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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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I have just read something that shocked me at http://tinyurl.com/349d7tl The writer is a Canadian blogger and I was shown this by another Canadian blogger.
It speaks of something that I have found for myself in my own sheltered life.
Pride comes from Within
Paradoxically I found my own internal pride unleashed by my wholly accidental contact with the large Gay Pride rally in London and my later, purposeful visit with NW to Brighton and with Deeej to Reading.
As a result of the overwhelming and tearful positive emotions I felt in London I became proud.
I came out to my entire family, have told my homophobic cousin that he no longer has any place in my life because of his hateful attitudes and am, where it matters, an out gay man.
The blog speaks of sham marriages. Mine is not, but I am lucky. I recognised true love when I saw it and grabbed hold and refuse to let that go. Others are not so lucky.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Well done, Timmy!!! His blog is right on and I can only agree, we are our own worst enemy. Your response to Joseph's thoughts were well said. I rejoice in your self expression, and closets have no place in our lives.
Age appears to be best in four things; old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read. (Sir Francis Bacon 1561-1626)
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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And this is what I mean by saying cleary that one can make personal revelations and campaign.
I have revealed myself.
I am campaigning.
It does not detract from the atmosphere here.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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I picked up this statement today by William Hague. There is a commentary on it here: http://tinyurl.com/2u24chj
Hague is not gay.
What I saw is, though, that Hague, gay or straight, is not proud. He is defensive. He attackes to get his retaliation in first.
Pride is not about sexuality. Pride is about self.
[Updated on: Wed, 01 September 2010 21:43]
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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cossie
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On fire! |
Location: Exiled in North East Engl...
Registered: July 2003
Messages: 1699
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Firstly, I can’t disagree with anything in the blog, nor with your well-reasoned comment upon it, but I can’t see why you describe it as ‘campaigning’. You explain lucidly why you found self-pride in coming out. That’s the expression of a personal experience, and exactly the sort of thing your forum used to attract but is not currently attracting from other posters. I wish that were not the case. But where’s the campaign? This thread is a world removed from the vicious rubbish to be found in recent forum archives.
Secondly, the William Hague issue. You’ll appreciate that with my political leanings I have very little regard for Hague, particularly as regards his relationship with non-resident donors to his party’s funds. I’m reacting only to what is quoted in your blog – I haven’t attempted to track down the original – but clearly we have yet another instance of press innuendo which may or may not be true. In either case, he wouldn’t be human if it didn’t scare him. His press release is thus hardly surprising. But, if I understand you correctly, what he said, in the order in which he said it, was this:
“Ffion and I believe that everyone has a right to a private life. However, we now feel it necessary to give some background to our marriage because we have had enough of this continued and hurtful speculation about us.
Christopher Myers has demonstrated commitment and political talent over the last 18 months. He is easily qualified for the job he holds. Any suggestion that his appointment was due to an improper relationship between us is utterly false, as is any suggestion that I have ever been involved in a relationship with any man.”
If it turns out that he has been in a recent gay relationship, then he deserves all the flak that will no doubt be gleefully sent his way. At the time of writing, I don’t know whether there is any truth in the allegations, and nor do you. I think that those in the public view must expect this sort of thing, but clearly they have a right to defend themselves. As I see it, the gay dimension is being used to upgrade the salaciousness of the story; you may take a different view. But, taking an analytic look at what he actually said, it is not only possible but highly likely that the word ‘improper’ is used in the sense of ‘other than professional and at arm’s length’. Failing that, it could relate back to the first paragraph and mean ‘extra-marital’. It’s just possible that it does mean ‘gay’, but that’s far the least likely of the three possibilities. And as regards the last part of his sentence, since we all presumably agree that it is a gay man’s right to identify himself as gay in the public arena if he so wishes, we can hardly deny that a non-gay male has the corresponding right, especially when faced with allegations to the contrary.
Hague could have chosen his words a little more carefully, but I cannot see how attacking what he actually said can advance the cause of gay acceptance.
For a' that an' a' that,
It's comin' yet for a' that,
That man tae man, the worrld o'er
Shall brithers be, for a' that.
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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Cossie wrote:
> Firstly, I can’t disagree with anything in the blog, nor with your well-reasoned comment upon it, but I can’t see why you describe it as ‘campaigning’
I didn't.
[the forum works in your local time. I fear the subject heading is useless. Those times are not displayed for me. I have replied to the post where you replied.]
[Updated on: Fri, 03 September 2010 20:40]
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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We each campaign in different ways.
Your post has, however, conflated two issues and presented them as one. Please don't do that. It looks like a stratagem of rhetoric.
I view Hague's comments as offensive, and have said so. They show his extreme distaste for homosexuals.
Scare him? He's scared of being called gay? And he is in the cabinet? Hmmm. Then he is unfit to serve.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Re: A Canadian blog post on Pride 
