Been There Done That

20 Feb 2019

Eye Candy on the screen and on the streets …

Activism, Anniversary, Books, Diversity, film-maker, Gay, Icons, Politics, Pop Culture

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Eye Candy on the screen and on the streets …

In this week’s show, we discuss in broad terms the wonderful program listing of the forthcoming Melbourne Queer Film Festival, and applaud the range of films to be shown and the reflection of positive changes in public acceptance. We also note the queer graphic novel (web comic) Heartstopper for the Young Adult, who would appreciate this form of story presentation with its affirming messaging. It is a love story set in a British all-boys grammar school.

In view of the recent report that Grindr intends to conduct a 5-year survey of users’ attitudes and preferences of body imaging in current advertising and social media, we note that even the classical artists and sculptors showed many body types in their works, and our modern eyes identify our modern preferences – and these types can also be seen on the Mardi Gras Parades. We wonder if they are healthy examples of body types, creating unreal expectations or body shaming in the younger generations.

From international sources, we learn about the increase in rates of crimes against the LGBTIQ communities in Washington DC, since the advent of President Trump and his winding-back of laws intended to protect gay citizens. Fortunately, other state laws are being enacted to ban gay conversion therapy in more US states. In the UK, it is reported that a gay author slammed Amazon for stocking a book promoting gay conversion therapy – raising the concept of what is free-speech?

In our anniversaries, we feature items about local character actor Barry Humphries (born 27/2/1034), gay US author, poet and critic Felice Picano (born 22/2/1944), and we note that passing on 22/2/1987 of gay US painter, printmaker, photographer Andy Warhol – who opened our eyes with his modern expressions of art.

Listen to these stories, opinions and more – presented with some merriment (where appropriate) by Chris, Gordon & Phil.

Show #844 – First broadcast on 19 February 2019