Do they play Bigot Bingo at the Mail? If so, it was a full house this week with prominent headlines spewing transphobia, biphobia and homophobia.
Transphobic Trash
Last weekend’s Mail on Sunday frontpage was outraged that Children’s BBC made Just A Girl, an informative online drama about a trans child. It’s a great resource for parents and children to talk about gender together and is not the first CBBC show to talk trans (my sixty-something Mum really enjoys their documentary series My Life). Earlier today on Sunday Morning Live the transphobia was unmistakeably worse as Kathy Gyngell from ConservativeWoman.co.uk instantly compared being transgender to a mental illness or disability. Follow fellow guests from the show Jack Monroe, Stephanie Hirst and India Willoughby, read Paris Lees on why this media attack has to end and put Transgender Awareness Week, 14th-20th November in your diary.
The reason so many young trans people face family rejection is because of the fear, misinformation and stigma whipped up by trash like this: pic.twitter.com/BaZjyJtgbv
— Paris Lees (@ParisLees) October 30, 2016
Openly Homophobic Trash
On Thursday, desperate to find an explanation for the Brexit court ruling, and glossing over a deep understanding of Britain’s constitution (also known as the truth), the Mail Online reasoned it was because one judge is an ‘openly gay ex-Olympic fencer’.
Openly gay people can’t apply jurisprudence – they’re too busy sipping cocktails and sniffing poppers to understand the constitution pic.twitter.com/HpZoyEfSj8
— shon faye (@shonfaye) November 3, 2016
This slur is part of a steady stream of homophobia that charities including Diversity Role Models seek to end in schools, making sure ‘gay’ is never used as an insult or explanation for someone’s behaviour. But who can stop the p press playground bullies? Soho Bikes put out a sign, Stop Funding Hate asked advertisers to see who the real #EnemiesOfThePeople are and The Observer (always the best £3 I spend each week) called it out on their front page.
The Observer certainly not pulling its punches over Brexit coverage in some papers in recent days… pic.twitter.com/hUqErwWt8J
— Gary Burgess (@GaryBurgessITV) November 6, 2016
Completing the Mail’s hateful hat-trick this week was Wednesday’s article on bisexual teenagers.
I dunno. Is it because, and I’m going to go out on a limb here, they ARE bisexual? pic.twitter.com/2dNAEl0M07
— Iain Lee (@iainlee) November 1, 2016
Jacamo says #SorryNotSorry
Jacamo created their own homophobia controversy last Saturday (29th October), with a campaign saying ‘real men have balls, not man bags’. The retailer (who sells man bags, but not footballs) claimed on Monday they were ‘mortified by any offence caused’ by the tweet, but not mortified enough to delete it (it’s still there).
Clothing brand Jacamo issue an apology after being called out for “homophobic” online campaign https://t.co/DDigohIbbs pic.twitter.com/UE12haGKQt
— Attitude (@AttitudeMag) October 31, 2016
Two more news articles from the week underline the toxic masculinity fuelled by this kind of irresponsible advertising. Cal Strode’s research showed the extent of ‘femmephobia’ in ‘straight acting’ gay men and the Mental Health Foundation reported that men are far less likely to ask for mental health help than women.
Huz-Czar for Amy Lamé
Giving us some much-needed news to celebrate, Amy Lamé was announced as London’s first ‘nightitme Czar’ on Friday. The lesbian comic has run club night Duckie for two decades at Royal Vauxhall Tavern, one of London’s many LGBTQ venues with a precarious future as rents and revoked licenses continue to kill clubs and music venues. Lamé was previously in political office as Mayor of Camden back in 2010 and 2011.
Yup. It’s me. #nightczar @nightczar pic.twitter.com/t7IgyF75jh
— amy lamé (@amylame) November 4, 2016
LGBTQ Love from America
And finally, here’s two inspiring lists from America. Tuesday’s vote isn’t just for a new President: there’s elections for governors, state congresses and the national Congress. NBCOut showcased 11 LGBTQ candidates, 55 years since the first out LGBTQ person sought public office. For more LGBTQ role models, scroll through the annual Out100 list.
Follow me on Twitter @JoeyKnock for #LGBTQProgress stories throughout the week.