Norwich - "bisexual capital" BBC article

[MorvenOfMalvern]

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."

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

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

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!

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.

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)

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!

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.

Interesting, and sad. And worrying.

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.

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.

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.

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.