‘PRIDE SCOT IA IS PEOPLE REDUCED TO THEIR SEXUALITIES'
Prideces Oé a all?
Last year’s Pride Scotia marchers preparing to set off
The pink riot that is Pride Scotia is back again, this year taking to the streets of Glasgow. But does the LGBT movement still need to fight for its rights?
JULIAN HENG: WE STILL NEED PRIDE Something pretty chaotic is happening. ()n 4 June. Heath Ledger and Jake (iyllenhaal won the 'best
kiss‘ prize at this year"s MTV Moyie Awards for their
lustful embrace in Broke/Mick .ilmmruin. a film which depicts the perils faced by two men who love each other in an intolerant society. Have we learned anything from this lesson'.’ Apparently not. The very next day the goyet'not's of the BBC rejected a complaint that (‘hris Moyles had been homophobic when describing on air a ringtone he disliked as 'gay" — meaning it was rubbish. Quite why he couldn't simply have used this latter term is anyone's guess. More worrying is the assertion that he was only using expressions which the listeners use themselyes. This kind of collusion with discriminatory attitudes would be rightly abhorred if we were talking about racism. And here's the rub. While you can legislate for a more respectful society. you can‘t legislate for the general public's response. Witness the equal pay act introduced in W75 and still not fully implemented oyer 30 years later. While the Scottish Executive has
(thankfully) done its level best to introduce a raft of
policy changes designed to bring about equity and inclusion for lesbians. gay men. bisexuals and transgendered people. we are still some considerable distance from our not-exactly-promised land.
Pride Scotia is as valuable. releyant and necessary today as it was during the New York 'Stonewall riots‘ of Not). The Pride Scotia march is a powerful demonstration of our commitment to a fairer society in which we can all participate to our full potential.
ISLA LEAVER-YAP: OH NO WE DON’T
Last summer I celebrated Pride alone on a street curb. drinking warm beer. waiting for my then-partner to return from a long and heated argument with an ex she‘d butnped into on the procession. While witnessing \‘Lil‘ltills other dyke and dim dramas get underway at this annual gathering. l was generously offered free condoms. information on men's health and a rainbow sticker. One young man. obyiously not
part of these celebrations. stopped by to accuse me of
‘buttmunchery‘. This hardly seemed like pride. Sitting amidst a small gathering of folk with whom I had little else in common save a few mutually ill- adyised sleepoy’ers. Pride Scotia wasn't so much a political statement of acceptance oyei' tolerance as it was a collection of people reduced to their sexualities.
In a climate like this it‘s hardly surprising. albeit unacceptable. that one month later. Radio ()ne‘s (‘hris Moyles used the word 'gay’ to mean 'rubbish‘. While Moyles isn't the fittest arbiter of taste. Pride eyents in Scotland are indeed naff. They fail to unite the gay community. splitting an already poorly- attended eyent between (ilasgow and lidinburgh.
It‘s easy to lob criticism in the face of the hard working. well-meaning Pride Scotia. but between all the rainbow flags and pumping eurodisco. it's hard to squeeze in much else. Pink glitter and rainbow flags reaffirm a sexual stereotype. while festivals like Glasgay? are proactive and entertaining. l’eople shouldn't be proud becatlse they're gay. they should be proud that they are indiyiduals open about their sexuality. but not solely defined by it.
GAY FUN AND
Tim to Leave The second in Francois Ozon's trilogy on mourning is a movung, understated portrayal of a young gay man‘s (Melvil Poupaud. pictured) journey towards self-acceptance in the face of encroaching death. Cameo, Edinburgh, Thu 22 June.
Pride Scotia 2006 Glasgow is this year's host for Scotland's national celebration of all things L. G. B & T. But is it an important entry in the queer calendar or a big fat waste of space? See main piece. left. Blythswood Square, Glasgow, Sat 24 Jun.
Rainbow City Book Launch The launch of Rainbow City: Stories from Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Edinburgh promises to be a colourful affair from those literary folk at Word Power. City Art Centre, Edinburgh, Sun 25 June.
Taste They've sewn up the world of Sunday clubbing in the capital for twelve long years. Josh the Funky 1 joins Fisher & Price for this all out birthday party (just remember to book Monday off work). The Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Sun 2 Jul.
’ Burly Last chance (for the time being) to get yourself down to the emphatically cruisy gay and bi men‘s night. The first 100 guys through the door collect a ‘Final Whistle' CD mix. Mariners, Edinburgh, Sat 24 Jun.
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