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Norwich - "bisexual capital" BBC article

38 replies

MorvenOfMalvern · 15/01/2023 12:17

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-64216989

The conflation if issues in this article is astounding!

Census results show Norwich has the highest number of Bisexual residents in the UK. Really good bits of the article discussing how safe the city feels and that people feel able to be themselves and openly out, show affection to same sex partners in public etc etc. All good!

But, it in the main talks about the undefined "queer community," and the focus is, "while Norwich generally feels a safe place, they are concerned about the treatment of trans and non-binary people.

"We saw this in the summer, with the protests and counter-protests for the Drag Story Time at The Forum.

"It was really nice to see the community of Norwich stand up for the queer community, but there was still a lot of rhetoric that was being said that was harmful."

The main case study is someone who, "identifies as non-binary and has a husband, but is also in a polyamorous relationship with a boyfriend and a non-binary partner."

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ReunitedThorns · 16/01/2023 19:56

Most of Norfolk is countryside, something Labour don't care about, it's why Conservatives (and some Lib Dems) win votes in rural areas. Labour only care about urban areas.

pattihews · 16/01/2023 00:32

Someone I know has had the Telegraph delivered daily to an elderly parent for years and when we were talking about the GC debate and I said that it had published some good articles, sent me a free online subscription which will run until her father dies. I think some of the journalism is good and detailed, though the political slant the anti NHS stuff is shocking. But the comments... I had no idea such opinions still existed. Perhaps they're all living in Norfolk.

Original poster
MorvenOfMalvern · 15/01/2023 22:49

Yes, that did occur to me. It's never not an adjustment to recognise how many people vote Tory. Although I also now can't vote.Labour. So am a bit adrift.

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NotDavidTennant · 15/01/2023 22:41

Most of the electoral map of England looks like that. A sea of blue with the odd little dot of red where a large town or city lies. It's only London and the remaining parts of the 'red wall' in the North that look different.

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MorvenOfMalvern · 15/01/2023 22:22

Interesting, and sad. And worrying.

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SlinkySienna · 15/01/2023 22:09

MorvenOfMalvern · 15/01/2023 21:44

Oh wow!

That's quite stark. Is it the uni/s or the hospital or something else that helps explain the split? Is it a historical/long standing thing?!

We're a funny old country...

It's definitely historical. It's described politically as a 'city of two halves'. Though Norwich North only held on to their Conservative leadership by 500 or so votes. South Norwich is a wonderful place, but many would describe as a small haven in a wildly racist county.

Original poster
MorvenOfMalvern · 15/01/2023 21:44

Oh wow!

That's quite stark. Is it the uni/s or the hospital or something else that helps explain the split? Is it a historical/long standing thing?!

We're a funny old country...

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SlinkySienna · 15/01/2023 21:39

MorvenOfMalvern · 15/01/2023 21:36

I'm sorry to hear that. Sounds awful, and I am sorry you've had those experiences, but glad Norwich doesn't have the same issue. Although geographically 20 minutes doesn't sound very far in terms of population and commuting distance etc thinking about it.

(I personally know nothing about Norwich, or Norfolk, so have no real frame of reference or context)

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I love and live in South of Norwich, but travel out 20 mins to somewhere like Acle or Brundall, or even further to Bungay and things start to get a little weird 😅 this photo I find is always quite telling!

Norwich - "bisexual capital" BBC article
Original poster
MorvenOfMalvern · 15/01/2023 21:36

SlinkySienna · 15/01/2023 21:17

I'm a black bisexual woman living in Norwich and I have never experienced racism here like I have in other cities, or at all, but just outside of norwich (I'm talking 20 mins in most directions) it's awful. Mainly ignorance but worse than anywhere else I've ever experienced.

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I'm sorry to hear that. Sounds awful, and I am sorry you've had those experiences, but glad Norwich doesn't have the same issue. Although geographically 20 minutes doesn't sound very far in terms of population and commuting distance etc thinking about it.

