The Secret to Being Gay and Happy?!

Over on Digital Spy yesterday, the Gay Spy blog promoted the latest issue of Attitude - the 'Issues' issue. This is the cover:

So what jumps out at you about it? Is it the picture of Danny Miller? Or is it the headline to the left: "We've found the secret to being Gay and Happy". Really? I didn't know that the two were such elusive bedfellows. I know lots of people who are gay, sorted and reasonably well grounded. I know people who aren't gay and aren't happy.

Personally, I take offence. Though perhaps I'm being too sensitive. Or perhaps it's easy for me to take offence from a position of being at ease about my sexuality. I'd be interested in other people's take on the subject.

On a second look I realised that the text underneath belongs with the main headline and in full it reads:  

"We've found the secret to being Gay and Happy. A new way of thinking that could change your life." 

Is this better? Well,  slightly. I've always been intrigued by positive thinking strategies - although I'm not sure there's a need to tailor such strategies to any particular sexuality. Surely one of the first steps in positive thinking is to accept who you are regardless.

There's another reason I was less than impressed with the headline. But I'm going to rewind slightly in order to elaborate.

Gay Spy weren't the only people to take notice the magazine, one of the issues examined in the magazine is the level of mental illness amongst gay people and this instigated on the Today programme on Radio 4. Does being gay predispose someone to mental illness, or are higher than average rates of mental illness amongst gay people the result of societal pressures and expectations? I believe, of course, that this is not a chicken or egg question, and that the latter is the case.

This is a serious issue and it's good that it is receiving some attention. As such, it is disappointing that Attitude have chosen a headline which, in my opinion, undermines the seriousness of the issue, if not actually trivialises it. In addition, while positive thinking has its place, in the context of serious mental illness, it's akin to telling someone to pull themselves together.

While I appreciate that Attitude is in the business of selling magazines, it would have been good if they could have done more with the cover of the Issues issue rather than have it look like a cross between the News of the World magazine and Psychologies magazine.

Andrew

He bangs, he bangs

I just found a link to this statement in which Ricky Martin has acknowledged, on his website, that he is gay. But should it be news?

As a gay man, I've never thought of my sexuality as being a defining feature. Indeed, I think it's immaterial to most aspects of my life. The art I like, the books I read, the TV I watch are not determined by the sexuality of the artist, author or actors. While I like some music by gay acts or enjoy films such as Beautiful Thing, this is just because these are things I like.

My sexuality has little bearing on the things I choose to do, or indeed my work. While it's not something that's a secret, it's not something I shout about either. If it comes up in conversation, then fine, if not then that's also fine. So should it be any different for celebrities?

Well, ideally not. In an ideal world the gender of your sleeping partners shouldn't be newsworthy at all. In an ideal world artists shouldn't have to choose between living a lie, or at least publicly denying the truth, or risking career-damaging publicity.

Given the world we do live in, though, perhaps it should be newsworthy. Perhaps a critical mass of openly gay stars is required to help change attitudes and, clichéd as it may sound, to act as role models for those who are coming to terms with their sexuality in less than ideal circumstances.

I don't know what the answer to my question is but I hope that the media can leave Mr Martin to continue with his life and career without too much more fuss.


Andrew