Don't Tip Toe – walk with Pride and Outrage #123
Lest we forget
This was a big weekend. On many levels.
“But I’m getting ahead of myself.”
A phrase those who’ve watched the brilliant BBC series Outrageous will be familiar with.
I’m not a big telly fan, but anything by Russell T Davies is the exception.
Tip Toe
Russell, of Queer as Folk and It’s a Sin fame, excels himself with his latest five-parter, Tip Toe. Alan Cumming, as the gay bar owner on Canal Street, Manchester, and his painfully heterosexual, homophobic electrician neighbour, perform a masterclass in the dangers of division, hate and othering. Not to mention fake news, social media and conspiracy theories.
The series starts at the end. A man, swinging from a lamppost on a normal suburban street. We learn the man is Cumming’s character. The perpetrator? I won’t spoil your watching but be prepared. It’s a tough but compelling watch. The canary in the coal mine of the attitudes of some about anyone who is different to them, in this case the LGBTQ+ community. Even my mum, and many of her late septuagenarian/octogenarian friends, watched. For her generation, a revelation of many of the more sordid aspects of social media and dating apps.
Outrageous
On the recommendation of my mum and some friends, I then turned to Outrageous, the story of the Mitford sisters and the rise of Oswald Mosley and fascism, here and in Nazi Germany in the mid to late 1930s. I knew little about Mosley and the Battle of Cable Street. I do now. And depressingly, I recognise the playbook. One I see being played out in the US and, at times, right here.
Which makes what happened to a friend of mine recently all the more chilling. She’s been homophobically abused. Twice. In a single month. WTF. She reported the first incident to the police, who were supportive. But the thing that really got me, my friend, normally no shrinking violet, felt scared. Genuinely scared. No one should feel scared on the streets of London, or anywhere. Full stop.
Pride
And that felt very real as I stood watching this year’s London Pride. Last year I marched; this year I watched, joining the many celebrating in and around Old Compton Street, the heart of Soho. The crowd was huge. All ages, shapes, sizes, cultures. Some clearly hardened revellers, many clearly there for the very first time. And let’s not underestimate, in these so-called ‘accepting’ times, how difficult it remains for many to recognise their sexuality and come out.
Rumours of Madonna doing a surprise appearance at Trafalgar Square abounded, in my group of friends at least. She didn’t. But what a fun, inclusive and loving day. Shame about the undertones, and the creeping reality for some.
As I looked around me I saw people. People like you and me. Just wanting to get on with their lives. Ordinary people who may love and party differently to you or me. I’m not sure I will ever understand the need for division, hatred and aggression.
You
As ever, I’m interested in you - love in silos, or love for all? Drop me a line. I’d enjoy hearing from you.
And remember, you’re never going to be any younger than you are today. Sneak a little time to enjoy the sunshine, Wimbledon, or whatever takes your summer fancy.
Oh, and I couldn’t let it pass, England v Norway anyone? What a result in the early hours of this morning, come on England 😊
Until next week my friends,
Ruth x
Thank you for reading today’s 1000Weeks. Some weeks feels harder than others and I think I might skip it…but the thought of you reading keeps me showing up, thank you. Your support really means a lot.