Hi,
Tis a funny thing this blogging lark. There are times when no thoughts come and the whitespace sits empty. Usually, I have to – like now – just go at it, and that seems to break the ice, and off we go.
Conversely, there are times – early – where my brain is on overspin. So many ideas come at once that it’s like trying to pick out a sock in a busy tumblerdrier. Again, it’s necessary to break out of the resting while busy in thought and just start.
Ah, to find that balance of creativity *and* focus, therein is the magic. Still, at least this week’s goblin is rich in thought and their hair is looking F A B 😊
Taking a break
This Friday is a non-working day and as per, it’s been a case of catching up with chores and enjoying the moment of not having to think about work. I think January was a bit too long and as such, along with half-term just starting, the Ever Lovely Mrs J and I are taking time off for a staycation. I’m sure Child 2.0 is fully capable of looking after themselves, however doing things as a family can be fun.
While we’re not a plan something for every day, every hour kinda family, we do like to get out now and then. I have a suspicion that there will be something to do with museums/history as this is Child 2.0’s thing. We’ll also be fitting in morning walks with the doggos, while our youngest sleeps in. School is tiring, IMO, and everyone needs a break now and then.
LGBTQ+ History month
Those lovely folk over at Schools Out have created and shared a wealth of content. There’s books, media, eMeeting backgrounds, historical figure postcards. Please do have a look and share as you see fit.
It’s confusing isn’t it, that queer people have existed throughout history and despite many of them growing up in a cis-het environment, they continued to be queer. It’s almost like it is just part of the natural variety of humanity and we’ve always been here 😉
I wonder how the ‘woke mind virus’ spread back in the day? Do you think someone went round popping in wee notes into newspapers and books? Maybe leaflets at those coffee houses that had to be banned. But what about pre-printing? Did they have a wandering bard visiting inns, convincing the locals that wearing fancy troos and a big pretty shirt is okay? That and the knee boots and stout yet colourful hose. I bet that’s what started the problem. Those genderfluid jesters again isn’t. Gah, they do get about! 😏
Or – crazy thought! – maybe we’ve always been here and despite the best efforts of bigots, we will continue to. No matter was BS they introduce and blockers they put in the way.
Chams
Yes, I did check the calendar this week before starting to get ready. Yes, Val – the cheeky lady – did say “I nearly texted you, just so you knew it was the right day.” Outrageous! 😁
Given last time’s false start, I was saved the task of packing a bag. I did, however, make a slight change towards footwear and hosery. I bought some ‘suspender tights’ the other week. They’re not as restrictive as full tights can be and they fit well. The colour was just was I was looking for, so, despite the chill in the February air, I put the opaques to one side. No doubt I’ll be needing them under my jeans on the doggo walks this week.
Outfit-wise I’d gone with two choices: my favourite monochrome dress that I’ve had for an age, and the red dress (pictured). I did swap my shoes from open pumps to some Mary-Jane heels. They’re just a lot easier to walk in.
Jayne was kind enough to run a quiz and as per her forte, it was sci-fi & fantasy themed. Ah, how enjoyable that is! To have a just-for-fun-activity where it’s not about soaps & sports – two topics I know very close to sack all on.
Mind you, we were interupted midway through, as some other folk using the Centre decided to lock up and set the alarms while we were still in the building! Cue a quick – but careful! – dash downstairs to turn deactivate the system. Still, at least the system doesn’t call the emergency services like ‘old unfaithful’ that protected my Dad’s old workshop in the 80s.
Personal History
After much laughter during the quiz – and once our ears had stopped ringing – conversation moved on. I asked the group if they wanted a visit from the Gary Clarke Company, as they got in touch recently asking if we had anyone who may be interested in their upcoming performance. Apologies that I can’t find the URL for the event, but a search online will find where it’s touring in the UK.
