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.

The world famous magician Fay Presto writes about Crossing Over.

Fay Presto writes about the House of Homosexual Culture event Crossing Over, a multi-media exploration of the gender divide.

There was a lot of applause and support for the performers/participators, the sort of applause I get after the performance of a particularly neat card trick.

Gay businessman Gino Meriano writes about Civil Partnerships.

The founder of Pink Weddings Ltd and The Gay Wedding Show writes about the legal implications of civil partnerships and social significance of full marriage equality.

Our ultimate goal should be the acknowledgement and acceptance of any legal partnership, no matter whether you’re a resident or simply a visitor in any country.

Dr Who author David Llewllyn is the guest columnist this month.

David Llewllyn writes about science-fiction, and how it addresses the subject of sexuality.

It’s curious that while non-genre television still tip-toes around the subject of sexuality, sci-fi and fantasy programmes, from Buffy to Torchwood, have tackled it with aplomb. Perhaps this is the Trojan Horse principle in action, and audiences are more willing to accept gay and lesbian characters if they are surrounded by aliens and vampires.

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.

Nowadays, it’s all too easy to take an off-the-peg identity. And, indeed, an off-the-peg physique. But musculature can be a form of armour and those of you who haven’t been to the gymnasium have bodies which are more idiosyncratically your own.