Harvey Milk, Politician, Activist, Inspiration
Monday 26 November 2012
One small step for the LGBT Community...one giant leap for LGBT people
Coming out stories are funny things. They can cover such a wide variety of topics and each is so individual.
It used to be that "Coming Out" was about the LGBT community, but I've noticed that that's changed in recent years. I know people who have Come Out as Conservatives, sci-fi geeks and one very confused person who Came Out as a Spice Girls fan.
But the best stories are still the classics: LGBT people coming to terms with their sexuality in their own ways. And Coming Out isn't necessarily about being open with your family, it can be to colleagues, friends or even strangers.
Some really brave people even film it, something I think is truly courageous. Like this guy:
Others publish their stories on sites like the amazing rucomingout. I've often thought about maybe sending Wayne my own story but I don't reckon I've got the guts yet.
It's different for everyone.
Just mustering the courage to tell someone, anyone, can take weeks, months or years. Thankfully there are lots of websites and guides that you can find online that can give advice and information. Guides like the Stonewall Coming Out Guide. And people do it for many reasons. For me, at least, the quote below sums it up.
Emotions run high, tears are common and the reaction from friends and family not always positive. Far from it in many cases. Some people are suprised by the reaction they get, and others try and preempt it. I heard a story about someone who wasn't able to say the words so she wrote her parents a letter and left it by the phone. They read it but didn't discuss it with her which left her more confused. She was Out but not really open. Last I heard that hadn't changed.
Personally, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief, a "dropping of the facade". It felt like I was given a mandate to be myself, although it was years before I found out who that was.
I've mentioned before that I volunteer with an LGBT Youth Group, and one of the things we've been doing lately (and what prompted this post) is working on our own Coming Out stories. Not all of our young people are out to their families but most of them are out to at least some of their friends. One or two who have come along to the group have only come out to us. But they've all made the very brave step to be honest with themselves and with others.
One of them sent me their story to put up on our site. I’m not going to share it here because it’s not my story and it wouldn’t be fair. But the strength of our young people is amazing. Through working on their own stories, one has come out to his parents and another has started coming out to friends. We’d like to eventually self publish their stories (identifiable details changed of course).
At Pride this year the group had a stall. They had information about local groups (including ourselves), LGBT services and coming out. During the day an older man came up to the stand shook the hand of one of our young people, thanked them and started crying. It was his first Pride and he was overwhelmed by seeing the number of young people open and Out. He was 78 and only plucked up the courage to come out to his family the year before.
He thanked them for being brave enough to do what he couldn't.
You're never too old to be true to yourself, we all do it in our own time and when it's right for us, some people just take a little longer.
It used to be that "Coming Out" was about the LGBT community, but I've noticed that that's changed in recent years. I know people who have Come Out as Conservatives, sci-fi geeks and one very confused person who Came Out as a Spice Girls fan.
But the best stories are still the classics: LGBT people coming to terms with their sexuality in their own ways. And Coming Out isn't necessarily about being open with your family, it can be to colleagues, friends or even strangers.
Some really brave people even film it, something I think is truly courageous. Like this guy:
Others publish their stories on sites like the amazing rucomingout. I've often thought about maybe sending Wayne my own story but I don't reckon I've got the guts yet.
It's different for everyone.
Just mustering the courage to tell someone, anyone, can take weeks, months or years. Thankfully there are lots of websites and guides that you can find online that can give advice and information. Guides like the Stonewall Coming Out Guide. And people do it for many reasons. For me, at least, the quote below sums it up.
Emotions run high, tears are common and the reaction from friends and family not always positive. Far from it in many cases. Some people are suprised by the reaction they get, and others try and preempt it. I heard a story about someone who wasn't able to say the words so she wrote her parents a letter and left it by the phone. They read it but didn't discuss it with her which left her more confused. She was Out but not really open. Last I heard that hadn't changed.
Personally, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief, a "dropping of the facade". It felt like I was given a mandate to be myself, although it was years before I found out who that was.
I've mentioned before that I volunteer with an LGBT Youth Group, and one of the things we've been doing lately (and what prompted this post) is working on our own Coming Out stories. Not all of our young people are out to their families but most of them are out to at least some of their friends. One or two who have come along to the group have only come out to us. But they've all made the very brave step to be honest with themselves and with others.
One of them sent me their story to put up on our site. I’m not going to share it here because it’s not my story and it wouldn’t be fair. But the strength of our young people is amazing. Through working on their own stories, one has come out to his parents and another has started coming out to friends. We’d like to eventually self publish their stories (identifiable details changed of course).
At Pride this year the group had a stall. They had information about local groups (including ourselves), LGBT services and coming out. During the day an older man came up to the stand shook the hand of one of our young people, thanked them and started crying. It was his first Pride and he was overwhelmed by seeing the number of young people open and Out. He was 78 and only plucked up the courage to come out to his family the year before.
He thanked them for being brave enough to do what he couldn't.
You're never too old to be true to yourself, we all do it in our own time and when it's right for us, some people just take a little longer.
Saturday 24 November 2012
Uganda: update
I'm sure most people know this already but I wanted to post on it.
After a massive campaign again this, the death penalty has been dropped from Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill!
While this is a great step forward, it is worth noting that there are still a host of extreme punishments for LGBT people in the country including hard labour and long jail sentences up to life imprisonment. The bill hasn't passed yet, but there is a strong concern that it could be voted on at any time.
Part of this reversal has been due to international pressure brought by Western leaders. Many countries had threatened to cut off aid to the country if they included this punishment, and pressure still exists if they do not improve their record on equalities issues.
Have a look at this and this for more information.
If you want to sign another petition and keep up on other LGBT equality issues going on around the world then keep an eye on All Out. They are a movement organising online to fight for equality the world over. As I write this 1,218,004 people (including myself) have signed this and it is important to keep momentum for this up.
This issue came up at the conference, and it at first surprised me that many activists are against this stance. They do not want aid cut off for human rights violations and I couldn't understand why. But it's for the best possible reason: if aid is cut off due to violations against LGBT people then this is going to have a dangerous impact on the members of that community in Uganda. They would be blamed for worsening conditions and for vital supplies not getting to people living in horrific circumstances. The already high risk of abuse, violence and death that exists would increase exponentially.
I can only hope that David Cameron and other political leaders see the sense in this and don't take any action that could worsen already intolerable conditions for LGBT people in Uganda.
