U.K. Eurovision entry! A lot of pearl clutching

[Colourofspring]

The outrage and comments I have seen about Olly Alexander’s performance is baffling to be honest. So much pearl clutching! Eurovision has always been completely camp and outrageous and yet suddenly he has been portrayed as some kind of disgrace and not representative of the UKs ‘values’ (what the fuck does that mean anyway?)

I like the song, I have seen him perform live at Glastonbury with years and years, he’s good live. Yes he’s openly gay - so what? Surely UK values should be based around tolerance and acceptance and not hysteria because his performance is considered risqué. Would it be considered the same if it was a load of half naked female dancers?

I am heterosexual but not offended by it - it’s just a performance - I hope he wins as he’s a nice guy!

So much pearl clutching!

Women could be put in institutions and the request of a family member which is why lesbians were affected more on that way. Women in general had very few rights. And anything perceived as sexual deviancy including pregnancy when unwed could result in institutionalisation

In the 80s??

I see a lot more homophobia than there was a few years ago.
Disingenuous to suggest that homophobia is non interest.

By the by is my way of saying politely the sex of my partner is non of your business

But it is though if you're going to come out with stuff like how it's just so accepting.
Because if you're straight you won't have a bloody clue will you, as you'll be unaffected by homophobia yourself.
It's ignorance.

I've noticed an increase in homophobia from people who think lesbians should accept 'lady dick'.

By non interest I mean that some people appear to think unless you are shouting support from the rooftops you are intolerant when in reality you are just indifferent and not interested.

I think we'll just have to agree to disagree on whether I'm allowed an opinion.

Nobody's saying that you're not allowed an opinion.
Of course you are.
Just how can you seriously say that you know how lovely and accepting it is in the UK for people who are gay if you're straight though?

It wasn't a "camp" performance though because it took itself too seriously. It was a gay performance, which is obviously fine. It just wasn't particularly good and felt really dated - like a 90s idea of what an edgy, homoerotic performance would be. In comparison it to Switzerland's performance which actually was camp, the UK's song, performance and singing were all just a bit meh. Which is a shame because I love Years and Years and I was hopeful for Olly.

No-one gives a shit if people are gay anymore but could we not, for once, have something a little more edifying that speaks to our common humanity and hope and joy rather than this grubby singular obsession with thrusting dicks and casual male promiscuity?

I would chain myself to a railing for gay rights so it’s not about ‘homophobia’, it’s about wanting to be represented by something, frankly, a bit better.

Yes. I know three women who were put in mental institutions in the eighties for being a lesbian. One I knew about because a social worker was appalled and got her out. She had only been in there for days. I asked the social worker if there were any other reasons and was told no, the family had found out she was a lesbian as a teenager and managed to get her committed. The other two - a woman who I heard giving a talk who had been in for quite a few years, and one woman I personally knew.
I do not think most people realise how much has changed.

No-one gives a shit if people are gay anymore
That's clearly not true though otherwise you wouldn't have all the "shoving it in our faces" comments etc
Also the performance was nothing different to what women have been doing for years in pop videos, as in sexually thrusting about with dancers.

Great post - exactly what I thought when I saw it. How original! A gang of crotch grabbing, thrusting men. 🙄

Can't stand that either though.

Can you please point me to some evidence of this? I was a young adult in the 80s and know nothing of this.

Why oh why did I decide to YouTube search this?

What a terrible day to have ears.

I can say the UK is accepting because that is my opinion and my opinion is based on my experience.
It's not compulsory that you agree with me.

Those female dancers would’ve been choreographed to be objectified and sexualised…🙄 I remember my feminist mother complaining in the 1970s that camera men would explicitly zoom in on their boobs and crotches while they were dancing on Top of the Pops. It’s a tale as old as time for women - even in the Bible you read about female dancers being objectified. All for the benefit of the male gaze…

So that's entirely different to Britain being represented in a competition that is supposed to be about celebrating music and unity, by a performance that was just sleazy and quite ugly.

One of the reasons we left the UK was due to the awful homophobia we have been subjected to.

I was in my first same-sex relationship for around 10 years during the late 90's early 00's - lived together and we're fully involved with one another's families etc. During that period I experienced absolutely no discrimination or homophobic abuse. People asked questions about our sexuality sure but they were always from a place of curiosity. It seemed like a golden time for LGB acceptance. (I am aware that my experience is only my experience). But I agree that it feels like things have gotten worse. And I can't help get the feeling that it's a push back against the "queering" of homosexuality and the rise social media which aims to create echo chambers and divide us.

@CRE2024 It was still legal to be sacked for being lesbian and gay. And people were.
I am glad you had an easy time. I assume you are pretty middle class in a professional job with your experiences?
I do agree homophobia is getting worse. I always knew it would as soon as there were all the attacks on transgender people.

@BloodyHellKenAgain I stand by my comment and I don't care if you think it's rude. You are ignorant. And the comments about the 'bad environment' we live in? I understand completely what your intention was there. A snob as well. Yuck.

That is a very good point. Also, the increase in straight people identifying as 'queer' has done gay rights no favours at all IMO.

I am middle to late 60s and I am sorry to say the pearl clutching on other forums of people my age has been sad to see.

I always knew it would as soon as there were all the attacks on transgender people

What attacks would these be? There have been several of attacks on women from transwomen but I don't see much the other way around?

Also as I pointed out upthread, trans ideology is grossly homophobic. Telling lesbians to do dick used to be a revolting joke from vile male 70s comics - now it's all fine since its poor, oppressed transwomen (men again) saying it.

So, I'm ignorant because I think the UK is a tolerant place and that most people are indifferent to others sexuality, identity etc

Fine, I'll take that.

As for saying I'm sorry you live in a bad environment as you said in your experience the UK isn't accepting....how else do you want me to phrase it? If you're surrounded by intolerance then it's hardly a good environment is it?

@velvetydogtoy I agree transactivists are often anti lesbian. But the valid concerns have led to a free for all on social media where people complain about Pride flags, gay people "flaunting" their sexuality, complaining about anything specifically aimed at lesbian and gay people. That has increased the homophobic view of - we don't care who you are we just don't want you to ever talk about it or show that you are gay or lesbian in public in any way at all.