replace the current term of the day: pederast. Karl believed that homosexuals were actually superior to heterosexuals. Sadly, although the word caught on, Karl’s meaning of it didn’t. Instead that vicious bitch Richard von Krafft-Ebing got hold of the term and told everyone it meant an effeminate man who was mentally ill. Yeah, thanks for that.
At best homosexual is now used in a neutral “scientific” way to refer to us; at worst it still has those connotations of electric shock therapy and people getting arrested in loos while wearing beige cardigans and then killing themselves in the last act.
Categories: Opinion
Tagged: fallout 3, gay, homosexual, liberation, paul baker, pride, richard von krafft-ebing, ugly betty
Opinion: Justin Bond on Evolution 0
In the United States “Evolution” is still a somewhat controversial subject. It was an issue in our last Presidential election. Many people still believe in creationism while most educated people seem to favour Darwinism. I prefer pragmatism, but then, I believe in everything. You know – whatever gets you through the night…
One time when I was, oh I don’t know, maybe in my teens – fourteen or so – I was sitting at the kitchen table with my Dad and the subject of homosexuality came up. I could have been sixteen because it was at that time I caused a big stink at church by inviting my friend Pat Stein, who worked for Planned Parenthood, to come and talk to our youth group about contraception. I’ve always been concerned about over-population – especially at church.
Categories: Opinion
Tagged: darwinism, dina martina, evolution, justin bond