Gary Clarke Company’s sequel to COAL and WASTELAND, explores Section 28, which ‘prohibited the promotion of homosexuality’, forcing the LGBT+ community into a place of secrecy, fear and shame; set to a backdrop of nationwide industrial turmoil and the onslaught of AIDS.
So, Section 28? A right-wing government in a moral panic about ‘the gays’. I mean, just hearing about gay people in the 80s meant that children might suddenly rethink their entire sexuality (hint: no it doesn’t). Just a few bars of pop by Bronkski Beat, Erasure, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, the Communards, Dead or Alive, etc; and suddenly Little Timmy is wearing a leather cap and sporting a massive handlebar ‘tache 🙄
- Don’t tell kids about being gay as they might sign up…
Eh? Like Readers’ Digest? Once they’ve got your details, you are forever on their list! 😉 - Don’t tell kids about being gay ‘cos they won’t understand….
Listening to queer people my age and older, they knew they were gay, lesbian, bi, and/or trans as they grew up. The catch was not everyone was in a safe place to be who they are. That’s the real crime, IMO. - Don’t tell kids about being gay ‘cos it’ll only encourage them….
Yeah ‘cos not telling teens about sex means they won’t be intereted. Riiiight. Good luck with that! - Don’t let gay folk near kids ‘cos “you know, they can’t be trusted….”
Yet some priests, seemingly every 70s DJ/personality, some MPs, were caught & tried for being wrong ‘uns. But they were cishet, white blokes and oddly, not LGBT. Call me crazy, but maybe unchecked power over others and organisations looking to cover things up are a bad idea. #MeToo - It’ll affect society and erode morals….
Ah, this from the 80s government who – looking at the history books – were embroiled in affairs, bribery, allegations of visiting sex workers, and be charged for purgery. For those from the nasty end of the church, why did you turn a blind eye to priests you knew where up to no good?
I will now gently push the soapbox back under the bed until next week. In the meantime, do feel free to look at the Don’t Tell… items and swap out the words gay with trans. Same old lies, same ol’ moral panic.
L x
Glad to hear chams was a good one, I felt too drained to drive unfortunately.
Sorry to have missed the alarm caper, I am imaging a scene from ‘lost’ where they had to type the code in every 100 ish minutes 🙂
Izzy x
Sorry to hear you were too tired. As much as it’s nice to visit, sometimes I think you need to take it easy some days.
😁 Luckily the alarm was switched off and reset by the key fob, so that’s good.
A lot to comment on. I’ve been away, hence the delay (and I’m a poet, but you didn’t know it!)
That’s got to be the cutest goblin ever. Well, certainly on this site!
And that red wraparound dress is lovely.
Suspender tights are a favourite of mine although there are two styles that come under this name: the sort of funky rock-star tights with a printed suspender and stocking top that was especially popular 10-15 years ago, and the body-free open panty type that are a godsend for TGirls or men who like to wear tights under trousers and are so handy if you need/want to use the loo like a man. The latter are quite hard to come across and I would stock up. BHS and Littlewoods – both defunct now – made cheap but ideal ones.
“maybe we’ve always been here and despite the best efforts of bigots, we will continue to”. Yes, we’ve always been here, in every age and everywhere on earth, and when the latest crop of aggressive, masculine domineering bigots and their bogus philosophy have gone, we will still be here and for evermore. You can’t beat nature no matter how bigoted or narcissistic you are. But I guess it’s a waste of breath telling the bigots that.
Thanks for your comment on my technical problem post – it seems to be a security glitch that affects Blogger interaction with most browsers and I’m clearly not the only one with the issue. Until it’s solved, I’ll say thanks for your comment here.
Have a good week, Lynn. 🙂
Sue x
I hope you had a good time away. Thanks for the kind words about the wrap dress. A new favourite of mine.
Bigots gonna bigot 🙄 Maybe folk will realise that they’re being played by these distraction techniques.
On that note, Mrs J reported that when a newly elected politician started ranting about tampon vending in the mens’ loo, the locals turned on him, asking him to focus on support for homeless people instead.
