The last stand of the old-style Tories against equality.

Paul Baker writes about that upcoming vote on marriage equality and the bigots it will leave behind.

Despite David Burrowes’ claims of not being homophobic, his “no” vote will be there for future generations to look over, and it will be interpreted as a last ineffectual gasp of mean-mindedness, hurting no-one but the reputations of those who made it.

On “sh*t that straight people say to gay people”

Paul Baker writes about that one phrase that straight people like to say to gay people: I don’t mind you being gay, just don’t shove it in my face.

I sometimes wonder about all of the times that I’ve had heterosexual sex waggled about under my nose by the media, how it’s so pervasive that it barely registers, and how frequently it’s just there for titillation value.

Gay Face: Another Contemporary Stereotype

Paul Baker takes a look at the term ‘gay face’, and how its use as an insult is just homophobic.

If you’re calling someone “gay face” then I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that, not only are you a little bit catty, but you’ve also bought in to all the nasty homophobic and genderphobic stereotypes that mainstream society has been using to make gay men second class citizens for decades.

What do you really mean when you call someone a twat?

Why is it considered ok to use words that refer to genitalia to insult people? What does this say about what we think, who we are, and what we’re ashamed of?

My hope is one day we’ll reach a point where when someone says, “Oh, he’s such a twat,” the response will be, “Sounds like he’s a great person, then, because twats are wonderful, beautiful things.”

The Camp and the Bitchy: Gay Men on TV

Paul Baker asks if the stereotypes of John Inman’s camp queen are over and done with, or does the stereotyping of gay men on TV continue?

Sean Tully in Coronation Street tends to have a better time, but he’s another camp (if more lovable) stereotype. As is Harry from The Only Way in Essex. I suspect Harry has never had an unkind thought, but that could be because his head is full of glitter and sparkles.

Gay Marriage, can it really work?

After expressing his support for gay marriage last year, Scott De Buitléir now questions whether gay men are actually capable of the sort monogamy marriage is traditionally associated with.

I wrote last year that I hope to be lucky enough to marry an amazing man whom I’ll be madly in love with. What I forgot to add is that I hope I’ll be lucky enough to be in a monogamous marriage with another man.

Is Attitude’s “Issues Issue” helpful in any way at all?

Polari‘s editor takes issue with how Attitude tackles the issue of gay men and mental health in a publication that endorses much of the behaviour it criticises.

Attitude’s approach to mental health issues is a problem because it is not about living your life, but instead about adopting an alternative lifestyle defined by bullet points. The devil is not in the detail but in the overall message.

Our columnist this month is radio presenter Scott De Buitléir.

Scott takes on the hypocrisy of the homphobic Protestant politician Iris Robinson.

Her words against homosexuality paved the way for her to be branded ‘the Wicked Witch of the North’ by many in the LGBT communities in Britain and Ireland, with apt tribute paid to her in the Belfast Pride march of that year.

Our columnist this month is the communications officer for The Trevor Project.

Jacquline Wing talks passionately about how people can work together, regardless of their sexuality, to prevent teen suicide.

According to a 2006 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers.

The renowned activist Peter Tatchell on the 40th anniversary of the GLF.

Peter Tatchell looks back on 40 years of gay liberation, and in particular the GLF and its significance.

All that prejudiced nonsense was turned upside down with the advent of GLF in London in 1970. While politicians, doctors, priests and journalists saw homosexuality as a social problem, GLF said the real problem was society’s homophobia.