A small battle was won this week, but this fight is far from over, and while politicians negotiate and apply pressure, our LGBT brothers and sisters remain in danger and at threat of violence and persecution.
After a massive campaign again this, the death penalty has been dropped from Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill!
While this is a great step forward, it is worth noting that there are still a host of extreme punishments for LGBT people in the country including hard labour and long jail sentences up to life imprisonment. The bill hasn't passed yet, but there is a strong concern that it could be voted on at any time.
Part of this reversal has been due to international pressure brought by Western leaders. Many countries had threatened to cut off aid to the country if they included this punishment, and pressure still exists if they do not improve their record on equalities issues.
Have a look at this and this for more information.
If you want to sign another petition and keep up on other LGBT equality issues going on around the world then keep an eye on All Out. They are a movement organising online to fight for equality the world over. As I write this 1,218,004 people (including myself) have signed this and it is important to keep momentum for this up.
This issue came up at the conference, and it at first surprised me that many activists are against this stance. They do not want aid cut off for human rights violations and I couldn't understand why. But it's for the best possible reason: if aid is cut off due to violations against LGBT people then this is going to have a dangerous impact on the members of that community in Uganda. They would be blamed for worsening conditions and for vital supplies not getting to people living in horrific circumstances. The already high risk of abuse, violence and death that exists would increase exponentially.
I can only hope that David Cameron and other political leaders see the sense in this and don't take any action that could worsen already intolerable conditions for LGBT people in Uganda.
A small battle was won this week, but this fight is far from over, and while politicians negotiate and apply pressure, our LGBT brothers and sisters remain in danger and at threat of violence and persecution.
Tales from Brighton
We went to the sea!
It's been 6 days and I'm only getting around to posting now because we've been having a busy week since we returned.
Brighton was amazing.
It's a beautiful city, the views out over the sea are stunning and people are friendly. In fairness, they get so many tourists, conferences, hen and stag parties it's probably a conditioned response but it made a difference compared to the grumpy service we'd normally get at home.
Despite the number of bars and restaurants they have, it's completely family friendly so it really is good for anyone.
As I mentioned in a previous post, we were there for a conference (it was the UNISON National LGBT Conference but I'll cover that in a different post) so most of the time there was spent on that. But luckily we arrived on the Thursday and the conference for us didn't start until 4pm on Friday, so we had plenty of time to explore.
I'm going to take you through a blow by blow account because that would be boring but there are some definite highlights.
Brighton Pier. It's amazing. It's like something from a 1980's family holiday (that's not a criticism) and is full of arcade machines, 2p machines (which David spent a small fortune on) and those grabby machines full of tacky cuddly toys. I do have to admit I wanted to try and win an Angry Birds teddy by resisted...because, you know I'm 29 and have enough childish traits. The pier is huge and if you're in the area you definitely need to go and see it. Stand at the very end, there's something liberating about being that far from land and nothing but water ahead of you.
Preto. This is a Brazilian steakhouse with branches (I've discovered) in London as well. We went there for dinner with my parents (did I mention they were at the conference as well? I was so happy to see them!). This is definitely a meatlovers restaurant. People bring meat on a spit. Until you tell them to stop. You could eat meat forever. Seriously though, the food is delicious and the service is amazing so if you have the opportunity give them your business.
On a sidenote, while we were there there was a gay couple sitting a few tables away with their son. It was one of the nicest, sweetest things I've ever seen.
Tolerance. Brighton is well known as an accepting, tolerant city and this is so true. There are LGBT everywhere. I mean I've heard people say that Brighton is a gay city, but until you see it for yourself it doesn't really sink in. The picture below really sums it up, I've never seen anything like that in other cities. There was one very unfortunate incident but I'll be coming onto that in another post.
Quality time. This was the best thing about the weekend. We got to spend some really quality time together even in the conference sessions. On Wednesday we agreed that there would be no talk about work the whole time we were away and that was amazing. We both do jobs that take up a lot of our time and thinking at home so it was nice to have a break from that. And we laughed so much it was like being a teenager again.
Before I forget, we found Choccywoccydoodah! We got so carried away that we didn't take any pictures! Now it's a bit expensive...for a small box of large, salted chocolate disks and pellets of white chocolate it was £17, but it really is like chocolate heaven. Some of the cakes there were incredible to look at. The skill, talent and vision that goes into them defies belief, and if we had the money, we would happily get our wedding cake from there!
If you need some time away and want to reconnect then go to Brighton for a few days, trust me you won't regret it!
It's been 6 days and I'm only getting around to posting now because we've been having a busy week since we returned.
Brighton was amazing.
It's a beautiful city, the views out over the sea are stunning and people are friendly. In fairness, they get so many tourists, conferences, hen and stag parties it's probably a conditioned response but it made a difference compared to the grumpy service we'd normally get at home.
Despite the number of bars and restaurants they have, it's completely family friendly so it really is good for anyone.
As I mentioned in a previous post, we were there for a conference (it was the UNISON National LGBT Conference but I'll cover that in a different post) so most of the time there was spent on that. But luckily we arrived on the Thursday and the conference for us didn't start until 4pm on Friday, so we had plenty of time to explore.
I'm going to take you through a blow by blow account because that would be boring but there are some definite highlights.
Brighton Pier. It's amazing. It's like something from a 1980's family holiday (that's not a criticism) and is full of arcade machines, 2p machines (which David spent a small fortune on) and those grabby machines full of tacky cuddly toys. I do have to admit I wanted to try and win an Angry Birds teddy by resisted...because, you know I'm 29 and have enough childish traits. The pier is huge and if you're in the area you definitely need to go and see it. Stand at the very end, there's something liberating about being that far from land and nothing but water ahead of you.
Preto. This is a Brazilian steakhouse with branches (I've discovered) in London as well. We went there for dinner with my parents (did I mention they were at the conference as well? I was so happy to see them!). This is definitely a meatlovers restaurant. People bring meat on a spit. Until you tell them to stop. You could eat meat forever. Seriously though, the food is delicious and the service is amazing so if you have the opportunity give them your business.
On a sidenote, while we were there there was a gay couple sitting a few tables away with their son. It was one of the nicest, sweetest things I've ever seen.
Tolerance. Brighton is well known as an accepting, tolerant city and this is so true. There are LGBT everywhere. I mean I've heard people say that Brighton is a gay city, but until you see it for yourself it doesn't really sink in. The picture below really sums it up, I've never seen anything like that in other cities. There was one very unfortunate incident but I'll be coming onto that in another post.
