We were interviewed earlier in the year, for a project, which , unfortunately, we are unable to publicise or write about in great detail. In the course of this, however, we heard a statement from a young gay male university student in the City that he did not know much about our work at Pride in Canterbury.

This was very disappointing.  We and other LGBT organisations have been trying to make contact with LGBT Societies on campus  over a considerable period.  We would have half expected to hear “Yes, we know about Pride in Canterbury, but we don’t agree with them.  There isn’t any need for campaigning anymore.”  Unfortunately, that is the view of a lot gay young men.

We recently saw at the Theatre Royal Brighton,  “Canary”, a play by Jonathan Harvey that addresses this issue.  The play follows the lives of two gay men, from the 1960s to the present day.  As its story develops, it deals with the arrests of gay men for consensual sexual acts, their choice between imprisonment or treatment with the awful aversion therapy techniques, supposedly designed to make them “normal”, the beginning of the gay rights movement and the arrival of, and dreadful deaths from, AIDS in the 80s.

The play’s second act powerfully contrasts their ordeals and struggles, and the shadows that they have been thrown on their lives, with the attitudes of today’s gay young men, who ignore, or are unaware of the struggles that have given them the amount of freedom that they have, as they happily indulge in “barebacking” – having sexual intercourse without condoms - saying that if they contract AIDS, they can simply take a cocktail of the appropriate drugs. 

Sadly, there appeared to be more straights than gays in the audience, perhaps because it was a matinee performance.  The play received an excellent reception and from various comments we heard, we know that some of them found the play thought-provoking, disturbing and moving.  “Canary” should be seen by all young men and by all those who say that we have nothing left to fight for. 

We do not believe that there is the remotest chance that this play will be seen in Canterbury in the next decade.   We sincerely hope that we will be proved wrong.

5.7.10

"La Cage" Triumphs again at Tony Awards!

London's Menier Chocolate Factory's production of "La Cage aux Folles", which contains the gay anthem "I Am What I Am" has won 3 of Broadway's most coveted Tony Awards, Best Musical Revival, Best Actor for Douglas Hodge and Best Director for Terry Johnson.

The original Broadway production won 6 Tony awards in the 1980's.

Congratulations to everyone who was involved in this wonderfully entertaining up-to date version of a very significant show for LGBT entertainment. Now can we see a production in Canterbury please?   

Eastenders Actor wins soap award.

Mark Elliott, the actor who plays Syed Masood in the ongoing Eastenders' gay storyline, won the Best Newcomer Award at the Soap Awards recently. It is disappointing that this is the only recognition that this brave plotline achieved. Sayed's relationship with Christian (John Patridge) has raised a lot of issues around the reactions of family, religion and community to homosexuality. It now seems that Sayed is going to try to be cured, so it seems the story is set to run.

Marc Elliott has experienced homophobic abuse because of his role. To read more visit PinkNews.co.uk       

Gay Icon Stephen Sondheim is 80!

Stepehen Sondheim,the man generally recognised as one of the most influential and innovative artists in the world of musical theatre, is 80 this week. Just some of the musicals he has written are "A Funny Thing Hapened on the Way to the Forum", "Company", "Follies", "Sweeney Todd" and "Into the Woods", the latter to be performed by Canterbury Operatic Society next year.

This week, by way of tribute, BBC Radio 3, names him Composer of the Week, and at 12.00pm from Monday to Friday, looks back over his life and work. Apologies for the short notice.

See also Books.

22.3.10