Liberty: If I'd Known You Were Coming...

Is there a real threat to the religious liberty of Christians in the west? If a Belfast bakery refuses to ice a customer’s cake with a gay marriage message it believes is contrary to the Bible, and then is taken to court, is this a threat to religious liberty? In the US, the claim of “religious liberty” is fast becoming a standard Republican talking point, and we can expect to hear much more of it as the primary season advances.

Democracies can certainly persecute unpopular minorities. No one doubts, for example, that homosexuals were discriminated against in both law and practice throughout most of the 20th century and that this discrimination was both unjust and widely approved, as it still is in Russia and large parts of sub-Saharan Africa today. It’s at least possible that conservative Christians might at some stage end up as despised and disadvantaged a minority as some of their victims have been in the past.

Whether it is in fact happening is a different question. Many of the cases of supposed discrimination amount to Christians wishing to retain a right they had until recently to discriminate against others. They claim then that it would violate their consciences to do or say certain things which society as a whole has determined are moral. This won’t do. Conscience cannot provide “a get out of jail free” card, neither metaphorically nor, should it come to that, literally. We all have consciences but there is no guarantee they will lead us to the same conclusions. This fact is literally tragic, as the Greeks knew. Nonetheless, any society has to privilege some ethical viewpoint and some virtues.

'What kind of cakes are they?' 'Fruitcakes.' Irish Times.

In the west we privilege conflicting but broadly liberal values. We no longer privilege the authority of the Bible. So, once we have determined that discrimination against homosexuals violates the principle of equality – and that is the settled position in both law and public opinion now – the fact that some people are compelled by their consciences to disagree does not exempt them from behaving as if it were true. There cannot be a special exemption for mistaken beliefs held on religious grounds when these harm others.

The difficult cases come when what is at stake is not behaviour, or not just behaviour, but speech or opinion. If there were a clear line between advocacy and action, this would be less difficult. But there is not, any more than there is a clear line between act and orientation. This is where the bakery case, unlike others, is complicated. Christian attempts to convert others may be obnoxious and embarrassing but they should not be illegal as well. There is always a case for tact when dealing with difficult employees. No one should be compelled to make propaganda for a cause they think false or pernicious. With all that said, the overwhelming fact is that claims of persecution are not just groundless but morally distasteful. Compared to the monstrous persecution suffered by Christians in Muslim countries like Iraq or officially atheist ones, being asked to ice a cake for a gay wedding is hardly martyrdom. It’s just the price of living in a civilised society.

Guardian editorial.

Dunno really. 

If someone doesn't want to bake you a cake, fuck 'em, and go somewhere that does. 

And similarly, if someone asks you to put a message on a cake you really don't approve of ('God hate fags/bakers!'?), I guess you should be free not to do so.

But it's only a fucking cake for the Anti-Christ's sake.

Or am I missing the point here?

The Interview: Kim Wild

KIM Jong-Un is portrayed as a gay, margarita-loving Katy Perry-obsessive in the controversial movie pulled by Sony after pressure from cyber-terrorists.

The film will now never be screened after hackers threatened 9/11-style attacks in cinemas.

But The Sun can reveal [sic] that one scene featured the North Korean dictator sobbing while driving a tank and blasting out a track by his favourite pop star Perry.

He is crying after telling James Franco's character that his dad told him drinking margaritas was "gay".

One leaked scene depicting his head exploding was toned down before the decision to pull the movie was made.

In another, leaked online, the tyrant dies in a ball of flames when his helicopter explodes...

The Sun.

Though a fondness for Katy Perry and margaritas are gay signifiers - a bit like 'Kylie and cocktails' - I can't find anyone else claiming Kim is presented as simply 'gay'.

[Edit: Apparently there's a kinda gay scene betwixt Kim and Franco - but then it's a standard fratboy movie full of 'coz gay iz funny' 'jokes'].

Out's review, for example, doesn't reach this conclusion - though it does riff on the Franco/Rogen bromance.

However...

... it’s Eminem that gets all the laughs. Skylark [Franco's TV interviewer] asks him about his numerous homophobic lyrics and remarks. Eminem explains: “That’s because I’m gay. I like men. I can’t believe people didn’t pick up on that.” Marshall Mathers says it all with a straight face, matter of factly with a priceless deadpan delivery...

Showbiz 411.

PS Regular viewers may recall we know which member of NK's Kim dynasty is the gay one...

PPS I can't see why North Korea would have bothered with all the Guardians Of Peace hacking malarkey about a daft film.

