Mustard on the Hedge

We’re not exactly spoiled for choice in Ireland when it comes to magazines aimed at lesbian readers. In terms of Irish publications there’s the free mag, GCN. Beyond that we can pick up a copy of the US mag Curve or the UK mag Diva- that’s if we visit one of the select outlets that sells these! We can now also download issues of G3- an English free mag. Yes our cup runneth over!

I browsed through a copy of Diva and G3 this weekend and was overwhelmed by the advertising. Ads for pet adoption, dating sites and sex toys filled many pages. Apparently there are two types of lesbians out there. Those desperately seeking love through singles nights and dating forums and those who have someone to do the bedroom tango with but are on a quest for the next colourful multi-noduled sex toy to send their relationship vibrating to the next level. Incidentally both of these breeds of lesbian either have pets or plan to have pets in the near future.

I work in media and so I am more than aware that publications, particularly niche publications, rely heavily on advertising. So I imagine that marketers and sales staff sat up in their chair when reading this article in the Evening Herald last week.

According to the Out Now GCN Readership Survey, gay and lesbian consumers can offer marketers a new and consistent stream of cash during recession times.

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We’re finally seeing some growth in Irelands gay scene. This Summer saw more Pride events taking place outside of the capital, Dublin, than ever before and in the last month there have been a couple of welcome developments….the first gay prom and a new lesbian night.

1. BeLonG To, an organisation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) young people, aged between 14 and 23, are organising Ireland’s first gay prom in the Mansion House, Dublin on October 11th.

BeLonG To state: “We know that school can be a difficult time for many LGBT young people – homophobia is often rife and it’s just really hard to be yourself. Having highlighted some of these issues over the years and offered schools supports in tackling bullying we now want to provide LGBT young people a celebration. A celebration of their identities and of becoming an adult. What better way than by hosting a fabulous Gay Prom?”

Tickets cost €62.70 per person- not much more costly than your average Debs and at least you have a chance at snagging yourself a prom queen/king!

Many big names in Ireland’s gay scence will make an appearance- There’s a special address from Senator and Gay Rights Activist, David Norris, performances from Panti and Shirley Temple Bar and a range of music including DJ sessions from DJ Davina and DJ Karen.

Watch the promo video and if you’re interested you can get your tickets here.

2. Saturday September 13th saw the launch of a new lesbian night in Dublin….Hallelujah!! Up to now us poor Dublin dykes have had to make do with a monthly gal night- Kiss-on the third Friday of every month. The new night CaKe…interesting name I know…will again be monthly, but at least that means there’ll be two major club nights per month…twice the fun!

Dublins newest Lesbian night...CaKe

Yes there really was tea and cake at this event… I’m guessing there were alot of girls coming out with unbelievably bad chat-up lines involving ‘cream’ and ‘eating’…I’m not sure if food and clubbing mix but according to reports it was a great night. I plan to take myself along to the next one however I’m not sure if it will be my cup of tea….pun intended…and I certainly will not be substituting my beer for tea !

Check out this video…a similar night in London:

On the same day the first legal gay marriages took place in California, the Times reports on the results of a study by Swedish scientists at the Karolinska Institute which has added further credence to the fact that you do not choose to be gay..you are born gay.

The scientists scanned the brains of 90 healthy gay and heterosexual adults, men and women, and compare the volume of the hemispheres. Their conclusion was that structurally, the brains of gay men were similar to those of heterosexual women, and gay women’s were like heterosexual men. The study analysed the amygdala which governs emotion, mood, anxiety and aggressiveness.

Scientists believe these brain differences were laid down early in foetal development and so…drumroll…. Dr Qazi Rahman, a lecturer in cognitive biology at Queen Mary, University of London: “As far as I’m concerned there is no argument any more - if you are gay, you are born gay,” he said.

This isn’t the first scientific study into the origins of homosexuality. In 1991, Simon LeVay identified differences in the hypothalamus of straight and gay men.

So with all the gay pride going aroung at the moment (we’re in the midst of the Pride Festival in Dublin at the moment) someone had to rain on the parade. The Church have come out to poo poo the community. A petty statement released following the Irish Bishops Conference (a stimulating affair no doubt) was a load of waffle. For example:

“Christian tradition holds that sexual differentiation is intrinsic to our understanding of the sacrament of marriage.”

“Marriage has a meaning that is not reducible to individuals’ intentions and society’s laws. Marriage is not perceived as just any kind of relationship, but as a quite specific kind of relationship, with certain core characteristics.”

“It is oriented towards the sharing of their lives and the support they will give each other, and also towards the creation of new human beings as the fruit of their love.”

“It is for the sake of these two objectives that the loving marital relationship between a woman and a man needs to be one that is faithful, exclusive and lasting.”

So if you wade through all that bull it all adds up to the Church making noise for noise’s sake to create whatever bit of disruption possible. Petty. They are basically stating that the purpose of marriage is to pop out sprogs! Sad.