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Do we prefer Shame to Pride?

Do we prefer Shame to Pride?

I am not a very good gay man. Last year, instead of going to Perth’s Pride March, I stayed home and watched the episode of Game of Thrones that featured Cersei Lannister’s Walk of Atonement. It became my latest obsession. I’ve even persuaded two people to change the ring tones on their phones to ‘Ding-ding-ding….

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17

Dec

Has anyone in show business had a run like this?

Has anyone in show business had a run like this?

When my friend Caroline and I visited the US Library of Congress in August 2016, there was a special exhibition of the composer Marvin Hamlisch’s awards, which needed a considerable amount of room, largely as a result of three amazing years. At the Oscars in 1974, Cher called him Marvin Hamschmish, then Hamilschmish. But when he won his…

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14

Dec

Chocolate Congresses

Chocolate Congresses

In August, my Antarctic friend Caroline and I visited the United States Capitol – the Congress building, or, as Google Maps describes it, the ‘Legendary home of the US legislature’. We could have bought chocolate bars … … or chocolate Congresses. Milk … … dark … … or white.

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26

Nov

Lesbian, gay and transgender London traffic lights

Lesbian, gay and transgender London traffic lights

When I was in Munich in late August, they had lesbian and gay traffic lights (sadly now gone). In Trafalgar Square the following week, the lights were lesbian … … and gay … … and transgender … … and even straight! There’s something reassuring about how they all blend into the lions and  double-decker busses.

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23

Nov

Why ‘Oliver!’ leaves me wanting some more

Why ‘Oliver!’ leaves me wanting some more

Earlier this year, I saw 28 of the movies at the Spanish Film Festival, which was a bit of a slide in form. I’d seen 30 in 2015. I’m not quite so obsessed about the British Film Festival, which in any event doesn’t have as many. But in addition to showing some interesting new films, it…

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16

Nov

Michael from Perth

(Michael Bowyer)