Straight expectations what does it mean to be gay today
Gay adolescents today are faced with a much more welcoming world than when I came out. Legislatively we contain never had it so good and are now almost equal with heterosexuals. The big businesses who would once fire us now embrace the "pink pound" with persistent vigour. Even the unthinkable has happened -- the Conservative party has endorsed us. Far from being the "pretend families" of Thatcher's era, we can now marry and adopt children. On paper it really does look appreciate gay people hold made it -- but what are the hidden costs?
It's this brave fresh gay world that Julie Bindel deconstructs in her guide Straight Expectations: What Does It Imply to Be Male lover Today? Bindel's thesis is controversial: the once flourishing female homosexual and gay movement has completely sold out in the face of assimilation. We've been "duped" and are now pathetic shadows of our former selves, "a cowardly mass of apologetic sops", grovelling for crumbs from a largely conservative society, who exploit us for our disposable income. To quote an early, typically caustic jibe:
"the lgbtq+ rights movement has not just beaten its teeth, it is operating love an elderly claret-soaked Tory making his way to the bedpan
Hello, everyone! Today is my stop on TheWriteReads Ultimate Blog Tour for Straight Expectations by Calum McSwiggan. I was going to pass on this one because I have so many other queer YA books on my shelf to read, but the premise of this one really stood out to me. I decided to give it a chance, and I’m really content I did.
The brilliant debut novel from author, presenter and LGBTQ+ advocate Calum McSwiggan!
Seventeen-year-old Max has always been out, proud and just a little corrupted. Frustrated by the lack of romantic options in his small-town high institution, during an argument with his lifelong best companion Dean, Max lashes out and says he wishes he had never been born gay.
Max gets more than he bargained for when he wakes up to find his aspire has come true – not only have his feelings for boys vanished, but so has Dean.
With his school life turned upside down and his relationship with his family in tatters, Max sets out on a journey of rediscovery to locate a way back to the life he took for granted, and the romance he thought he’d never have.
A deliciously idealistic YA debut that’s What If It’s Us and One Last Stop!
***Thank you to
Straight Expectations
WHAT DOES IT Represent TO BE GAY TODAY?
Julie Bindel
Published by Guardian Books in Paperback(£12.99) on 26-06-2014
In STRAIGHT EXPECTATIONS, journalist, campaigner and political activist Julie Bindel looks at all aspects of lesbian and gay life and asks – in the era of same-sex marriage and equal rights – what it really means to be lesbian and male lover today.
2014 has seen significant change for the dyke and gay movement in the UK. Laws contain been passed allowing gay marriage, and amendments to lesbian and gay adoption rights means that legislatively, nothing now separates lesbians and gays from heterosexuals. In the 40 years since the gay liberation movement was founded, male lover men and lesbians hold never been on such an equal footing to heterosexuals.
But does this legislative parity translate into authentic life? There is still anti-gay bullying in schools and the workplace, lack of decent representation in the media and sport, and physical and verbal attacks in the streets. And has the male lover and lesbian movement even been fighting the right fights? In Straight Expectations, Julie Bindel, an out lesbian since 1977, tracks the changes in the gay
Straight Expectations - Softcover
Synopsis
From picket line to picket fence - what does it mean to be gay in the era of lgbtq+ marriage and equivalent rights? More than four decades after the start of the gay liberation movement, lesbians and gay men can legally marry, adopt children, and delight in the same rights and respect as heterosexuals...or can they?
In Straight Expectations, Julie Bindel, an out lesbian since 1977, tracks the changes in the same-sex attracted community in the last forty years and asks whether fighting for the right to partner has achieved real progress, or whether the new legal rights have neutered a once-radical social movement. Drawing on extensive original study into changing attitudes towards sexuality, as well as interviews with scientists examining the 'gay gene', gay liberation pioneers, religious figures and key players of all political persuasions, Straight Expectations asks: Is sexual orientation learned or latent?; Do lesbians and gay men contain anything in common?; and Have we now reached a stage where the 'only gay in the village' mentality no longer has any place in society?
In this stimulating, thought-provoking book, Julie Bindel gets to the heart of the
Reviewing ‘Straight Expectations’ by Julie Bindel
Curled up in our summerhouse on a giant beanbag in middle class sort of suburbia not a million miles away from Hebden Bridge I hold just finished reading Julie Bindel’s new book ‘Straight Expectations’. Before I had finished the book Professor Chris Ashford published his review of the message on his blog. Initially I thought I didn’t really have anything to add to his thoughts. I agree with everything he says in that post so blogging a review repeating what he has already said seemed pointless. However, having finished the book now, I think I do include something to say.
Bindel’s book was on my list to read urgently (I have various lists!) for a number of reasons. I contributed to one of her surveys and was interested to see the results of that survey, I am strangely fascinated by identity; often disagree profoundly with Bindel and was slightly irritated by the subtitle ‘What Does it Express to be Gay Today’ because surely that depends on a whole host of factors and I also thought the manual might help me also develop my own explore on LGBTQ legal academics.
Let me start by saying that I consider you should read the book.