I get the distinct feeling it'll turn out to be the work of a spotty adolescent geek holed up in his bedroom in Baltimore.

Daily Express: Playing The Gay Card

Playing the gay card!!??

Whoever uses this silly phrase is inevitably going to play the anti-gay bigot card.

Yes, it could only be the Daily Express.

And their readers sure ain't happy...

It's interesting to speculate whether he would have so strenuously resisted deportation if it was either that or the death penalty. I think he's have been clamouring to go back. Borderer1951

During my time in the Forces (left in 1972), there were two Court Martials for two sets of 'gay' men, and I use this term lightly. Many former squaddies of my generation would now be classed as 'homophobic', but we are not allowed to have an opinion any more, are we. retired voter.

THERE MUST BE MORE MURDERERS, PEODOS,TERRORISTS WALKING OUR STREETS THAN THERE IS POLICE. THIS COUNTRY IS AN ABSOLUTE EMBARRASMENT Truthwillout.

Theres an easy test for people who find others attractive. Shown this supposedly gay man a picture of a very attractive naked man.If his pupils get bigger he's gay if they don't he's not. You cannot fake that! Brian The Hedgehog.

How quickly they forgot that NOW ASYLUM IF YOU'RE GAY.

Fagburn Awards 16: Quote of the Year

It was very nearly Supreme Court judge Lord Rodger's much misquoted and (deliberately) misunderstood line about gay asylum seekers and "Kylie and cocktails", but...
Fagburn makes no apologies for choosing this below from today's edition of The Guardian from the ever brilliant Zoe Williams as Quote of the Year.
It says much about these times - and rather handily also keeps you up to speed on the only news story of this last week: To Elton and David a child...It may be a bit over the top, but hey, technically it's still Christmas.

"What's amazing is that the people who do deride the Furnish-Johns on the basis of age and lifestyle, the people who are wondering whether this baby is an "accessory" (because they're gay, and gays are only interested in handbags) are so outnumbered by those who don't. Almost nobody in the mainstream is decrying Elton John's age, because without a subtext in which we all disapprove of his lifestyle, it wouldn't make sense. It has no engine, it would sound vindictive. So even the hoariest old traditionalists rejoice at the tidings. Homophobia might not be dead, but we're seeing the final twitches of its rodent bones; it's slowly turning into one of those things only children do. It's quite a moment. And on Christmas Day!"

Zoe Williams, The Guardian, Rejoice at Elton's News. And That Homophobia Is Dying
The Guardian's media analyst Roy Greenslade looked at how other newspapers reacted to the news here.

• The Babies Go Elton John CD shown is available in a couple of good record shops. Probably.

Gay Straight Men : T'Aint Who You Do

Tim Lott is a straight man, he is happily married with children.
But Lott thinks he's more than a little bit gay.
He doesn't fancy blokes, he just feels that way.
No, he's not metrosexual - that's "morphed into meaning simply someone who is young, urbane and well groomed".
He calls himself "stray" - a straight gay - and confesses all in The Times today; 'The Joy Of Being A Lifestyle Gay'
Tim Lott blames his wife for turning him stray.
"She got me addicted to chick TV. Initially Cold Feet and Sex and the City, and later the harder stuff — reality TV — including Big Brother, The Apprentice and I’m a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!"
It's got worse as Lott's got older, but he's also learned to accept himself; "I take a recipe book to work so that I can work out what ingredients I have to buy if I need to cook that evening. I have come to love shopping for food, particularly for cheese, wine and delicatessen items. I enjoy spa treatments and visits to the hairdresser far more than shouting at 22 men chasing a ball on a TV screen..."
Thankfully, he doesn't feel the odd (straight) man out - far from it.
"...I think that there are many like me. In fact, I would imagine that, unlike the much-vaunted metrosexuals, who were always a minority, we are now well set to be in the majority over the Jeremy Clarkson/Alex Ferguson axis, the Fraternity of Blokes."
Tim Lott is far from the first straight journalist to write about how he's getting in touch with his effeminate gay side - it's almost a cliche.
It's interesting to compare it to an article in The Guardian last week;
The Death Of Camp by Kevin Troughton.
Troughton was writing as a gay man who doesn't feel "gay" - which for him means "camp" or "effiminate gay men" - a far more well-worn journalism cliche than the gay-acting straight man.
Like Lott, Troughton thinks he's part of growing trend, "masculine" gay men who prefer "outdoor pursuits" to Pride festivals.
They define "gay" in rather different ways; for Lott it's about being artistic and cultured, Troughton thinks it's horribly common.
Fagburn thinks they think it's got a lot to do with class.
Would the judge who this Summer stereotyped gay men as liking "Kylie and cocktails" have attracted as much ire if he'd said "Sondheim and champagne"?
For Fagburn what's interesting, and what's new, is not that many gay men feel they don't fit into the prevalent gay stereotypes, and some straight men do - it was ever thus.
What's interesting is how it's now generally taken as a given that gay and straight are as much cultural identities, as they are sexual;
It ain't who you do, but what you like doing.

