Commonwealth: The Straight White Man's Burden

A fascinating piece on Independent Voices today by Jonathan Cooper, Now the Games are over, let’s not forget the persecuted men and women of the Commonwealth Homosexuality is a crime in 80 per cent of Commonwealth states, and it's the British who are to blame

It is illustrated with the photo above. 

Cooper writes; 'This perfectly timed love bomb, coming at the close of a sequence celebrating Gretna Green’s role in bringing so many people together in marriage, neatly captured Scotland’s commitment to gay and lesbian equality. Barrowman has been rightly praised. He made us all feel proud, not just of Scotland, but of the United Kingdom’s stand on LGBT rights...'

Yay! Hooray for us! Sorry, do go on...

'But there is a deadly serious reason behind the Glasgow Kiss and the emphasis put on love and inclusion. Eighty per cent of the Commonwealth's member states criminalise homosexuality.'

The big - and rather obvious - question, of course, is which Commonwealth countries regularly and systematically - or indeed ever - actually enforce these laws.

Unless this is made clear, one runs the risk of sounding like a hyperbolic hysteric in love with perpetuating a conspiracy theory of global gay victimhood.

But anyway, let's first ask Jonathan about a few of his details...

In these countries Barrowman’s expression of intimacy is more than a taboo. It’s a crime, and the star would most likely find himself in prison because of it.

Can you give me some examples of men being imprisoned for kissing? I mean in Commonwealth countries, obviously, not in AmeriKKKa.

Thinking of a holiday on the idyllic Caribbean islands of St Kitts or St Lucia? If you’re gay you too could end up on the wrong side of the law. What about going on Safari in Kenya or Tanzania? 

Again, please can we have some examples of tourists being arrested for being gay in any of these countries?

The hypocritical Victorians, desperate to project a particular image of Britain as stiff upper lip middle-class mausoleum, felt the need to export their anxieties about sex. With typical racist fervour, they imposed them on the "resistant masses", and rolled out laws criminalising homosexuality across what is now the Commonwealth.

Didn't the Victorians usually just export the entire British penal code? Or do you have evidence stopping buggery in the Empire was a priority for them?

The British empire was dissolved 50 years ago, how are we still 'to blame'?

I could go on...

Thanks Jonathan, interested in hearing your replies.

Tom Daley: Against The Odds

Fantastic to hear our Tom won gold in the men's diving 10m platform at the Commonwealth Games yesterday.

It must be very distracting when some creepy old gayers turn up just to perv at you. :(

Sports: Diving

Don't forget it's the men's diving today in the Commonwealth Games.
Thankfully these cheating American whores can't take part.
#ComeOnTom!

Daley Thompson: No Idea

“I didn’t even know John Barrowman was Scottish - never mind gay."

'British athletics icon', Daley Thompson, The Sun.

John Barrowman: Lost In Translation

The ever-helpful Daily Express explain txtspeak to their older readers.

Bless.

Commonwealth Games: Hoots Mon Etc!

Tasteful and totally appropriate caption from Huffington Post, there. 

PANTO star John Barrowman left a global telly audience of over a billion [Yeah, right] gobsmacked — when he snogged a fella at last night’s Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

The gay kiss was part of a barmy sequence that saw Susan Boyle fluff her song words, a dancer in undies grab his crotch and performers frolick inside giant Tunnock’s teacakes...

The Sun.

The Gretna Green kiss was quite cute, and I like seeing the ceremony as a low budget campy piss-take of the London Olympics extravaganza, though that may only be in my head.

The ever fatuous Gay Star News.

Not sure how this kiss would be a 'stunning rebuke' to anti-gay politicians and religious leaders who argue that homosexuality and the tolerance of it are a Western malaise we are trying to export, but there you go.

Expect the usual suspects to get incredibly over-excited about this - 'A brief gay kiss! Take that Third Worlders!' - like the walls of Jericho will now fall.

Funny how the gayers who are the most easily offended are also the most easily pleased.

Even the Mail approve - go figure.

Commonwealth Games: The Excitement Mounts!

Best of luck to all taking part, especially the plucky contestants from our colonies.

The Opening Ceremony looks first-rate.

John Barrowman hosts - let's hope he remembers to talk in his Scottish accent today.

The Krankies, Lulu and Andy Stewart headline [All STC].

Oh look! Saint Peter wants 42 of the 53 member states taking part to be banned from the games. 

But why stop there, Pete?

Why not ban 'em all?

Or boycott all countries without a 100% perfect human rights record?

That'll learn 'em.

I take it you are inspired by America's incredibly effective boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, yes?

Anyway, here's the important bit - THE MEN'S DIVING SCHEDULE!!! (It doesn't start til next Wednesday. BOO!).

PS The Advocate have spotted a new diving talent... Jack Laughter!