Julie Burchill on Brighton transpride and nonbinary affectation

It's about of being Proud of who you are - still don't see why there's reason to have beef with that. Sleeping with a woman doesn't give her authority to shit all over Pride.

But it's what she does. You don't hire Julie Burchill because you want an even-handed consideration of the issues. Her whole schtick is writing provocative pieces with a strong dollop of exaggeration, accompanied by lashings of humour, malice and caricature. There isn't much point trying to argue with any of it.

Do we need a sarcasm font?

Well not quite but nearly

What you identify as is more important than what you do

I've heard it all now

Exactly. So it's a bit rich for someone who does not identify as gay or bisexual to have a go at gay and bisexual people for celebrating their queerness at Pride.

Ah, but in pomo land you can't be something unless you declare it loudly using the correct terminology. So, a woman who had a long term relationship with another woman is "straight" unless she says "I identify as bisexual, and apologize for not calling myself pansexual instead".

Which Julie would never say, thus "straight".

But god knows let's spare JBs feelings if that's not how she identifies

Let's call her a woman who sometimes likes to have sex with women

She left her husband for a woman, so I'd say yes....

ReluctantCamper is she bisexual? I've never heard her say that.

I thought she was a straight woman who liked to experiment.

I bet nobody has made JB feel ashamed of her sexuality...

She's a bisexual woman who has made no secret of the fact she has had lots of sex

If you think no one has tried to make her feel ashamed of her sexuality we're living on different planets

I must admit one time I felt pride at being a woman was when the story of Elisabeth Fritzl broke. She was so strong in the face of male domination and violence. I was so proud to share her sex. I couldn't understand why as SHE had come through this and not me. She represented how strong women are in the face of relentless cruelty from men.

Reluctant

Less than 10 % of the population is gay or bisexual and historically (and often still today) it is seen as something shameful.

Ask any gay or bisexual person if they have ever been made to feel ashamed of who they are and I can guarantee the answer will be yes.

The point of Pride is to celebrate who you are. When a person has been made to feel ashamed of who they are I think it is a good and positive thing to have a weekend where they can feel proud.

I bet nobody has made JB feel ashamed of her sexuality...

Thanks for posting this. I often find her deeply annoying but this is a gem.

Pride is just a big, corporate party

Witness the outrage when get the L out tried to make it about homosexual rights

I don't think she was objecting to the celebration of gay and bi particularly

More celebration without achievement

mmm

The point she was making is celebrating something you are rather than something you've achieved doesn't say much about you.

I'm mystified by people who claim to be proud to be a woman

FloralBunting I bet you a tenner if you asked any person at Pride this weekend if they were pro LGB they would say yes. Bit silly to suggest otherwise.

Reluctant Julie says in her article she has beef with gay and bisexual people being celebrated at Pride. I have beef with her writing that, especially as it's just to court controversy. I take it you weren't there? Perhaps you should come along next year and soak up some of the positive vibes.

Don't really know why I'm defending JB, she could eviscerate me, being both smarter and nastier than I am

Just really hate people thinking it's ok to make daft statements and they won't be challenged because they're in line with prevailing wisdom

How many ad hominem attacks on Julie do we have to read before getting an answer to Camper's questions?

Yes...such a miserable, vicious lot indeed.

trying too hard to be controversial

Hang on a minute

A while ago you were throwing words like transphobia and homophobia around

Those are pretty serious accusations

I assume you're about to back them up, or have you changed your mind?

Discussing it isn't really worth the oxygen IMO

And yet here you are, however many comments later.

Of course, everyone who attends any Pride event nowadays is no more likely to be genuinely pro-LGB than they are homophobic, tbh. Because it's just a corporate festival for people who like rainbow merch and using lots of fun emojis on their social media.

But you bring them all up if you think they've got your back jasminemaya. It's got as much weight as me saying "All of Milton Keynes was out on Saturday having a lovely time in the sun and they all agree with me!"

My opinion on the article is it's trying too hard to be controversial.

Everyone is bored of feminists having a go at trans people so she thought she'd mix it up a bit by taking a pop at gay men and bisexuals too. She's just so edgy.

Discussing it isn't really worth the oxygen IMO but no I don't think the LGBTs of Brighton are quaking in their boots. Perhaps shaking their heads in pity that she's reduced herself to this.

And don't let's forget Julie's novel about teenage lesbian love, Sugar Rush.

It’s not the topic of this thread, but as it’s come up...Every single person I know who went to pride this weekend is straight. Not one of my gay friends and acquaintances went. make of that what you will!