Quality time. This was the best thing about the weekend. We got to spend some really quality time together even in the conference sessions. On Wednesday we agreed that there would be no talk about work the whole time we were away and that was amazing. We both do jobs that take up a lot of our time and thinking at home so it was nice to have a break from that. And we laughed so much it was like being a teenager again.
Before I forget, we found Choccywoccydoodah! We got so carried away that we didn't take any pictures! Now it's a bit expensive...for a small box of large, salted chocolate disks and pellets of white chocolate it was £17, but it really is like chocolate heaven. Some of the cakes there were incredible to look at. The skill, talent and vision that goes into them defies belief, and if we had the money, we would happily get our wedding cake from there!
If you need some time away and want to reconnect then go to Brighton for a few days, trust me you won't regret it!
Quote of the Day
Russell Brand interviews two members of the Westboro Baptist Church.
I'm not always a massive fan of Mr Brand but he's shot up in my estimation after this!
I'm not always a massive fan of Mr Brand but he's shot up in my estimation after this!
Wednesday 14 November 2012
A weekend by the sea!
We're going away this weekend!
Yes I'm excited and yes there are likely to be a lot of exclamation marks through this post!
The last time we went away together was in the last week of March when we went back to Scotland to visit family and friends (I'm from the West Coast of Scotland). It was great. We spent a few days with my folks in the small town they live and then in Glasgow with our friends.
Living so far away from my family when we do go away it tends to be for me to go back home. Alas it doesn't happen nearly often enough, and being almost 400 miles away it's not always possible for people to come and visit.
*Cue tiny violins*
But this weekend, tomorrow in fact, we're going away. To Brighton!
Now before I go much further I should say that it's for a conference so it's not all play. In fact it's not even mostly play time. But the important thing is it's away from here and together.
I've never been before and it's apparently a lovely place to visit. David's been loads of times (a distant ex of his was from there) so there are loads of places he wants to show me. The picture above is of Brighton Pier and it's one of the things I'm most excited about.
Having grown up on the banks of a river, being so close to water all the time became just part of the background and not something I paid a great deal of attention to. Until I moved. Even the air smells different. We live so far inland I don't trust it. There's so much...land.
So for four days I get to be away from our town WITH my man and right on the coast. The weather forecast is to be dry so fingers crossed it stays that way!
Before I wrap this up, I just want to mention one of the places we're going to try and track down between conference sessions. Choccywoccydoodah.
This is possibly the most eccentric cake shop I've ever come across. They have a reality program on some channel or other...that's pretty vague but I can't remember which one. And if you're wondering why I'm mentioning this specifically than check out the picture below.
Weekend away: check. Future husband: check. Water: check. Mounds of chocolate: check!
Yes I'm excited and yes there are likely to be a lot of exclamation marks through this post!
The last time we went away together was in the last week of March when we went back to Scotland to visit family and friends (I'm from the West Coast of Scotland). It was great. We spent a few days with my folks in the small town they live and then in Glasgow with our friends.
Living so far away from my family when we do go away it tends to be for me to go back home. Alas it doesn't happen nearly often enough, and being almost 400 miles away it's not always possible for people to come and visit.
*Cue tiny violins*
But this weekend, tomorrow in fact, we're going away. To Brighton!
Now before I go much further I should say that it's for a conference so it's not all play. In fact it's not even mostly play time. But the important thing is it's away from here and together.
I've never been before and it's apparently a lovely place to visit. David's been loads of times (a distant ex of his was from there) so there are loads of places he wants to show me. The picture above is of Brighton Pier and it's one of the things I'm most excited about.
Having grown up on the banks of a river, being so close to water all the time became just part of the background and not something I paid a great deal of attention to. Until I moved. Even the air smells different. We live so far inland I don't trust it. There's so much...land.
So for four days I get to be away from our town WITH my man and right on the coast. The weather forecast is to be dry so fingers crossed it stays that way!
Before I wrap this up, I just want to mention one of the places we're going to try and track down between conference sessions. Choccywoccydoodah.
This is possibly the most eccentric cake shop I've ever come across. They have a reality program on some channel or other...that's pretty vague but I can't remember which one. And if you're wondering why I'm mentioning this specifically than check out the picture below.
Weekend away: check. Future husband: check. Water: check. Mounds of chocolate: check!
Uganda...'nuff said
It always amazes me that in Western nations we talk about the campaign for gay rights coming so far. And it has. We have equality in many areas of life and campaigns are ongoing in others (see a recent post on same-sex marriage).
And because of this it's easy to overlook and forget developing nations where things are far from equal or even safe.
Like Uganda, for example.
Have a read at this. And while you're at it, this.
Anti-gay bills and zealous hatred of homosexuality is nothing new for Uganda, it's neighbour Kenya and other African nations such as Malawi. Men and women are outted in national papers. They are killed, in some cases by family, friends and neighbours. It is not safe to be LGBT in many countries on the African continent. Your life can literally hang in the balance if you are outted.
A quote from a BBC article a few months ago summed it up for me: "what I'm worried about most is not even the police coming to arrest me, it's my neighbour attacking me". For anyone who thinks this may be an overdramatisation, in January 2011, Ugandan gay rights activist David Kato was killed in what was widely believed to be a hate crime.
In 2011, Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills filmed a documentary called "The World's Worst Place to Be Gay?" I'd encourage everyone to watch it. But prepare yourself first.
Earlier this year Uganda's government tried to introduce a similar bill which among other things, introduced punishments up to and including life in prison and the death penalty if you were found guilty of homosexual offences. The bill was stopped in part due to an internet campaign that collected more than 800,000 signatures.
There is another petition currently being run by the organisation Avaaz and they are trying to collect 2,000,000 signatures this time round to try and stop this. Please take a few seconds to support this petition.
It is important that supporters of equality the world over spread the message and make a statement: equality for all!
I've been asked by people why we still fight for equality, why we still hold Pride marches and why we mark things like LGBT month. But this is why. It's to send a message that we're not finished yet, we're not entirely equal. It's to say that there are other LGBT people in the world that are still suffering and fighting for things that we take for granted.
And it's to give the LGBT community in those countries hope.
Things can get better, and we're in it with you.
And because of this it's easy to overlook and forget developing nations where things are far from equal or even safe.
Like Uganda, for example.
Have a read at this. And while you're at it, this.
