Each photograph is captioned by Out magazine's editor-in-chief, Aaron Hicklin.
Hicklin is an occasional contributor to the Observer - here's a gay review of the year they published a year ago.
It's interesting, but as with the Out100 photos, it's mainly about the US and not the UK, and one wonders why this is thought to be of much relevance to British readers.
Or of more import than a homegrown-take on this would be.
I say this not as some Little Englander, of course, but just through a continued bafflement at what some editors consider worthy of inclusion and exclusion.
The Out100 list was published over two months ago, too.
So why is it here now?
Did the Observer Magazine desperately need to fill up a few pages in a hurry?
PS Interesting the Observer selected the above photo of some US soldiers who got gaymarried. Everyone loves gay soldiers and gay marriage, don't they? Cause heteronormativity and obedience to the state are supercool. Hooray for the good gays!
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I don't think you understand what "heteronormativity" means.
ReplyDeleteI try to avoid using it, cause it's used so much by twits feigning transgression, but yes, I do.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
so please could you explain how two men forming a long term relationship is heteronormative ?
ReplyDeleteDismissing gay men who don't is.
DeleteOver and/or only valuing gay men who get married is.
heteronormativity is the assumption that everyone is heterosexual. that every man is looking for a woman and every woman is looking for a man. it doesn't really say anything about the type of relationship they have.
ReplyDeletesomeone like the queen is no less heterosexual than someone like say Jennifer aniston who has lots of relationships.
maybe there should be a work for over priveliging long term monogamous relationships but it isn't anything to do with heteronormativity.
"heteronormativity is the assumption that everyone is heterosexual."
DeleteI've never seen it described as that before.
In fact, most definitions I've seen of the word really do focus on types of relationships. Moral basis of relationships, ie. "good" and "bad", monogamous, married and the expectation that gay people should, you know, conform, man.
'heteronormativity is the assumption that everyone is heterosexual. that every man is looking for a woman and every woman is looking for a man. it doesn't really say anything about the type of relationship they have...'
ReplyDeleteIt does, it also means thinking what heterosexuals do is better than what non-heterosexuals do, and that gay people should behave more like straight people...
..what about freedom of choice and equality? The right to be able to chose to fit into what you call societal norms..
ReplyDeleteIs anyone being stopped from doing that?
DeleteIt's about questioning what society deems to be "normal", isn't it?
DeleteEvery one of us is free to live within such norms, but an unquestioning acceptance of what is "acceptable" and the moral implications of that is absolutely necessary.
It's for that reason that I find it a little troubling when gay people deride others for not being "normal" or - even worse - for living their lives and expressing their sexuality in a way which society would not find acceptable. The assertion that we must all conform to societal norms now and not doing so is bringing shame on the gay community. Which I've seen a lot of. It's depressing and must be questioned, constantly...
I think I can understand why they like photos like the above.
ReplyDeleteIt's so conservative, isn't it?
The decor, the broadsheet, the flag, the dog-tags, the chasteness of the pose, etc.
It almost looks like a parody of, well, heteronormativity. But I guess it's sincere and why not?
If a gentleman took me into his bedroom and he had a Union Jack or St George's flag over his bed I'd run like hell.
DeleteI wonder if he sings "Amazing Grace" during sex.
DeleteOr 'The Star Spangled Wanger'.
Delete