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mihangel
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Likes it here |
Location: UK
Registered: July 2002
Messages: 192
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The papers here today carry lengthy items about Alan Duncan, the first gay Tory MP to come out (as opposed to being outed). For those who do not know the Tories, they are our nearest equivalent to the Republicans in the States. Quite a number of gay MPs in other parties are out; there've even been gay ministers in the government.
The Tory party hierarchy is being very supportive. But in the Tory rank and file, opinion is polarised, largely according to age. On the whole, Duncan's coming out seems an encouraging sign that things are moving in the right direction, even if slowly. But real success will come only when such revelations are no longer deemed headline news.
Of course I'm generalising, but there are parallels in the reaction to Duncan's coming out and to the discrimination shown by that hotel keeper. Those who support the hotelier's action seem to be the older conservative upper-crust element, the sort who patronise hotels of that kind. Those who condemn Duncan for coming out (or even for being gay at all) are broadly similar types. I suppose we have to patient and wait for that generation to fade away.
The Guardian's main feature on Duncan (there are others you'll find in the site index) is: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4471933,00.html
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tim
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Really getting into it |
Location: UK, West of London in Ber...
Registered: February 2002
Messages: 842
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also the generation before it that dared to voice being gay. Oddly the UK legislation that seemed to allow gay sexual acts cuased more men to be prosecuted than ever before because of its paradoxical nature (you could HAVE sex, but never ask another man out!).
Those generations faced ridicule and major harrassment. That harrassment remains evident in allegedly civilised countries like the USA, but wil dwindle eventually.
The current babies, those who have not yet ANY sexuality, stand a chance of being free. IF we all get it right now, and if we lobby effectively rather than hitting.
And yes, we have to wait for sufficent old shits to die off.
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I applaud the efforts you are talking about. Coming out lends itself to exposure, that lead to dialog, and eventually change.
In the U.S.A. however, we have alot more dying till we catch up. Maybe I am a bit cynical lately. But having lived in Europe for a few years, the biggest misconception Americans have is that we are "The Land of the Free". Nothing could be further from the truth. Perhaps we live in a third world country and don't know it.
"Be excellent to each other, and, party on dudes"!
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