In honour of Soho Pride, and because I love that an article about the issues around lesbian weddings was published in the mainstream press, The Lesbian Bride’s Handbook (called ‘My big fat gay wedding’ in the Observer Woman magazine).
Category Archives: queer
Things you probably didn’t know about medieval lesbians
But there was a medical condition recognized by medieval authorities that might cause normally heterosexual women to become lesbians. It was called ragadiae. According to Carolyn Dinshaw, who is your go-to scholar for weird medieval sexuality, William of Saliceto’s 1285 Summa conservationis et curationis or “Bumper Book of Treatments and Cures” defines ragadiae as fleshy growths, often in the shape of a penis, caused by difficult childbirth, other abscesses of the womb, or sometimes friction from excessive sexual intercourse. Women who found themselves in possession of these growths would sometimes subsequently develop a desire to use them to have sex with other women.
http://gotmedieval.blogspot.com/2007/07/if-medieval-lesbians-dont-get-you-back.html
This was on the front page of the Age online: Divided in sport, united in love
First they played against each other, then they fell in love. Now two of the world’s greatest women hockey players have had a baby together.
That’s the story of Australian Olympian Alyson Annan and her partner, former Olympic rival Carole Thate.
It’s a charming story, and it’s a great balance to Howard’s homophobia which at this distance otherwise forms my opinion of Australia’s attitude to all things gay.
Oh, and al-Qaeda can go fcuk themselves.
Happy London Pride!
It’s been raining and there have been car bombs in London but I hope that doesn’t affect the day.
And here’s why it’s still important:
The Observer, Coming out of the dark ages
“For most people the Sixties was a time of sexual awakening and experimentation. But it wasn’t until 1967 that gay and bisexual men could share that freedom. On the 40th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality, we revisit the appallingly repressive atmosphere of the Fifties and Sixties that ruined lives, destroyed reputations and finally sparked a campaign for change”
The situation might have changed in the UK – this has been the summer of Civil Partnerships – but Pride marches are attacked in Moscow, Riga and gay rights are still a dream in many places around the world.
Coming out
Entirely randomly I came across this brilliant analysis of the different stages of coming out, whether as a feminist, a dyke, whatever, and also an insight into what it’s like dealing with the queer community if you’re disabled: SexAbility: Coming Out.
If I was still flying short-haul, I would have liked to have gone to Latvia to support their Pride march: Latvia: Celebrating rights — fighting prejudice.
The glbtq (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer) encyclopedia looks like a really good resource (and a good random read).
Neither one has really worked for me…
“But perhaps the biggest advantages of being an archaeologist are that you get a tan, and are able to meet and impress girls …” How to succeed in archaeology
I really liked this description of the difference between gay and homosexual from gay.com:
“However, there is a difference between being homosexual and gay. As you say yourself, you’re “not straight”…but you’re not gay. Yet.
‘Homosexual’ is a hard-wired hormonal tendency to be turned on by your own sex and not the opposite sex.
‘Gay’, however is not (just) about sexuality, it’s about identity. It’s an achievement, not a predisposition. It’s a label homosexual men initially chose for themselves and it’s still an identity you have to choose – or refuse – to embrace. That’s the stage you’re stuck at right now.
Because gay is a social identity, people piece it together out of a string of stereotypes. That can feel oppressive. Will I have to be camp? Will I have to like Eurovision/give a flying f*** about Big Brother/get a tattoo/take ecstasy/take it up the bum?
The answer to all those is NO, not unless you want to.
More importantly, there are questions about giving up things too. Will I lose my family’s love? My circle of friends? Being a dad? Getting married?
The answer here is also NO, not necessarily – but that yes, being gay may make some of these things harder to achieve.”
And also, Moldovan gays defy pride ban
“It also contravenes a recent decision by the Moldovan Supreme Court, which robustly defends the right of all Moldovan citizens, including LGBT people, to freedom of expression, assembly and peaceful protest.
…
The mayor’s [Ken Livingstone] statement was in response to the municipal authorities of Chisinau banning an event planned by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organisation GenderDoc-M for 27 April as part of the 6th Moldovan LGBT Pride festival.”
I wish I’d known closer to the time, I would have sent an email in support.
Walt on the wild side
Disney are “…throwing open the gates of Cinderella’s castle for same-sex partnership ceremonies. Gay and lesbian couples can, for the first time, stage their own commitment ceremonies anywhere on Disney property, a privilege heterosexual couples have enjoyed for decades.
“We are not in the business of making judgements about the lifestyle of our guests,” said Donn Walker, spokesman for Disney Parks and Resorts. “We are in the hospitality business, and our parks and resorts are open to everyone.””
I’ve never had any interest in Disney or theme parks, but that makes me go ‘awww’.