Anti-gay bills and zealous hatred of homosexuality is nothing new for Uganda, it's neighbour Kenya and other African nations such as Malawi. Men and women are outted in national papers. They are killed, in some cases by family, friends and neighbours. It is not safe to be LGBT in many countries on the African continent. Your life can literally hang in the balance if you are outted.
A quote from a BBC article a few months ago summed it up for me: "what I'm worried about most is not even the police coming to arrest me, it's my neighbour attacking me". For anyone who thinks this may be an overdramatisation, in January 2011, Ugandan gay rights activist David Kato was killed in what was widely believed to be a hate crime.
In 2011, Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills filmed a documentary called "The World's Worst Place to Be Gay?" I'd encourage everyone to watch it. But prepare yourself first.
Earlier this year Uganda's government tried to introduce a similar bill which among other things, introduced punishments up to and including life in prison and the death penalty if you were found guilty of homosexual offences. The bill was stopped in part due to an internet campaign that collected more than 800,000 signatures.
There is another petition currently being run by the organisation Avaaz and they are trying to collect 2,000,000 signatures this time round to try and stop this. Please take a few seconds to support this petition.
It is important that supporters of equality the world over spread the message and make a statement: equality for all!
I've been asked by people why we still fight for equality, why we still hold Pride marches and why we mark things like LGBT month. But this is why. It's to send a message that we're not finished yet, we're not entirely equal. It's to say that there are other LGBT people in the world that are still suffering and fighting for things that we take for granted.
And it's to give the LGBT community in those countries hope.
Things can get better, and we're in it with you.
Sunday 11 November 2012
Quote of the Day
I know this isn't a quote as such but it scared me and made me chuckle in equal measure...
Lazy Sunday's and Markets
Sunday's are not everyone's cup of tea but I love them.
We've been together for nearly 4 years and through all this time David has been working shifts. It means we can go days without seeing each other (except in bed) and he works two out of four weekends. At least in theory. In practice it varies and it's not been unusual for him to work three or four in a four week period.
For us weekends are precious, but I really love Sunday's.
I know that they say Sunday's are a day for rest...and well that's definitely true for us. We tend to become hermitic and lazier than normal on the Sunday's we have together, but we have a few traditions that we always do.
One of them is the local farmer's market. That's it below.
It's not the biggest market in the world and doesn't take hours to get round. In fact if you were going to be quick about it you could make your way through all of the stalls in about 10 minutes. But why would you?
There's something really wonderful about being able to talk to the person who baked your loaf of bread that morning. Or the seller who made the cheese by hand that you've just tasted. I love talking to sellers and vendors at the market (much to David's annoyance on rainy days) and finding out about them, their businesses and more importantly, their goods. It's a personal level of buying you just don't get in other places.
We've lived in our current place for two and a half years now and almost from day one would wander over to the market and pick up things for dinner or a few treats for later in the week. And the produce really is better than the majority of what you can find in the supermarket.
I've been a supporter and advocate for local businesses for a long time and feel that a weekly trip to the farmers market is a good way of showing my support. And we've tried and found some amazing things we would have otherwise come across.
For example, today we bought some garlic goat's cheese (they also do amazing orange and rosemary or lavender goat's cheese!) and some French pastries.
Now I know that you can get these things in multi-chain supermarkets up and down the country and pay less, but it's not the same. And it gives us something to share together. Most of the stallholders pegged us as a couple quite quickly...though that could have been because we forgot ourselves and David fed me a sample bread once...
And on the topic of markets, there's another coming up that we go to every year: the Bath Christmas Market!
It's absolutely huge, takes place in the shadow of Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths and is a great festive day out. Now I'm aware I'm about to sound like an advert for Bath Tourist Board, but let me assure any cynical minds who may be reading this I'm not on their payroll. But those are a few places that we love going to (especially the Roman Baths!) so figure others may also enjoy them.
For four Christmases we've been trying to get David a Belgian chocolate waffle at the Christmas market and have never succeeded, so fingers crossed for this year! We've decided this time around that it'll be fun to get a group of people together to go, so invites are going out to friends and my mother-in-law so it should be fun!
Future plans aside, this lazy Sunday is going to be finished off with a roast chicken, something that is rapidly becoming my speciality it seems, and a film we can curl up to on the couch, suggestions welcome for the latter!
We've been together for nearly 4 years and through all this time David has been working shifts. It means we can go days without seeing each other (except in bed) and he works two out of four weekends. At least in theory. In practice it varies and it's not been unusual for him to work three or four in a four week period.
For us weekends are precious, but I really love Sunday's.
I know that they say Sunday's are a day for rest...and well that's definitely true for us. We tend to become hermitic and lazier than normal on the Sunday's we have together, but we have a few traditions that we always do.
One of them is the local farmer's market. That's it below.
It's not the biggest market in the world and doesn't take hours to get round. In fact if you were going to be quick about it you could make your way through all of the stalls in about 10 minutes. But why would you?
There's something really wonderful about being able to talk to the person who baked your loaf of bread that morning. Or the seller who made the cheese by hand that you've just tasted. I love talking to sellers and vendors at the market (much to David's annoyance on rainy days) and finding out about them, their businesses and more importantly, their goods. It's a personal level of buying you just don't get in other places.
We've lived in our current place for two and a half years now and almost from day one would wander over to the market and pick up things for dinner or a few treats for later in the week. And the produce really is better than the majority of what you can find in the supermarket.
I've been a supporter and advocate for local businesses for a long time and feel that a weekly trip to the farmers market is a good way of showing my support. And we've tried and found some amazing things we would have otherwise come across.
For example, today we bought some garlic goat's cheese (they also do amazing orange and rosemary or lavender goat's cheese!) and some French pastries.
Now I know that you can get these things in multi-chain supermarkets up and down the country and pay less, but it's not the same. And it gives us something to share together. Most of the stallholders pegged us as a couple quite quickly...though that could have been because we forgot ourselves and David fed me a sample bread once...
And on the topic of markets, there's another coming up that we go to every year: the Bath Christmas Market!
It's absolutely huge, takes place in the shadow of Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths and is a great festive day out. Now I'm aware I'm about to sound like an advert for Bath Tourist Board, but let me assure any cynical minds who may be reading this I'm not on their payroll. But those are a few places that we love going to (especially the Roman Baths!) so figure others may also enjoy them.
For four Christmases we've been trying to get David a Belgian chocolate waffle at the Christmas market and have never succeeded, so fingers crossed for this year! We've decided this time around that it'll be fun to get a group of people together to go, so invites are going out to friends and my mother-in-law so it should be fun!
