Homophobia, like racism and other types of irrational prejudice, takes many forms – from the subtle to the violent, the barely perceptible to the deadly. It’s all around us and we are all guilty of it to a lesser or greater extent. But, it becomes farcical when those who never have and never will experience homophobia get to decide what it is and how it affects those who are its victims. I can think of no better rebuttal of this nonsense than the one delivered by Panti Bliss, an Irish drag queen following her controversial appearance on RTE, the Irish TV broadcaster. It’ caused quite a ruckus – deliciously called ‘Pantigate’. It’s no bad thing to get the bigots running scared. Here’s what the eminently sensible, gloriously eloquent Panti Bliss had to say on the subject:
Perking the Pansies 
What a well thought out speech.
LikeLike
A speech that will endure, I think.
LikeLike
What an impressive man. Articulate, intelligent, measured and fabulously glamorous. What a combination!
LikeLike
Doesn’t get better than that 😀
LikeLike
. . there are any number of humane groupings who could do with such an eloquent champion.
LikeLike
Absolutely. She should be booked for Question Time.
LikeLike
Truly amazing and just right for Ireland as well, as that society has taken some time to come to terms with this subject, in fact it hasn’t yet but you never know. I was in a private hospital here and there was an amazing transsexual standing in front of the emergence doctors door. I walked past trying not to stare but spent the rest of the day wondering how much pain you would have to go through to transform yourself to what looked like an Amazonian woman. Then it struck me how uncomfortable it must of been to be in the wrong body and no matter what pain it took the change was worth it. It is a little off the subject I know but apart from the pain endured by massive surgery there is then the pain of oppression from a society (here) that will never come to any kind of terms with it. So here I am just talking about something I know nothing about. OMG
LikeLike
Hey, we’re all allowed to comment. I’ve met a number of transsexual people down the years. Their struggle for rights and acceptance is, perhaps, the last taboo.
LikeLike
I’m now a Panti Bliss fan. So eloquent .
LikeLike
Wouldn’t it be fun to have her round for dinner? 😀
LikeLike
Yes indeed! (However I have cousins who will not visit me because I live next to San Francisco… Homophobia? Fear? Aversion?)
LikeLike
Perhaps they think it’s catching.
LikeLike
Incredible speech. Just incredible. What is even more incredible is that her words would cause a fracas. I can’t conceive of that happening in Canada.
LikeLike
The fracas still rumbles on and she’s got half a million hits on YouTube. Go, girl! 😀
LikeLike