Oh, and new (to me) word, Kyriarchy.
Section 18 was 39 years ago, things have move on since then, I seem to recall the Tory party leader apologising for it and then working rather hard to get gay marriage approved.
I’m going to say yes and no. Also, See also Clause 28, if you’re an oldie like me 🙂
Yes, in that we have marriage equality and that’s a good thing. We do need to keep our eye on the sinister whispers from overseas, who want to undo that right. Keep your eye on the US and the current war on civil rights to see what certain folk would do if they could. It doesn’t stop with queer people: we’re just the first target.
The ‘no’ comes in because of the current nonsense and manufactured panic around blocking information about transgender people to teens. See also the criticism and debunking of the report Streeting is using to block access to medical care. Hmm, yet puberty blockers are okay if your child is cis? I say this as a parent who’s had this discussion in a non-trans capacity.
It’s not an ideology, it’s treating the trans community with respect. Would any modern/sensible adult describe gay, lesbian, or bi people as an ideology? No, they’d be laughed out of the room and rightly so.
Have we lost Section 28? Sort of in some aspects but the BS and moral panic lives on with a new target.
Historical note: Section 28 was only repealed in 2003, with no apology nor fanfare – Scotland did it first in 2000 with considerable fanfare and an apology. So, less than 39 years ago.
Cameron was a big supporter of it, opposed the repeal in 2003 and apologised under public pressure on the campaign trail in 2009 when he realised it may win votes. It was a similar notion that had him push for gay marriage – when he gambled, correctly, that he could tank some ‘traditional’ Tory support for wider support from the public. Indeed, such was the popularity boost that he later suggested the move to gay marriage was his crusade alone in government – a political move that seems to have worked quite well from this conversation.
That Johnson suggested it had been a ‘mistake’ when in office seems to have passed people by. He was absent for the vote. And, indeed, most votes on LGBTQIA+ issues – but usually voted with his party when present (he opposed the repeal of Section 28).
Thank you for the extra details, Joanna. Some of that is news to me, despite being alive during that time! 🙂
For some politicians – particularly the ones known for lying – I feel it’s difficult to know what their true feelings are on LGBTQ+ rights. Towing the party line, bigot, grandstanding nastiness, quiet ally, and/or opportunist?
I am disappointed by the current administration in a lack of progressing trans rights. Perhaps the kindest thing I can say is there’s a long way to go…. quite possibly a mix of inaction and the allegations of certain organisations/departments have been stuffed with useful idiots and/or cronies loyal to the culture war BS.
I guess you have to be careful with rights, currently the Equality Act 2010 covers transgendered rights if you push hard on for more rights some of the awful dinosaurs may seek to change the small amount of rights that you do have.
This country does not need any lessons from likes of the orange uncouth oaf from the other side of the pond
More rights or just the same level of rights as cis-het folk? 🙄 At the moment we seem to having to sprint just to stand still because some organisations are now stuffed with anti trans voices are working against us. I feel like a tin foil hat loon for writing that, but just watching what is happening makes that feel very difficult to disprove.
There are more informed folk than I on this next subject; the creeping erasure/backpedaling of existing legislation and protections to trans and gender nonconforming people. I would recommend reading the concerns summarised by TransActual via https://transactual.org.uk/ehrc/ These include comments from Stonewall and the Good Law Project.
On top of that, there are the concerns raised against the Cass Review and that this goes against the good practice of other countries. That’s before you get to criticism from scientific bodies on the evidence and the stacking of the deck in favour of critical voices. This is the report a trans hostile government put in and Streeting has continued on this path. Details on the above link and also via http://www.wearequeeraf.com/puberty-blocker-ban-consultation-featured-eight-explicitly-anti-trans-groups/
So, yeah, it seems wanting the same rights that straight and cisgender folk want seems beyond our reach at the mo. The right of choice over our own bodies, the right to privacy around our gender, equal access to services, and to not be discriminated against by bigots.