Future plans aside, this lazy Sunday is going to be finished off with a roast chicken, something that is rapidly becoming my speciality it seems, and a film we can curl up to on the couch, suggestions welcome for the latter!
Saturday 10 November 2012
John Williams Medley Tribute!
I am a huge geek when it comes to Star Wars. A friend (and equally huge geek!) sent this to me and I wanted to share!
Two little words...one huge meaning
I do.
Two little words, one huge meaning.
Following on from a previous post, I'm delighted to confirm that yes, we are getting married. On the 6th April, 3 days after our 4th anniversary, we will be walking down an aisle, swapping some pretty jewellry, saying some lovely words and doing it all in front of our nearest and dearst.
Before I go any further I want to clarify something, we are having a Civil Partnership NOT a wedding, but to me the two things are the same so I refer to it as a wedding. Just in case anyone is interested, David doesn't.
For me it's a principle: our civil partnership is every bit as valid as a wedding between a heterosexual couple.
Until same-sex marriage is introduced fully I will continue to refer to our day as wedding and David as my husband...because that's what he will be.
Anyway. So yes, we're getting married (see I did it again). But this isn't a self-indulgant post about our relationship, although I could do that I suppose. This is a post about same-sex marriage.
Under the terms of the Civil Partnership Act (2004), LGBT couples in Britain have been able to enter into Civil Partnerships since December 2005. Since their introduction, 53,417 couples had been entered into up until the end of December 2011. That is 106,834 people who have chosen to signify their relationship in such a way, a massive difference from the conservative estimates of 11,000 - 22,000 couples expected to enter into a Civil Partnership by 2010.
Something I found interesting was that figures for dissolution of Civil Partnerships were 6.6%, while the numbers of married couples divorcing are increasing year on year, the figure being 11.1% in 2011. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to imply that couples in Civil Partnerships are in some ways more stable than married couple. If I was going to draw a conclusion I would say that many LGBT couples waited a long time for Civil Partnerships to be introduced and those long terms couples chose this step. In 2011 the average was 40 for men and 38 for women.
We're seven years on from the introduction of CP's in Britain now so what next?
Well, the Scottish Executive is aiming to introduce same-sex marriage to Scotland by 2015 and doing so in the face of a vitriolic campaign being headed up by the Catholic Church in Scotland. This has led to a degradation of relations between the government and the church, but personally, I can't say that that upsets me particularly.
In the rest of the UK, after a consultation, the British Government has announced that they will introduce same-sex marriage in England and Wales, a move that I very much support. They haven't announced when they intend to try and introduce legislation, but have said they will allow MPs a free vote and not put a party whip in place. Again, something I support. Some organisations (the Campaign for Marriage, and the Coalition 4 Equal Marriage) have started to compile lists of how MPs will vote...but we'll have to watch this space on that one.
Many senior political figures are supporting same-sex marriage, and surprisingly, many senior Tory figures. George Osbourne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said he would vote in favour because the Conservative Party supported "institutions of committment". I never thought I'd agree with a Conservative MP but I was pleased to read that. But moreso in politics, actions speak louder than words.
Campaign lines have been drawn, and although I'd like to objective, I'm not when it comes to this issue, but suffice to say the one against equality is disgusting. On a more positive note, the C4EM released this advert:
I love this, and I was so happy to see it appear on TV! I'm sure this is not a universally held position, but everyone I spoke to who has seen this loves it. Several cried...I didn't but I can understand why, it really is a beautiful thing to watch.
I'm going to be positive and think towards the introduction of equal marriage.
What do couples do then? Retain their Civil Partnership or upgrade? We've discussed it and decided we'll upgrade, it's what we want and as we're entering into a marriage, in practice if not in law, then once same-sex marriage is legal you better believe that we'll be getting that piece of paper!
This won't be my last post on the topic...I know I'll be blogging about the wedding if nothing else, but I hope that Britain continues to take positive steps forward and we can have marriage for all.
Civil Partnerships were the start...they need not be the end.
Two little words, one huge meaning.
Following on from a previous post, I'm delighted to confirm that yes, we are getting married. On the 6th April, 3 days after our 4th anniversary, we will be walking down an aisle, swapping some pretty jewellry, saying some lovely words and doing it all in front of our nearest and dearst.
Before I go any further I want to clarify something, we are having a Civil Partnership NOT a wedding, but to me the two things are the same so I refer to it as a wedding. Just in case anyone is interested, David doesn't.
For me it's a principle: our civil partnership is every bit as valid as a wedding between a heterosexual couple.
Until same-sex marriage is introduced fully I will continue to refer to our day as wedding and David as my husband...because that's what he will be.
Anyway. So yes, we're getting married (see I did it again). But this isn't a self-indulgant post about our relationship, although I could do that I suppose. This is a post about same-sex marriage.
Under the terms of the Civil Partnership Act (2004), LGBT couples in Britain have been able to enter into Civil Partnerships since December 2005. Since their introduction, 53,417 couples had been entered into up until the end of December 2011. That is 106,834 people who have chosen to signify their relationship in such a way, a massive difference from the conservative estimates of 11,000 - 22,000 couples expected to enter into a Civil Partnership by 2010.
Something I found interesting was that figures for dissolution of Civil Partnerships were 6.6%, while the numbers of married couples divorcing are increasing year on year, the figure being 11.1% in 2011. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to imply that couples in Civil Partnerships are in some ways more stable than married couple. If I was going to draw a conclusion I would say that many LGBT couples waited a long time for Civil Partnerships to be introduced and those long terms couples chose this step. In 2011 the average was 40 for men and 38 for women.
We're seven years on from the introduction of CP's in Britain now so what next?
Well, the Scottish Executive is aiming to introduce same-sex marriage to Scotland by 2015 and doing so in the face of a vitriolic campaign being headed up by the Catholic Church in Scotland. This has led to a degradation of relations between the government and the church, but personally, I can't say that that upsets me particularly.
In the rest of the UK, after a consultation, the British Government has announced that they will introduce same-sex marriage in England and Wales, a move that I very much support. They haven't announced when they intend to try and introduce legislation, but have said they will allow MPs a free vote and not put a party whip in place. Again, something I support. Some organisations (the Campaign for Marriage, and the Coalition 4 Equal Marriage) have started to compile lists of how MPs will vote...but we'll have to watch this space on that one.
