A Queer Family of Characters.

Andi Fraggs recalls watching his first Divine film, Hairspray, and how it started a lifelong fascination with “the most beautiful woman in the world”.

“My mother had some bright pink sequined outfits in the cupboard from the ’80s and I told her, ‘You should wear them now! -You would look like Divine’, which I truly meant as a compliment.”

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As the Boy Scouts of America leadership prepares to vote on overturning its ban on GBT scouts, Walter Beck recalls how he was banned for the political views he had aired online.

“I had been a camp counselor for nine years and had more than a bit of a reputation as a rabble-rouser, an unapologetic freak who took the Scout Oath and Law beyond the rote meanings laid down by National Council.”

The Strange Story of What Happened When Sullivan County, IN Ended Up in the National Headlines.

Walter Beck writes about what happened the Christians of Sullivan County wanted to ban gays from the prom in the name of Jesus. Supposedly.

“The Westboro folk made their grand entrance to the fine city of Terre Haute with the heiress herself, Shirley Phelps-Roper taking center stage, with four signs in her hands and a couple of inverted flags tied around her waist (the American flag, Rainbow Flag and I do believe I saw the Vatican flag as well).”

Holy Hate-Roller!

A (Sort Of) Satirical Review of the Westboro Baptist Church’s 2010 I-70 God Smack Tour, as seen by Walter Beck.

“The Westboro folk made their grand entrance to the fine city of Terre Haute with the heiress herself, Shirley Phelps-Roper taking center stage, with four signs in her hands and a couple of inverted flags tied around her waist (the American flag, Rainbow Flag and I do believe I saw the Vatican flag as well).”

Bona Equality.

Yvonne Aburrow recalls a reading of the Bible in Polari and writes about the role of the Unitarians in achieving LGBT equality.

“Before Polari became the name of this online magazine it was a secret form of language, spoken mostly by gay men and lesbians, with a complex and eclectic history encompassing drag queens, actors, travelling circus people, sailors, Italians, American airforce men and even Punch and Judy entertainers.”

What would you do?

Christopher Bryant writes about how he reacted when the words ‘fucking poof’ were muttered by a passerby.

“It’s the centre of London, within a stone’s throw of the gay bars of Soho, so I didn’t think twice about putting my arms around him and kissing him goodbye. A pair of lads walked by and one of them muttered, ‘fucking poofs’.”

What it Means to Move On.

Scott De Buitléir writes about what it means, and how difficult it can be, to move on.

“In some ways, looking back, we weren’t well suited to each other at all. Regardless, I found it hard to forget him.”

What would you do?

Bryon Fear writes about a homophobic confrontation, and how angry he was with himself when he turned away from it.

“I was suddenly reminded of my nine year old self who used to take mile long diversions home from school for fear of being met by the bullies who earlier had told me in the playground that they “would be waiting” for me after school..”

What would you do?

In a moving, and funny piece, cabaret performer Menno Kuijper writes about living in Brixton and standing up to the man who called him “batty boy” on far too regular a basis.

“I never really quite knew how to respond to it. I always wished I could do something that would scare the living daylights out of him, unleash some kind of monstrous strength or fantastic superpower, or at least find something clever to say. ‘Yes, I’m gay, well-spotted, you’ve just won a fridge!’.”

How do you find Mr Virtual Right?

What has happened to the chat-up line, or the simple ‘hi’, asks Scott De Buitléir, in the days of internet/app dating?

“Yet for all the issues I could have with dating apps, on that Friday night in Dublin city, I didn’t even have the choice – my phone was dead.”