Southampton Remembers!

It was fantastic to see my home town of Southampton coming together, to remember all those who lost their lives in the Orlando shootings.  It was lovely to see some familiar faces and to bare witness, even from Spain, to the remembrance day in what will always be my British home.  Well done to all those who took part, it is a testimony to all those who organised the event.

It does seem sometimes, that gay men and women have very little to fight for these days.  We have won all our rights and there is very little to distinguish us from the straight community.  Don't misunderstand what I am trying to say.  I am grateful, there is very little distinction left, I am glad we have rights, I am happy we no longer have to altercate, to be who we are.  What I am saying, is many gay people have lost that radical edge, that we used to have in the 1980s and 90s.  With little left to fight or protest against, the gay World was starting to become rather banal.

Homophobia still exists, as the shootings in Orlando show.  We may have won many rights, over and above what I ever expected to see in my lifetime, but it is clear, we are still being targeted by groups, who's agenda, does not include room for members of the LGTBQ community.  Only this morning I was listening to the Archbishop of York, still trying to justify discrimination against the gay community, on breakfast TV, in the wake of the shootings.  This coming from a black man, who's own experiences of racism and intolerance is well known.  When we still have to fight against, so called, 'good' men, then what hope do we have, with the likes of Omar Mateen.

I have always been a campaigner in every sense.  I studied politics at University and as I became aware of my own sexuality, channelled my energy into championing the rights of gay people, whether through Stonewall or the now disbanded Anti Nazi League.  Today I am a Conservative by nature, as I have mellowed, through my own experiences.  I believe we all have a voice and should use it.  When a gunman goes into a gay nightclub and shoots indiscriminately, you know it's time to speak up and shout loudly, as deafening as we can. People like myself and my partner were killed, just because of their sexuality.  These terrible acts should never been seen as acceptable by anyone.  The Muslim community are responsible for these acts, because they perpetuate the view that homosexuality is evil and demonise us  every day!

​Yesterday my home town came together, in shock and horror to show their revulsion at what happened in Orlando.  I had lived in Southampton since 1992, with small spells living elsewhere, but in the main, Southampton was my home.  I have had many ups and downs with the gay scene.  The scene in Southampton can be extremely self destructive, with their own self interests at heart only.  I was amazed at just how well, everyone joined together to remember lives lost.  I haven't seen that type of camaraderie since I moved there in 1992.  During my time living on the south coast, I saw a gradual decline in the closeness of the scene.  By the time I left in January, I saw a fractured community, which contained many distasteful elements, many of whom had been part of our life.  Yesterday restored my faith in the people I used to live with. They made me feel proud to have lived in Southampton, again!

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