Tuesday 16 July 2013

Nothing comes from Pride but Pride?

It's summer and the sun is shining! Happy days indeed. Every summer a plethora of Gay Pride events take place across the UK, some are good, some are bad and some are very ugly! These are interesting times for gay people in the UK and indeed Europe. Never have us Brits had it so good; marriage equality has passed in the House of Lords and the future looks bright. Do we still need gay pride then? Surely all the big battles have been won? 

Not quite.

It's very easy for us to be complacent, these hard-won rights can so easily be taken away as history in Europe has shown. Across the continent in Russia, Ukraine and Georgia serious battles are going on. Both Russia and Ukraine passed a series of ridiculous anti-gay laws last month which basically means that even mentioning the word gay might be seen as an offence by promoting it. Developments in Russia in particular make Tebbit and Thatcher's gay-bashing in the 1980s seem like a walk down the yellow brick road in comparison! These laws are serious though and could impact upon tourists too. Reports have emerged that openly gay visitors to Russia can be arrested under these laws. What will happen to gay athletes and their supporters next year at the Winter Olympics in Sochi? What will happen should Russia win Eurovision again? These are serious issues which in the likely event they do win the right to stage the contest again in the near future, will have a direct impact on the majority of Eurovision fans attending. 

To play devil's advocate for a minute, it could be argued that Eurovision is first and foremost a television show, not a gay event. Of course the reality is somewhat different. Eurovision has routinely been used as a platform for protest and like Azerbaijan in 2012, it offers a spotlight for those wishing to make themselves heard. If Eurovision goes to Russia then I think it could possibly be a good thing in the long-term. Such issues are a reminder that things aren't so easy for people in other countries, just like things weren't so great here in the UK not too long ago. 

Gay Pride in the UK is no longer the protest it once was, it's a celebration of diversity and as was the case of Bristol Pride last weekend, it is increasingly becoming a family event. It's worth remembering though that homophobic attacks are on the increase and people still die in the UK from such attacks. For those who want to go, get drunk and watch a series of live acts take to the stage, fine, they're lucky to be able to do that. The opportunity didn't just appear from thin air. I saw a sign at the weekend which reminded me of the true meaning of pride, which is often forgotten. Where there is pride there is also prejudice. I know who I'll be raising a toast to in Manchester next month.



6 comments:

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  2. EBU really needs to stand it's ground on this one next year. If Russia wants to ban homosexual propaganda in it's own country then it's fine, but how can they even show that they're taking this ban seriously by competing in the Eurovision Song Contest? Maybe the Russian broadcaster will deliberately continue to participate in the Eurovision so homosexual propaganda is shown in Russia against the Russian Government's choice. At the end of the day Eurovision must be treated like a contest... if you want to compete then you need to respect your fellow contestants!

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    1. Agree - the EBU's credibility was called into question in 2012. I'm glad they made a stand over ERT though. They'll be in a tricky position if the contest moves to Minsk one day...

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    2. Yes... poor ERT! :( Honestly, I really doubt the Russia or especially Belarus will win the contest within this decade. People seem to be oblivious to the new "Mediterranean voting block" since Italy's return in 2011. I think ERT should be worried as I think either, Greece or Italy will win soon. Not as many votes are going towards the east as they were a few years ago. Once Turkey return I think there will be an even stronger chance of a Mediterranean country winning. Maybe Russia will learn over the next few years that if they want to win then they must respect the viewers.

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  3. It'll be worth keeping an eye on Moldova too - similar attempts in the legal system there too to ban 'homosexual propaganda' (whatever that is) and promote the conservative view of family.

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    1. Interesting, albeit alarming stuff, Jackie, thanks for letting me know :)

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