Many senior political figures are supporting same-sex marriage, and surprisingly, many senior Tory figures. George Osbourne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said he would vote in favour because the Conservative Party supported "institutions of committment". I never thought I'd agree with a Conservative MP but I was pleased to read that. But moreso in politics, actions speak louder than words.
Campaign lines have been drawn, and although I'd like to objective, I'm not when it comes to this issue, but suffice to say the one against equality is disgusting. On a more positive note, the C4EM released this advert:
I love this, and I was so happy to see it appear on TV! I'm sure this is not a universally held position, but everyone I spoke to who has seen this loves it. Several cried...I didn't but I can understand why, it really is a beautiful thing to watch.
I'm going to be positive and think towards the introduction of equal marriage.
What do couples do then? Retain their Civil Partnership or upgrade? We've discussed it and decided we'll upgrade, it's what we want and as we're entering into a marriage, in practice if not in law, then once same-sex marriage is legal you better believe that we'll be getting that piece of paper!
This won't be my last post on the topic...I know I'll be blogging about the wedding if nothing else, but I hope that Britain continues to take positive steps forward and we can have marriage for all.
Civil Partnerships were the start...they need not be the end.
Friend or Foe?
In December of this year the Archbishop of Canterbury, nominal head of the
Anglican Church, Dr Rowan Williams, is stepping down.
After months of speculation in the media and furious debate in religious
circles, the decision has been made and from December 2012, Justin Welby the
Bishop of Durham
That's him below.
In recent years one of the most divisive issues within the general synod has been that of homosexuality. Everything from LGBT clergy, same-sex marriage, civil partnerships and gay adoption have been hot topics that have in many case polarised the pulpit as much as the pews. Often at times, Dr Williams has been the source of controversy himself, inside and out of the church, but he has spent a great deal of time over recent years trying to hold a Church together that has often been at war with itself.
And into the breach now steps the Right Reverend (soon to be the Most Reverend) Justin Welby.
In time gone by, Bishop Welby has defended the Church's opposition to same-sex marriage, insisting that Civil Partnerships should be a more than adequate public display of acceptance. Unlike other bishops he has conceded that the State should have the right to define the status of co-habiting couples, something in stark contrast to some of his more conservative colleagues in similar positions, but he has been clear that marriage should be between a man and woman only, and previously indicated he would defend his position.
This has led to more the more liberal media refer to him as a "homosceptic".
In a positive step, he has taken a liberal stance on woman in the leadership of the clergy saying "I'm strongly in favour of women as bishops. What we're struggling with is how you make the change and ensure that women have the full authority as bishops without making it impossible for those who have real conscientious objections." He recently encouraged the synod to vote in their favour, definitely a positive sign as far as women are concerned.
I am left to ponder how he would feel about a lesbian, female minister in a civil partnership being promoted to Bishop though...
Back on topic though.
Following his appointment to the position, the incoming Archbishop has stated he reassess his position on same-sex marriage "prayerfully and carefully" in coming months, perhaps showing a genuine reconsideration on the issue.
Or perhaps this shows that he realises how politically charged a position he is now in.
Whichever, the Church is due to publish it's thoughts on sexuality in the coming year and so it will be interesting to see if there is any softening of their previously conservative position. With congregations numbering the millions in violently homophobic countries such asUganda ,
Kenya , Malawi
I deeply hope that we find Bishop Welby to be an ally to the LGBT community during his tenure; with the attacks stemming from the Catholic Church inScotland
The winds of change are coming, my friends, and maybe they're coming to a pew near you!
That's him below.
In recent years one of the most divisive issues within the general synod has been that of homosexuality. Everything from LGBT clergy, same-sex marriage, civil partnerships and gay adoption have been hot topics that have in many case polarised the pulpit as much as the pews. Often at times, Dr Williams has been the source of controversy himself, inside and out of the church, but he has spent a great deal of time over recent years trying to hold a Church together that has often been at war with itself.
And into the breach now steps the Right Reverend (soon to be the Most Reverend) Justin Welby.
In time gone by, Bishop Welby has defended the Church's opposition to same-sex marriage, insisting that Civil Partnerships should be a more than adequate public display of acceptance. Unlike other bishops he has conceded that the State should have the right to define the status of co-habiting couples, something in stark contrast to some of his more conservative colleagues in similar positions, but he has been clear that marriage should be between a man and woman only, and previously indicated he would defend his position.
This has led to more the more liberal media refer to him as a "homosceptic".
In a positive step, he has taken a liberal stance on woman in the leadership of the clergy saying "I'm strongly in favour of women as bishops. What we're struggling with is how you make the change and ensure that women have the full authority as bishops without making it impossible for those who have real conscientious objections." He recently encouraged the synod to vote in their favour, definitely a positive sign as far as women are concerned.
I am left to ponder how he would feel about a lesbian, female minister in a civil partnership being promoted to Bishop though...
Back on topic though.
Following his appointment to the position, the incoming Archbishop has stated he reassess his position on same-sex marriage "prayerfully and carefully" in coming months, perhaps showing a genuine reconsideration on the issue.
Or perhaps this shows that he realises how politically charged a position he is now in.
Whichever, the Church is due to publish it's thoughts on sexuality in the coming year and so it will be interesting to see if there is any softening of their previously conservative position. With congregations numbering the millions in violently homophobic countries such as
I deeply hope that we find Bishop Welby to be an ally to the LGBT community during his tenure; with the attacks stemming from the Catholic Church in
The winds of change are coming, my friends, and maybe they're coming to a pew near you!
Thursday 8 November 2012
Has kindness gone out of the world?
I'm going to a funeral tomorrow.
I'm not saying that to get any kind of sympathy or to publicise myself. Honestly.
The funeral is for an incredible woman, someone who I've come to admire and look up to over the last year. I won't go into detail about her story because it's not mine to tell, it's her families and I wouldn't put something like that out there in the public arena. She had an enduring illness that she thought she'd been several months ago and in the last four weeks went from feeling ill to passing away surrounded by her nearest and dearest.
Tragic doesn't begin to explain it. Angry can't sum up how the people around her feel.
But this blog entry isn't about that. It's not about her death or how people were affected by it. As I've said, that's someone elses story, certainly not mine to tell.
This post is about people. It's about their attitude to one another and a sense of community, or lack of.
To provide a bit of context, I managed this person...let's call her Sally.