Straight Men: "Real Men Like Big Cocks" - Survey

Completely unscientific surveys - Fagburn can't get enough of them!
AskMen UK - "the number one mens' lifestyle portal" has just released the findings of The Great Male Survey.
"Who is "the modern man"? What does he look for in a partner, and is he a Twitter addict? How much effort does he put into his appearance, how does he stay in touch with friends and what standards of professionalism does he hold himself to? Instead of getting a social critic to tell you who the modern British man is, we decided to ask you instead. Between May and July of 2010, more than 7,000 of you responded to the 2010 Great Male Survey. Here are the results – concrete data and actual numbers – that shed much light on how the modern man thinks and behaves - professionally, romantically and in his own time – in 2010."
This is of course a survey about straight men, and it seems they're more obsessed with Cheryl Cole and cock size than they are with "Kylie and cocktails".
43% of them would most like to "have a one-night stand" with Ms Cole, and 46% "think the kind of drink you order reflects on your masculinity".
They think beer (38%) is the ultimate man's drink. Grrr!
58% of men feel they will be judged by what kind of car they own.
54% would like a bigger penis (meaning they want their own to be bigger, obviously)
25% "have no sex life".
37% feel "somewhat uncomfortable" with a doctor examining their genitals.
And 19% fantasize most about anal sex with their partner.
Sadly they were not asked if they fantasised about sex with another man.
Asked which characteristic best defines a "real man" in 2010, only 5% thought it was "Having manly skills, like the ability to fix things."
A whopping 44% said "Being confident and comfortable in who you are" and 32% thought "Being a great father and husband who takes care of his family."
Poofs.

G-A-Y: Does Your Father Know?

Now I don't care about you, but Fagburn thinks that one of Britain's most fascinating media phenomena is the G-A-Y PA.
A big pop star sings a few songs at London's biggest gay club on a Saturday night, and they're practically guaranteed good coverage in the tabloids on the Monday morning.
Or, at the least, a nice photo of said star in action and a timely reminder that their new record is in the shops now.
Nice free ad for the act. Nice free ad for the club. Nice bit of free showbiz news for the papers - everybody happy!
The G-A-Y PA is now such a very big thing that promoter, Jeremy Joseph, has been able to get some very big stars to appear; Lady GaGa, Britney and Madonna.
And on Saturday, there was a "surprise performance" from that holy grail of the G-A-Y PA, Kylie Minogue.
The piece in today's Daily Mail read like a press officer's dream.
'Kylie is G.A.Y's golden girl as she puts on a special late night show for her faithful fans'
"The temperatures might have been high outside but Kylie Minogue sent the mercury soaring even further last night.
The petite pop star glittered and shone as brightly as the sun as she performed a special late night gig for her fans in London.
Appearing on stage at the G.A.Y nightclub, the singer wowed the crowds with a set of songs from her new album Aphrodite."
Remember, this The Daily Mail.
They're not usually quite so ecstatic about "the gays".
Only a few days ago they were fulminating against us - although ironically, that was in the context of queens loving Kylie, as well.
"Does Supreme Court judge Lord Rodger really believe the typical gay man enjoys ‘Kylie concerts’ and ‘drinking exotically-coloured cocktails’" asked their leader.
"But this gratuitously offensive caricature mustn’t distract us from the extreme seriousness of the court’s ruling.
"For at this time when our public services are strained beyond endurance, it means Britain must now, in a dramatic reversal of policy, give a home to all gay asylum-seekers who are prevented from displaying their sexuality openly in their home countries.
"Where are we to draw the line?"
Where indeed?
Still more ironic is that the Daily Mail's reviewer, who obviously had such a great time enjoying the Kylie concert and getting down with the gays on Saturday night, was one Georgina Littlejohn.
What a lovely coincidence that Georgina is now working for the same paper as her father - the Mail's £700,000 a-year star columnist and homophobe-in-chief, Richard Littlejohn.
You couldn't make it up!

