tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post1705466042667008464..comments2023-10-22T14:14:16.419+01:00Comments on J. Arthur MacNumpty: Filling a gapWillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978812670312106107noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post-76869000857007556752009-06-28T13:45:19.558+01:002009-06-28T13:45:19.558+01:00Hi Will,
Super post.
I write as a gay man, now i...Hi Will,<br /><br />Super post.<br /><br />I write as a gay man, now in the 28th year of our relationship together. Our Civil Partnership certificate bears the final figures "001" in its reference, and have seen tremendous developments in the acceptability of gay persons in society in general and in politics in particular over my lifetime.<br /><br />We have come a long way from the days of Geremy Thorpe. It was at that time that I decided if I was to be able to contribute to the cause of Independence that it was not to be in the field of being in "front of house" as a candidate and have been more than happy to stay in the background, helping to stoke the boilers rather than attempting to steer the ship.<br /><br />Not all would have been, but generally I felt there was, for me, no other choice. Oh, and of course the fact that deep down I don't think I would have been a very good candidate anyway though I did get the length of being vetted for the Candidates' list for the Scottish Assembly in 1979.<br /><br />I quite agree that there is a world of difference in fighting a by as opposed to a general election and could quite understand if any in-place candidate decided, for whatever reason, that they would rather not.<br /><br />I think we have now reached the stage where the Party could profitably be much more pro-gay than it apparently is. Some of the statements from relatively senior figures over recent times have been well less than helpful and these people should have been stamped on publically. I am also deeply concerned at the influence on public opinion that Brian Souter's membership might have and urge him seriously to adopt my own chosen tactic of "invisibility".<br /><br />Ironically, I now no-longer feel that need. What goes round come round, Brian and it will be a measure of his committment to the cause of Independence if he and his like-minded friends can keep their mouths shut. For what they havce to say is, I am convinced, deeply unattractive to the general public.<br /><br />For God's sake even the Tories have given up gay-bashing as being counter-productive and I don't think for one moment that the average Tory activist is any less homo-phobic today than they were yesterday. And that is a lot, but they dare not now say it in public, for that goes against current public opinion.<br /><br />So for any gay person out there committed to Independence I would say "If you think you have what it takes - GO FOR IT IN ANY WAY YOU CAN. Being gay is really of no consequence now. It is the sort of character you are that counts."<br /><br />Keep up the good work, Will.<br /><br />Regards,Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post-32690692083710595622009-06-28T08:35:45.751+01:002009-06-28T08:35:45.751+01:00Surely in this day and age anyone trying to run a ...Surely in this day and age anyone trying to run a campaign based on bigotry and prejudice would get thumped in the long term. I would like to think so.<br /><br />Mind you, Labour trying to reignite the class war in Crewe was pretty grim, so maybe not.<br /><br />Did you read Costigan Quist's post in response to Charlotte Gore's which basically lamented the fact that politicians were all becoming non controversial homogeneous fearties who were scared to speak up for what they believed in.<br /><br />I am as far away as you can get from Charlotte in terms of her attitude to public services but I think politics is better off for people like her who are willing to think creatively and spark off debate. We need our mavericks and free thinkers.<br /><br />Have a good Summer - not long till Strictly now!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04988201531739344840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post-64902093146770052212009-06-28T08:05:44.897+01:002009-06-28T08:05:44.897+01:00It's sad that we have to keep things like this...It's sad that we have to keep things like this compartmentalised in this way. I've started being a little more gung ho about it as I don't see myself wanting to stand in an election any time soon.<br /><br />At some point, though, someone's going to have to test the water, but I suppose if we have to ask "Are we ready for this?" then the answer is "Probably not".Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10978812670312106107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post-70433477191316146462009-06-28T00:35:13.673+01:002009-06-28T00:35:13.673+01:00Sadly Will the closing paras are more along the li...Sadly Will the closing paras are more along the lines of the rumours I had heard about Grant's withdrawal rather than the blogging reason. It was one reason I'd kept that personal side somewhat private in the early days of my blogging but it seems to have seeped in more and more openly over time.Stephen Glennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03027718551675624433noreply@blogger.com