When she became ill a year ago I actively supported her by including her in team social events, inviting her to team meetings (on her terms and when she felt strong enough), calling her every week to check in and see if there was anything I could and as a wider team we clubbed together and bought her things just to make her feel better.
This last month when she became ill, when it became much worse, I fought tooth and nail with management and HR to make sure that we could provide whatever support, emotional and financial, that we could as an employer to relieve any worry she had and try and relieve some little burden. Colleages (and friends) or mine would go and visit just to have a cup of tea and provide company. They would bring magazines, smiles and the best company possible.
Just because they could.
In fact they made a point of visiting two days before she died so she knew she was loved and thought of. So they could bring whatever comfort they could to a woman struggling with the end of her life. So she would know she would be remembered.
The things that we all did were small kindnesses, the very basic things that we could do for another person.
This morning at our departmental meeting the three of us were specifically singled out and thanked for the support we had offered Sally in the last weeks of her life. It was my manager thanking us (he's a great guy) and while I appreciated the sentiment, I was embarrassed to be thanked for something that should have been a given.
I would have made the same effort for anyone in my team. If I'm honest I would make the same effort for pretty much anyone I know. When I spoke to the other people mentioned they agreed that they would do the same.
I'm coming to a point soon, honestly, just stay with me through this.
It got me thinking about out attitudes towards our fellow man. How we relate to them, the effort we make and what we think we should or could do. So my question is this: has basic human kindness gone out of the world?
In the last 24 hours the British government has stated that it wants to recruit and train 1 millions volunteers to work with elderly people with dementia, to become "dementia friends". More than 700 people are affected by dementia in England alone, leading to it being called a national epidemic.
Anyone interested in taking part can find more info here.
In the last 10 years the numbers of people volunteering with the elderly has decreased, and as times have gotten hard, people have become more inward looking, less likely to donate even their time or help people around them. In recent decades that would have been unthinkable. The concept of community, togetherness and supporting your fellow many was all pervading in many communities, particularly those from deprived areas. There was a definite sense of "we're in this together" that has disappeared in past years.
Have people stopped caring about one another?
I volunteer every Tuesday night with an LGBT youth group. I don't do it for any other reason other than as a gay man and member of the LGBT community I feel I should. I have been incredibly fortunate to have the friends, family and support I have and have had a very positive experience coming out (ok it was 11 years ago, but still, I'm only 29) and I felt that I had to give something back to my community.
When friends found out some of them where horrified I was volunteering. "How can you be bothered?" "Where do you find the time?" "I'm far too busy to do anything like that!". Some of these comments have come from people who, while they have busy jobs, spend their evenings doing very little.
My better half recently helped an old man in the street who had fallen over and was in some distress. This was in front of a busy set of bus stops and he was the ONLY person who moved to help this very vulnerable man.
This isn't to say that we are virtuous, generous people, far from it. But the way we've been raised, the examples we had as children and the friends we have in our lives make this not unusual things to do. Looking at the wider world it seems to be increasingly rare to find people willing to embrace that sense of community, to put themselves out for their fellow man.
So, my friends, I ask you, has the kindness gone out of the world? Are we unwilling, or unable, to put ourselves out for one another? Do we still retain a sense of community where we live?
I'm not saying that to get any kind of sympathy or to publicise myself. Honestly.
The funeral is for an incredible woman, someone who I've come to admire and look up to over the last year. I won't go into detail about her story because it's not mine to tell, it's her families and I wouldn't put something like that out there in the public arena. She had an enduring illness that she thought she'd been several months ago and in the last four weeks went from feeling ill to passing away surrounded by her nearest and dearest.
Tragic doesn't begin to explain it. Angry can't sum up how the people around her feel.
But this blog entry isn't about that. It's not about her death or how people were affected by it. As I've said, that's someone elses story, certainly not mine to tell.
This post is about people. It's about their attitude to one another and a sense of community, or lack of.
To provide a bit of context, I managed this person...let's call her Sally.
When she became ill a year ago I actively supported her by including her in team social events, inviting her to team meetings (on her terms and when she felt strong enough), calling her every week to check in and see if there was anything I could and as a wider team we clubbed together and bought her things just to make her feel better.
This last month when she became ill, when it became much worse, I fought tooth and nail with management and HR to make sure that we could provide whatever support, emotional and financial, that we could as an employer to relieve any worry she had and try and relieve some little burden. Colleages (and friends) or mine would go and visit just to have a cup of tea and provide company. They would bring magazines, smiles and the best company possible.
Just because they could.
In fact they made a point of visiting two days before she died so she knew she was loved and thought of. So they could bring whatever comfort they could to a woman struggling with the end of her life. So she would know she would be remembered.
The things that we all did were small kindnesses, the very basic things that we could do for another person.
This morning at our departmental meeting the three of us were specifically singled out and thanked for the support we had offered Sally in the last weeks of her life. It was my manager thanking us (he's a great guy) and while I appreciated the sentiment, I was embarrassed to be thanked for something that should have been a given.
I would have made the same effort for anyone in my team. If I'm honest I would make the same effort for pretty much anyone I know. When I spoke to the other people mentioned they agreed that they would do the same.
I'm coming to a point soon, honestly, just stay with me through this.
It got me thinking about out attitudes towards our fellow man. How we relate to them, the effort we make and what we think we should or could do. So my question is this: has basic human kindness gone out of the world?
In the last 24 hours the British government has stated that it wants to recruit and train 1 millions volunteers to work with elderly people with dementia, to become "dementia friends". More than 700 people are affected by dementia in England alone, leading to it being called a national epidemic.
Anyone interested in taking part can find more info here.
In the last 10 years the numbers of people volunteering with the elderly has decreased, and as times have gotten hard, people have become more inward looking, less likely to donate even their time or help people around them. In recent decades that would have been unthinkable. The concept of community, togetherness and supporting your fellow many was all pervading in many communities, particularly those from deprived areas. There was a definite sense of "we're in this together" that has disappeared in past years.
Have people stopped caring about one another?
I volunteer every Tuesday night with an LGBT youth group. I don't do it for any other reason other than as a gay man and member of the LGBT community I feel I should. I have been incredibly fortunate to have the friends, family and support I have and have had a very positive experience coming out (ok it was 11 years ago, but still, I'm only 29) and I felt that I had to give something back to my community.
When friends found out some of them where horrified I was volunteering. "How can you be bothered?" "Where do you find the time?" "I'm far too busy to do anything like that!". Some of these comments have come from people who, while they have busy jobs, spend their evenings doing very little.
