THEGAYUK WINTER 13 /14 Issue 1
COLUMN
SOME PEOPLE
ARE GAY
COLUMN
!
By Chris Bridges
I’m never normally
speechless but the other
day a work colleague
rendered me thus. She
happened to mention the
Stonewall “Some People
Are Gay Get Over It” bus
campaign that has relaunched. She wondered
why it was necessary at all
to even need to tell people
that gay people exist and
that they needed to ‘get
over’. Isn’t everyone
already fine about people
being gay? Of course some
people are gay and given
how accepted and standard
it’s considered now, why
bother even saying that?
!
I remained silent, to my
shame. There was a lot that
I could have said. I could
have pointed out that
homophobic hate crimes
still ride high in the crime
figures’ hit parade. I could
have discussed the recent
reports about the volume
of calls to The Samaritans
from men with issues
surrounding their
sexuality. I could have
pointed out that although
we’re both white and
middle class, we work
in an area with
a high black
and
ethnic
Read more from
Chris Bridges at
THEGAYUK
SEX TALK
minority
population with
high social
deprivation
where
homophobia is
rife. I could have
pointed out the
high levels of
bullying in
schools,
prevalence
of drug
and alcohol
problems in
LGBT people
and the hig h rates of
mental illness and
suicide that,
unsurprisingly, go hand
in hand with this.
Tuesday 19th
November may not
have seemed that
different from any
other day, but this
year it marked
International Men’s
Day.
!
!
Maybe, I could have
quoted some of the
extremist religious groups
and the hatred and bile
that they spout about us, to
anyone who will listen. I
could have discussed the
long wait for marriage
equality and the vitriol that
was merrily aired during
this debate. I could have
mentioned the school
children on the bus,
merrily calling each other
‘gay’ as an insult, the word,
naturally, meaning totally
crap.
!
I didn’t mention any of
this. I grunted and carried
on typing, followed a few
minutes later by a funny
little aside about a
colleague. I was fulfilling
my role, you see: comedic
and waspish gay colleague/
friend/relative/neighbour.
We’re unthreatening and
fun to be around. We’re
much like the inflatable
‘gay best friend’ recently
on sale by a major
supermarket. We make
hen nights jolly but can be
put back in the drawer if
we get over blown.
!
I think that tomorrow, I
may take something
unusual to work with me:
my soapbox. We’ve got
things to discuss. ∎
A
day to reflect
on the contributions
and sacrifices made by
men in society. It’s also
a day to celebrate your
other half and show
him just how much you
care!
Durex’s sex and
relationship expert
Susan Quilliam knows
how important it is to
reaffirm affection and
admiration in a
relationship to keep it
successful. She
comments ‘Actions can
speak louder than
words, so keep the
intimacy alive by
finding new ways to
spice up your sex life.
You and your man will
appreciate it!’
So get in his good
books this winter, and
score some early
brownie points before
Christmas too, with
Durex’s top tips to
make him tick:
!
Ask him what he
likes: There’s no better
way to find out what
your other half prefers
between the sheets
than talking to him
about it. Using
products with his
pleasure in mind will
also drive him crazy,
like Durex Thin Feel
condoms which are
designed especially for
a sleeker fit and feel to
heighten sensitivity.
!
If you like it, he’ll
LOVE it: Nothing will
get your partner going
more than seeing you
aroused. Explore each
other and let him
know that he turns
you on. Using lubes
such as Durex Play
Strawberry can
stimulate
different senses
and sweeten up your
sex life.
!
Try something new:
Keep things fresh and
fun in the bedroom (or
wherever you fancy) by
testing out new ways to
get him excited.
!
Introducing toys to
your relationship may
lead to more naughty
nights in this winter.
Durex Play Vibrations
is a vibrating ring that
will give both of you 20
minutes to tease,
tantalise and maximise
your pleasure.
Susan agrees: ‘By
taking time to show
each other how
important intimacy is
in your relationship,
you’ll become closer
than ever.’ ∎
!
! !
!
!
!
!
!
You can explore the
entire Durex range,
which includes vibrators
and lubricants, at
durex.co.uk.
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