The value of Gay’s the Word bookshop to the community

Bookseller Uli Lenart writes about the importance of Gays the Word to London’s LGBT community, and the plans to build that support in 2012

Gay’s the Word, for me, is a mission…that, and a lesson in human kindness.

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 exception to 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.