2012 Retrospective

The Editor looks back at the year 2012 in Polari and how it has explored the LGBT subculture. Part 5: Credo.

Polari-ing all the way to the Malvinas/Falklands Conflict.

Jo Stanley writes about the hidden queer history of the South Atlantic conflict that ended 30 years ago this month.

“The presence of queer, indeed high camp, seafarers on the troop carriers has been written out. It doesn’t fit the story of rufty-tufty Brits, including Marines and Paras sailing forth in the hyper-masculine style of imperial conquest.”

Even the gays don’t want equal marriage! Apparently.

Nadine Dorries is opposed to what she calls the Metro Elite Gay Activists, who she says are pushing an agenda that nobody really wants. She sums up the tactics of the new homophobia, writes Paul Baker.

“Just who are these Metro Elite Gay Activists – or MEGA-gays as Nadine Dorries claims? I have this picture in my head of a haughty cartoon gay couple called Ivan and Tarquin, living in a swanky loft somewhere near Primrose Hill.”

What exactly does ‘post-gay’ mean?

Paul Baker looks at at the term post-gay after the Core Issues Trust used it in its banned pro ex-gay bus campaign ad.

“At the Urban Dictionary, “post-gay” means either 1) that gay people define themselves by something other than sexuality, although they still view themselves as gay and care about gay rights. Or 2) Someone who is excessively gay.”

A History of Newspaper Homophobia.

Paul Baker looks at the history of homophobia in the British press.

“Although the name-calling has largely disappeared, the negative attitudes took longer to shift, and the newspapers more narrowly focused their ire on ‘the gay lobby’ who kept demanding bizarre and unreasonable things like the right to fight for their country, or have their relationships acknowledged.”

The last days of the PCC.

Paul Baker welcomes the shut down of the Press Complaints Commission on the grounds that it didn’t do much in the way of good

“To my mind, getting journalists and editors to govern themselves is a bit like putting bullies in charge of the playground, and so the closure of the PCC is a hopeful step in the right direction.”

LGBT History Month Heroes, 1 of 4

In this 4 part feature the 29 heroes – some individuals, some organisations, and some who are their own separate category – are brought together.

Alan Turing

To mark the last day of LGBT History Month, 2012, the Polari team have selected Alan Turing for Polari Magazine’s list of LGBT Heroes. For UK LGBT History Month, and Turing Year, 2012. Written by Paul Baker.

“While many people have singled out Turing because of his contribution in helping Britain and its allies win World War II, it should be remembered that there were thousands of forgotten men who lived through the wars, who fought in them, and were also punished because of who they loved.”

Paul Baker

Polari Magazine’s editor selects Paul Baker for its list of LGBT Heroes. For UK LGBT History Month 2012.

It is always a great pleasure to read his work because it is so well thought out, so very reasonable and so very human. He is one of the LGBT community’s greatest assets, and one of its greatest spokesmen.

Ben Cohen

Paul Baker selects Ben Cohen for Polari Magazine’s list of LGBT Heroes. For UK LGBT History Month.

There are too few people involved in macho sports like rugby and football (gay or straight) who will stick their neck out for us, and so Ben is a much-needed friend and hopefully at the forefront of a growing trend.