(I personally know nothing about Norwich, or Norfolk, so have no real frame of reference or context)

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SlinkySienna · 15/01/2023 21:17

Coyoacan · 15/01/2023 20:53

I love Norwich but is known for being quite racist. How does that combine with its pro-queer liberality

I'm a black bisexual woman living in Norwich and I have never experienced racism here like I have in other cities, or at all, but just outside of norwich (I'm talking 20 mins in most directions) it's awful. Mainly ignorance but worse than anywhere else I've ever experienced.

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MorvenOfMalvern · 15/01/2023 20:57

ResisterRex · 15/01/2023 20:52

If nothing else, the census has put Norwich on the map! Grin

I'm ashamed to admit if I had to stick a pin on a map it wouldn't be accurate. I know it's on the bulgy bit but not where!

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Coyoacan · 15/01/2023 20:53

I love Norwich but is known for being quite racist. How does that combine with its pro-queer liberality

ResisterRex · 15/01/2023 20:52

If nothing else, the census has put Norwich on the map! Grin

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MorvenOfMalvern · 15/01/2023 20:49

Good points @AmaryllisNightAndDay but why does it have to be that a discussion ostensibly about bisexuality ends up only really talking about the NB and T (again)? The overshadowing never seems to go the other way ime.

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AmaryllisNightAndDay · 15/01/2023 16:33

The conflation is probably because Norwich is a small rather isolated city with a smallish population of all these different types, so they are more mutually supportive than they would be in a bigger city where different groups would have different places to go. There are probably just not enough L, G, B, T and etc people in Norwich to fragment.

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MorvenOfMalvern · 15/01/2023 16:01

ReunitedThorns · 15/01/2023 14:57

I'm seeing a lot of heterosexual relationships where one partner describes themselves as non-binary, therefore the other partner assumes that they themselves must be bisexual.

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It's interesting isn't it, that your identity has become something that has to flex in response to someone else's.

Reminds me of the use of c1s for example. Or T3rf. Having those used as forced descriptors despite you rejecting them, them being factually untrue etc. Or no one knowing what anything actually means anymore.

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Original poster
MorvenOfMalvern · 15/01/2023 15:57

MorvenOfMalvern · 15/01/2023 13:14

twitter.com/guardian/status/1614032071424458753?t=BF1OurBdy7NcukHa3_GXRw&s=19

The aggression in the replies is shocking (I still get shocked!) but also so clearly demonstrates this is a contentious term. Not ok for the BBC to use it so liberally maybe.

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@garlictwist here's the link to the tweet replies too. They're not nice.

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garlictwist · 15/01/2023 15:07

@Birdsweepsin thank you.

Birdsweepsin · 15/01/2023 15:06

garlictwist · 15/01/2023 15:03

Do you have a link to this handy? I'd be interested in seeing it.

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www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/13/please-dont-use-the-q-word

garlictwist · 15/01/2023 15:03

ResisterRex · 15/01/2023 12:40

There was a letter in the Graun about use of the Q word from someone who found it offensive and hurtful. It was a thoughtful letter. They tweeted it, and some of the replies were just vile.

Do you have a link to this handy? I'd be interested in seeing it.

ReunitedThorns · 15/01/2023 14:57

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I'm seeing a lot of heterosexual relationships where one partner describes themselves as non-binary, therefore the other partner assumes that they themselves must be bisexual.

KatMcBundleFace · 15/01/2023 14:49

🤣🤣🤣🤣

If only I could add the Alan Partridge shrug gif.

pattihews · 15/01/2023 14:45

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Original poster
MorvenOfMalvern · 15/01/2023 14:42

LlynTegid · 15/01/2023 14:28

The difference between Norwich and the other cities mentioned is very small, by my maths there are more bisexual people in Brighton overall.

The first male professional footballer ever to come out started his career at Norwich City FC, Justin Fashanu. Perhaps the commemorations of his death and the Proud Canaries have contributed to the feeling of being comfortable in public.

Reading that men feel comfortable to walk around holding hands without fear, is both something to be genuinely celebrated but, that this noteworthy is also a stark reminder that this can still feel like "luck" or unusual or brave, and that is sad/frustrating/scary and a reminder there's a long way to go.

Why the conflation with all the rest of the <waves hands>, I just don't understand.

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Original poster
MorvenOfMalvern · 15/01/2023 14:39

I'm now hearing lots of posts narrated in my head by Alan Partridge 😬

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