Musical Homophobia - or The Homophobia Histories

[jayne lee wilson]

What an utterly dismaying development... (note the extraordinary 3rd paragraph...)

http://theguardian.com/sport/2013/aug/15/yelena-isinbayeva-green-tregaro-rainbow-gesture

You see, once a government passes a law like this, so chillingly similar to Section 28 here in 1988, many take it as an authorisation for hostility. Isinbayeva prefers to use her gold-medal fame as a platform to deny even peaceful protest to an already violently-oppressed minority. Note that she is only too keen to reveal, flaunt and sell her heterosexual beauty as a model. Some good old Freudian projection going on there...

It will (I hope) be remembered that the awful Section 28 made law during the Thatcher regime was quickly followed by an increase in "queer-bashing"; oh, what a quaint phrase it now seems. Well you should have seen some of its victims. I had a few narrow escapes myself - have you ever felt that kind of fear, out there on a public street?

The Russian LGBT competitors and citizens are speaking out and they need our support. But heaven knows what may happen in Sochi - a cold silent suppression, a pitched battle...?

[amateur51]

Thanks for raising this very distressing development, jayne - as you say, it raises so many memories of what we had to put up with under Thatcher's section 28. I think the reponse from the Swedish athletes is just what's needed. Perhaps Stephen Fry et al need to push a bit harder for a boycott now.

Meanwhile, in the super-macho world of WWE wrestling ...

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/aug/15/darren-young-wwe-wrestler-comes-out

Gradually, lesbian and gay sports stars are finding the courage to come out and in a very positive way. It seems light years ago that Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King came out, but these new people are taking the step while still active in their sports.

Thank you Emma Green Tregaro, Moa Hjelmer and Darren Young :ok::star::biggrin:

[aeolium]

And presumably Tchaikovsky's works will be removed from the programmes of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theatres. After all, Putin can't let such a depraved character pollute Russian youth :erm:

I wonder what Putin's friend Valeri Gergiev thinks of all this....

[gurnemanz]

I wonder what Putin's friend Valeri Gergiev thinks of all this....

I don't know if he has commented. Anna Netrebko has at least - cautiously - said something

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It will (I hope) be remembered that the awful Section 28 made law during the Thatcher regime was quickly followed by an increase in "queer-bashing"; oh, what a quaint phrase it now seems. Well you should have seen some of its victims.

I did - and heard them speak of how they called for Police help as the "bashers" chucked stones at their homes, and how that police "help" only arrived half-an-hour after the thugs had moved on. For morons of the thuggish persuasion, it takes only the smallest hint from those in power to suggest that minorities are "fair game" to "legitimize" their obscene behaviour.

And, yes; Bravissimo and thanks, Emma, Moa, Darren ... and Robbie and Jason.

[Ferretfancy]

And presumably Tchaikovsky's works will be removed from the programmes of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theatres. After all, Putin can't let such a depraved character pollute Russian youth :erm:

I wonder what Putin's friend Valeri Gergiev thinks of all this....

Tchaikovsky's sexuality and the pressure he felt under was briefly and sympathetically discussed at the pre - Prom talk at the RCM on Wednesday. In a brief question I was able to point out that were he living in today's Russia he might be in even greater anguish. The audience at the talk did not show much response, I suppose to them it seems a long way away.

[amateur51]

Tchaikovsky's sexuality and the pressure he felt under was briefly and sympathetically discussed at the pre - Prom talk at the RCM on Wednesday. In a brief question I was able to point out that were he living in today's Russia he might be in even greater anguish. The audience at the talk did not show much response, I suppose to them it seems a long way away.

Bravo Ferret - that was a bold and necessary connection to make :ela::ok::biggrin:

[eighthobstruction]

Not sure if there is a Closing Ceremony at the World Athletics Champ's (I think not)....the Opening one seemed to be on the second day (cheap and not that cheerful), after the heats, Putin turning up right at the last moment to make an appearance ....these individual protests are good....but what chance a more solid protest....Putin has recruited a Youth Group which is quite large which takes these evil ideas onto the streets ....

[amateur51]

Not sure if there is a Closing Ceremony at the World Athletics Champ's (I think not)....the Opening one seemed to be on the second day (cheap and not that cheerful), after the heats, Putin turning up right at the last moment to make an appearance ....these individual protests are good....but what chance a more solid protest....Putin has recruited a Youth Group which is quite large which takes these evil ideas onto the streets ....

This all sounds terribly familiar, sadly :sadface:

[Bryn]

Seems from the News that Yelena Isinbayeva is back-pedaling and blaming her poor grasp of the English language for the 'misunderstanding'.

[Pabmusic]

I feel tremendous sympathy for anyone affected by this. It's very odd - I live in a country where the RC Church has terrific power (and therefore where they officially despise gaydom) but where 'gay' is socially acceptable as a third gender, openly talked about without censure. Mind you, 'gays', as they are universally known here (bacla, actually), are expected to be rather camp - sort of oriental Kenneth Williamses - so it's not exactly ideal...

[amateur51]

An e-petition has been launched to persuade London Mayor Boris Johnson to cut the twinning arrangement between London and Moscow as a protest against Putin's legislation.

http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/boris-johnson-scrap-london-s-twinning-with-moscow

I've signed it and I hope that you will too if you feel so moved

[Serial_Apologist]

An e-petition has been launched to persuade London Mayor Boris Johnson to cut the twinning arrangement between London and Moscow as a protest against Putin's legislation.

http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/boris-johnson-scrap-london-s-twinning-with-moscow

I've signed it and I hope that you will too if you feel so moved

:ok:

[Mr Pee]

An e-petition has been launched to persuade London Mayor Boris Johnson to cut the twinning arrangement between London and Moscow as a protest against Putin's legislation.

I've signed it and I hope that you will too if you feel so moved

Sorry, not so moved.

[french frank]

Sorry, not so moved.

Thank you for sharing that, Mr Pee.