It is hard to believe that this anniversary is upon us http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13965769
Much has been achieved and so much remains to be done. At my bedside this afternoon trying to explain to a senior anglican hospital chaplain who seemed to struggle to grasp that even I, a reasonably assertive, verbal intelligent gay man may find it intimidating in the wards of a public hospital. There is much to be done to make otherness more understandable to the majority. It needs more than legislation, which has its place in my view, but metanoia - changing of the heart.
Those of us who travelled to London in the early days of gay pride grew up and lived in fear. We were few in number but we learned about solidarity on the streets not in books. Many are now dead, not least from HIV in the 80s and 90s. Little did we think so much would be achieved - MAs in queer studies, the pink pound LGBT consultants, civil partnerships and gender recognition to grasp at just a few. The fact that at the moment many LGBT people seem apolitical does not mean that, come winter, they might not become militant activists (I hope).
In memoriam victims of the Admiral Duncan bombing, Old Compton Street, Soho 30 April 1999.
No comments:
Post a Comment