My better half recently helped an old man in the street who had fallen over and was in some distress. This was in front of a busy set of bus stops and he was the ONLY person who moved to help this very vulnerable man.
This isn't to say that we are virtuous, generous people, far from it. But the way we've been raised, the examples we had as children and the friends we have in our lives make this not unusual things to do. Looking at the wider world it seems to be increasingly rare to find people willing to embrace that sense of community, to put themselves out for their fellow man.
So, my friends, I ask you, has the kindness gone out of the world? Are we unwilling, or unable, to put ourselves out for one another? Do we still retain a sense of community where we live?
Wednesday 7 November 2012
Equality Rocks!
It's been a good week for equality so far.
That's an understatement, it's been a great week for equality.
Now I know that a truly inclusive society is a naive hope, but it is a dream all the same, and one that many of us look towards with hopeful wonder. But let's have a look at this week so far:
Makes you wonder...what's going to happen next week?
That's an understatement, it's been a great week for equality.
Now I know that a truly inclusive society is a naive hope, but it is a dream all the same, and one that many of us look towards with hopeful wonder. But let's have a look at this week so far:
- Love him or hate him, Barack Obama is re-elected President of the United States!
- Like or loath him, Mitt Romney is NOT President of the United States!
- 3 States in America (Washington, Maine & Maryland) passed a referendum in support of equal marriage
- Tammy Baldwin became the first openly gay U.S Senator in history!
- Francoise Hollande's Socialist Party led French Government have approved a bill legalising same-sex marriage AND gay adoption
- Spain's Constitutional Court have rejected an appeal by the People's Party to confirm marriage as only between a man and a woman
Makes you wonder...what's going to happen next week?
30 Things To Do...
Next year is a big year for me for many reasons.
One of the big things is my 30th birthday in September.
Now hear me out before you roll your eyes. I can imagine those of you, particularly those who have already passed this landmark, sighing as you read that. This is not a moan about turning 30 or getting older.
Birthday's aren't a big thing for me, never have been. Most years it's just another day in the month and not something that I make a big deal about.
Next year feels different.
It's the end of my twenties and I have mixed feelings about that. As decades go this was one was decidedly mixed. There have been lows where I've made some massive fuckups (pardon the language) and incredible highs like meeting the love of my life.
I have regrets about things that I haven't done, and like many people, have looked back and wondered "what if...". Not that that's a complaint about where my life if because I'm a very happy man. But I've played things safe in a lot of cases and missed out on a lot of experiences I could have had and didn't.
So I've decided to do something about it: I've written a bucket list.
Yes, that clichéd thing most people do at some point I have also done. And like most people claim, I'm going to do it all before I'm 30! I've tried (and in some places, failed) to be realistic but also tried to be a little more adventurous than I'd normally be.
So on to the grand unveiling:
I plan to periodically update on how I'm doing...wish me luck!
One of the big things is my 30th birthday in September.
Now hear me out before you roll your eyes. I can imagine those of you, particularly those who have already passed this landmark, sighing as you read that. This is not a moan about turning 30 or getting older.
Birthday's aren't a big thing for me, never have been. Most years it's just another day in the month and not something that I make a big deal about.
Next year feels different.
It's the end of my twenties and I have mixed feelings about that. As decades go this was one was decidedly mixed. There have been lows where I've made some massive fuckups (pardon the language) and incredible highs like meeting the love of my life.
I have regrets about things that I haven't done, and like many people, have looked back and wondered "what if...". Not that that's a complaint about where my life if because I'm a very happy man. But I've played things safe in a lot of cases and missed out on a lot of experiences I could have had and didn't.
So I've decided to do something about it: I've written a bucket list.
Yes, that clichéd thing most people do at some point I have also done. And like most people claim, I'm going to do it all before I'm 30! I've tried (and in some places, failed) to be realistic but also tried to be a little more adventurous than I'd normally be.
So on to the grand unveiling:
- Get married
- Pass my driving test
- Start and finish a novel
- Make an entire meal from scratch, sauces, bread and all
- Get another tattoo
- Take a holiday off of the island!
- Get photos of all of my nearest and dearest
- Run a 10k
- Get to a weight and body shape that I’m comfortable with
- Enter a short story competition
- Submit an article to a magazine
- Write at least 2 blog entries per month
- Get drunk on a bottle of 100% agave tequila to see if you really don’t get a hangover
- Read the “100 novels to read before you die”
- Start a new hobby
- Join a badminton club
- Sing karaoke
- Take a positive step forward in my career
- Write a one act play
- Paint something
- Walk
some of the
- Walk
up Ben Nevis (
- Dye my hair
- Sort out pensions & life insurance for us both
- Start a savings account
- Cultivate a bonsai tree!
- Make a croquembouche
- Be more adventurous
- Take more risks
- Be happy
I plan to periodically update on how I'm doing...wish me luck!
Politicians Making Fools of Themselves: Nadine Dorries
I'm not a big fan of Conservative politician Nadine Dorries for many reasons that I'll come on to in a future post.
But this really does it for me.
This is her posing for a publicity shot for I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!
Ms Dorries has decided to "take a break" from her role as an MP for a month to take part in the reality TV program. This woman, who stood for PUBLIC OFFICE, is taking a break. To appear on TV. In one of the trashiest reality programs going.
And she did it without permission from her party!
This last bit has resulted in her suspension by the Chief Whip.
The official reason she has given is because if 16m people watch the program, this is were MP's should be. Others are (understandably) more cyncial. Former Conservative MP Louise Mensch has suggested that it is to promote her anti-abortion agenda while rumour has it many MP's in her area feel it's just to promote herself.
Whatever the reason, I'm looking forward to the entertainment of Nadine Dorries having to eat crocodile testicles!
But this really does it for me.
This is her posing for a publicity shot for I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!
Ms Dorries has decided to "take a break" from her role as an MP for a month to take part in the reality TV program. This woman, who stood for PUBLIC OFFICE, is taking a break. To appear on TV. In one of the trashiest reality programs going.
And she did it without permission from her party!
This last bit has resulted in her suspension by the Chief Whip.
The official reason she has given is because if 16m people watch the program, this is were MP's should be. Others are (understandably) more cyncial. Former Conservative MP Louise Mensch has suggested that it is to promote her anti-abortion agenda while rumour has it many MP's in her area feel it's just to promote herself.
Whatever the reason, I'm looking forward to the entertainment of Nadine Dorries having to eat crocodile testicles!
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