Posts by Emma Hart
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Unfortunately John Barrowman's Captain Jack hasn't exactly helped on at least some of those prejudices, though long may he carry on...
He is ridiculously nummy. And while this stereotype irritates me, it seems there may be some basis for it.
Several studies comparing bisexuals with hetero or homosexuals have indicated that bisexuals have higher rates of sexual activity, fantasy or erotic interest.
A bisexual friend once explained to me that he was simply attracted to certain people, rather than men or women - and that makes sense to me.
While basically true, I've found it a little less simple than that. I have a strong male type, for instance (dark hair, heavy brow, strong facial features), but apparently no female type at all. And it may be because I don't have a 'potential mates' gender and a 'competition for mates' gender that gender just isn't all that important to me socially.
I would have thought that, being somewhere 'in between', bisexuals would have been of interest to people researching origins of sexual orientation, but Barrowman's otherwise excellent The Making of Me simply never mentioned them.
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And how is it now? I appreciate that there is more, well, would you call it acceptance or tolerance?
Well, I moved to a bigger city, and I believe that had a more profound effect than the passage of time. My social group has always been completely accepting - by which I mean it's simply not an issue.
However, I'm not out to my family. My brothers would not be pleasant about it.
The flip side of that was encountering prejudice for the first time from the other side, for not being gay enough. Either you're a lesbian and afraid to embrace it, or straight and just looking for attention. I just don't understand why that would matter to anyone else.
It's always been my belief that womens' movement within the spectrum is more fluid than mens'.
That's what 'studies indicate'. With men, homosexuality is twice as common as bisexuality, whereas with women it's the other way around. When viewing sexual material, women seem to be more aroused by the whole scenario depicted than whether the subjects are male or female.
I suspect that most people, however, still think it's a case of "having your cake and eating it" as it were. Do you still deal with such prejudice?
A friend of mine was told by her own mother that she didn't mind if she was gay, but she couldn't be bisexual, because that was 'just greedy'. On the few occasions you see bisexuals depicted, they're almost always shown as promiscuous, untrustworthy, and not interested in real intimacy. But still, I think the 'confused/lying' stereotype is more common.
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Now with the benefit of a bit of age and experience, I understand that back then it was still something that was frowned on, deeply, and that the charade of marriage and all that comes with it, at least afforded them some acceptance from society.
Indeed. And if they had kids in the 80s, they probably married when homosexuality was still illegal. Gay men in the States are actively encouraged to get married by some religious leaders, because of course if homosexuality is something you do not something you are, then all you need to be saved is just stop doing it.
I knew young gay guys who were out in the 80s, but they were at uni, and in Wellington, which was a completely different environment from the one where I was living. I seriously, shit you not, stayed in because I was genuinely afraid I'd be killed. (Sleeping with a Territorial's girlfriend was possibly an aggravating factor there.)
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Open the hooch, let's get toasted!
Just as soon as I stop needing the tissue box.
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The thread won't be as big here because we'll all be out partying. Right?
Yup. But also, people I know out in the real world are interested in that. When it comes to US politics I just hang out on the net with all the other geeks.
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Flax lanterns in the shape of stars?
What a fantastic idea. My daughter would love to do that.
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The Guardian is live-blogging it.
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John Key Hates Your Mother
Weird! Can anyone fill me in on that one means?
Other than being hilarious?
And a lot better than the opposite.
*shudders*
Still, my mother hates John Key, so it's only fair really.
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George W. Bush: Worst. President. Ever.
Pity that pretzel didn't finish him off, really.
What, you really wanted to be able to say
Dick Cheney: Worst. President. Ever.?
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And while I don't think it'll pass, I'll be sparing a few thoughts today for Proposition K, as San Francisco has a go at legalising prostitution.