to think it wouldn't kill Strictly make an effort to have same sex couples?

[chronicleink]

I know there a big row about the comedienne who 'chose' a male partner but Strictly really could make an effort - maybe something along the lines of - " If you do have a same sex partner we'll make sure that you aren't some novelty act, we have access to some of the best choreographers & musical theatre people and creative people and it'll be awesome. Not just a version of the 'straight' routines.''
I've seen boys dance with boys and girls dance with girls and it really shouldn't be a big deal...

Randomer: How bloody stupid. Little kids watch it. What would they think

Well, unless they were told otherwise, they would think that two people dancing together were perfectly normal.

This reminds me irresistibly of the Joyce Grenfell song about dancing bust to bust.

I don't know , this whole debate seems so regressive and homophobic.

Why can't we just stop treating gay people as a different class of people. They are just people, Susan Calman is a Woman first and foremost, she happens to be a lesbian, and she has apparently worked for lesbian rights in the past and is very much out and proud.

However she is taking part in a show with a fairly traditional format in which male and female couples dance a variety of styles and are marked on their ability. But is she allowed to enjoy all the fun and glitz that goes with it, that she is so obviously revelling in. No, it all has to be politicised, like everything these days, and spoilt for her.

I just hope that it all blows over soon and she is allowed to just get on with it.

@mummyoflittledragon - sorry my post wasn't clear. Over 16s have to dance in mixed sex couples in ballroom and latin competitions. It's much more to do with the technique and muscle memory etc. involved as other dancers on the thread have tried to explain. Sod all to do with homophobia.

DarceyBusselsnose - anyone can be homophobic but given you're defining sexuality as a 'lifestyle choice' and muttering about 'homosexual roleplay' I'm going with you not being gay. I have a family too btw - you know one with children in it and we watch family shows. But my children know that not all families have one mum and one dad and that sometimes men and women dance with the same gender.

seagreengirl - I agree gay people should not be treated as a different class of people, which means equality in everything and this just IS NOT equality.

myfeetarealwayscold Susan wants to dance with a man

LorLorr2 - course she does.

But she's not being treated equally is she, she's the "lesbian on Strictly".

Maybe just this once she doesn't want to be defined by her sexuality, she doesn't want to be a pawn in someones political agenda, she just wants to be a contestant in a dance show

myfeet well you need to buck your ideas up and stop labelling people and stereotyping according to your own little prejudices. At no point was I discriminatory. You may choose to wilfully misinterpret and do the whole dying duck in a thunderstorm act, which doesn’t wash with me.

What I dont like is straight people projecting what they think gay people need/want/like or what they think the rest of the populace needs to watch.

DarceyBusselsNose - I'm gay. Loving the duck thing, not a clue what it means but it sounds wonderfully archaic and home counties.

Home counties? oh dear did you not pick up that I'm black as well - you really do love to stereotype dont you.

Can't believe Israel beat us to it!

Thanks for clearing that up nattweb.

the whole dying duck in a thunderstorm act

What a strange, disturbing image...

BuckinhamL if you can shed any light on what on gods green earth that means I'd be eternally grateful, I'm not English so not come across that one before!

myfeet

Well, I'm Scottish and inexplicable turns of phrase are sort of our 'thing', but that's a new one on me...

Must be an English thing then???

Not sure - I'm using it in conversation at the next possible opportunity, though!

Me too, but I'm making up my own meaning entirely.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVfRuxjSemY

Ceto Thank you soo much for the Joyce Grenfell link. it made up for the ridiculousness of the thread. She was brilliant, I was thinking of that song yesterday! Great minds

I don't watch it but am aware for years gay men on Strictly were paired with women, now when Susan Calman says she would like to dance with a man people put the boot in. Light entertainment gets heavy!

She doesn't need to prove anything fgs. She hoped for Kevin, she got Kevin, yaay!
Hope she enjoys the competition for as long as she's in it.

It's not a sexual relationship it's a dance. It's not meant to represent relationships.
People should just dance the part they feel they can as it is different moves.

3Eyed, Lottey isn't outraged at which competition or section same-sex couples dance in, I don't think; she's just outraged at the very IDEA of two men or women dancing together.

Darcey, an affirmation of lifestyle choices. Give over. We've moved on from that rubbish, haven't we? FFS.

Boys in dresses. Men flirting and dancing. It's bloody stupid.