Asylum Ruling: Dial-a-Cliché

Fagburn was a little surprised how few columnists have taken up the gauntlet of the "Kylie and cocktails" ruling from the Supreme Court this week.
In the Telegraph there was Charles Moore's; 'Is Attending Kylie Concerts a Fundamental Human Right?'
Though this appears to be an eye-catching headline given by a sub, as it's not a question he addresses in the article.
A thoroughly modern old fogey, Moore applauds the fact that same-sexing is no longer illegal in the UK; "Anyone who believes in freedom and opposes the state control of private life should rejoice."
Or should have been rejoicing over 40 years ago, Charles.
It's relatively reasonable stuff for him, but then halfway through the bilious cliches - Or is it his whisky? Probably both... - kick in; "But now they've gone too far! Fucking in the streets! No it's not bloody 'normal'! And if you say you think all these perverted pansies should be flogged to with an inch of their lives they call you a 'homeopath'!!!"
Those aren't Mr Moore's exact words, but you get the general idea.
Philip Hensher in The Independent used the "All queens love Kylie" cliche as a hook to map out a broader set of modern gay male stereotypes; the Disco Bunny, the Muscle Mary, The A-Gay, the Old Hand, the Hoxton Bitch, the Country Member, and the Grand Old Gay.
It was surprisingly accurate, funny and neatly drawn, and Hensher acknowledges that we are legion and the number of ways of being gay are many, if not infinite.
"Nevertheless, one thing that gay men like to do is to be recognised by another, and to develop a little sense of belonging. Subject to peer pressure, a gay man will have a tendency to join a number of social groups, often more apparent from the outside to an observer."
Might Fagburn be so bold as to suggest one more gay stereotype, Mr Hensher?
The slightly haughty but ever so cultured old queen.

Asylum Ruling: The Right To Life vs The Right To Kylie

Today saw a landmark ruling by the British Supreme Court on gay immigration.
Lesbians and gay men seeking asylum in the UK were regularly being told by the Immigration Office to return home and to behave "discreetly"; ie to go back in the closet.
Today's ruling said that was a nonsense.
"To compel a homosexual person to pretend that their sexuality does not exist, or that the behaviour by which it manifests itself can be suppressed, is to deny him his fundamental right to be who he is. Homosexuals are as much entitled to freedom of association with others of the same sexual orientation, and to freedom of self-expression in matters that affect their
sexuality, as people who are straight."
But the ever-odious Daily Mail has already fired the opening salvo against it.
Their online headline reads; "Gay men must be free to enjoy Kylie concerts and cocktails: Judge's extraordinary ruling in homosexual asylum case."
This fatuous and trivialising "Kylie and cocktails" angle is already being take up on the blogosphere - expect it to be taken up by the "You couldn't make it up!" sections of the media.
Expect much wailing and gnashing of teeth about "Activist Judges".
And expect even more misinformation that the ruling means gay men should be granted asylum just so they can listen to Kylie - the two men in the cases before the Supreme Court were based on claims of serious persecution.
The Cameroonian, for example, claimed he was attacked by a mob from his local church after they'd heard he had been seen kissing his boyfriend, they attacked him with sticks and stones, tried to cut off his penis, and threatened to kill him, and when the police arrived he was punched and kicked by them, and ended up hospitalised for two months.
We are talking about something more than "The right to Kylie" here.
Yes, it was alluded to in Lord Rodgers' very lengthy judgment - which you can read in summary here and in its full 55 pages here.
But he was using it as a deliberately flip way to illustrate a very important and serious point.
"What is protected is the applicant's right to live freely and openly as a gay man. That involves a wide spectrum of conduct going well beyond conduct designed to attract sexual partners and maintain relations with them" [76, Page 38].
Meaning that Rodgers recognises that being gay has not just sexual, but also social and cultural characteristics.
He then goes on to explain; "To illustrate the point with trivial stereotypical examples from British society [Emphasis added]: just as male heterosexuals are free to enjoy themselves playing rugby, drinking beer and talking about girls with their mates, so male homosexuals are to be free to enjoy themselves going to Kylie concerts, drinking exotically coloured cocktails and talking about boys with their straight female mates..."
"In other words, gay men are to be as free as their straight equivalents in the society concerned to live their lives in the way that is natural to them as gay men, without the fear of persecution."
And who can say fairer than that?
Let's see if it works in practice.
Oh, and I don't know any gay men who drink "exotically coloured cocktails", by the way.