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Writing about this isn't easy

Writing about this here isn't easy for us, especially if think you might be gay or are thinking about coming out. Equally, it would be wrong to sugar-coat something when the truth is that not everybody likes us. And they can be pretty mean about us!

Without losing sight of the extraordinary strides made though civil partnerships, gay marriage and the Equality Act 2010, scratch the surface and homophobia is alive and well in the UK, some might say rife, once you leave the relative 'safety' of larger UK cities.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't come out, but just because your favourite celeb is out, and guys on YouTube say it's OK to be gay, doesn't necessarily make your journey easier. Most gay men understand what it is like to be discriminated against because of their sexuality. We grow up in a world where heterosexuality is the assumed norm and anything different is often considered unnatural or perverted. Even when friends and families give us love and support, we are usually aware of others who don’t or won’t.

Outside the UK the EU LGBT Survey 2013 makes for worrying reading. Further afield, Russia continues to crack down on homosexuality, Isis perpetuate murderous punishments for people who are gay, and there over 70 countries around the world where homosexuality is illegal.

Justin Thomas dropped by sponsor Ralph Lauren for homophobic slur | Metro | 16 Jan 2021
Countries where homosexuality is illegal | Erasing 76 Crimes blog | Jun 2019
France rugby team supports Gareth Thomas with rainbow laces | BBC News | 20 Nov 2018
Thousands march for LGBT rights in pride parades across Europe | The Guardian | 10 Jun 2018
UK rows back on plans to promote gay rights at Commonwealth summit | The Guardian | 14 Apr 2018
It is not easy being LGBT in Serbia | Euractiv | 14 Sep 2017
Fifty years of gay rights but some in the British media are peddling the same homophobia | The Conversation | 25 Jul 2017
Istanbul police fire rubber bullets, tear gas to keep gay pride marchers off the street | dw.com | 25 Jun 2017
Isis fighters throw another 'gay' man off a tower and stone him to death when he survives fall The Independent | 4 Mar 2015
Holding hands with another man in public has made me realise how naïve I've been about homophobia in the UK | The Independent, Iain Lee | 2015
Russia's new crackdown on human rights | Amnesty International UK | Jan 2014
EU LGBT survey: Poll on homophobia sparks concern | BBC News | 2013
History of violence against LGBT people in the United Kingdom | Wikipedia

Panti Bliss at the Abbey Theatre 

Drag queen and gay rights activist Panti Bliss (aka Rory O'Neill) gave a barnstorming performance at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin at an event to protest at the treatment of debate around homophobia on Radio and Television of Ireland (RTE).

Panti Bliss, Ireland [Abbey Theatre] | 2 Feb 2014 | 10m 47s