Pink Sauce

This post appeared in Pink News under the title " In defence of Pride ". In PinkNews today, Topher Gen writes to explain how he believes that modern Pride parades perpetuate an image of gay people as 'hedonistic, sex-crazed deviants', and that drunkenness and drag don't make the bold statement some might think. I think Mr Gen is quite mistakenly focusing on the wrong elements of Pride. It even seems reading his words that his only experience of such event comes from mainstream media coverage which does seem to linger on the more colourful and exotic aspects of the parades. Little, if at all, do we see the hundreds of "normal" people who do take part in the marches. The families, the pensioners, the volunteers with various charities. For them it's not an occasion to get pissed (that usually happens after the parades anyway) or drag up, it is a moment of affirmation and empowerement. For a few hours it's an opportunity to take the streets over...

Like the gates of an earthly paradise, an Eden made flesh, ajar, carelessly,  one night,  he tempted me into a bewitching dance.  For a few undeserved hours the luscious fruits of his body were mine to feast upon,  our limbs writhing together, our breaths melded into one. Hopes awakened. But soon the cruel dawn sundered and cast us apart. The pearly gates slammed shut. Ever since, fallen, I lie bereft, more alone than before; an errant ghost, an empty shell. Hopes fatally awakened to be more thoroughly crushed. Returned to a new banality, I long and pine for what wasn't; what could have been; will never be.

In a few day, the 3rd annual exhition organised by the Gay Photographers Network will open its doors at the Strand Gallery in London. This will be the second exhibition I will be taking part in this year (and ever). This time I will only have one image on display but with the work of almost 60 other artists on display, everyone should fine something to look at. So here are the details: The Strand Gallery 32 John Adam Street London WC2N 6BP 26th June to 8th July Open hours: 11am to 7pm Mon to Sat / 11am to 6pm Sun. Early close on Sun 8th July. (I will be manning the gallery on the 2 and 6 July - 11 to 3) Website: www.f20-12.com Facebook page: www.facebook.com/gayphotographersnetwork Facebook event: www.facebook.com/events/383529118364952

This morning's Monday blues comes with added misery. The realisation that my social ineptitude is taking roots ever more deeply. Since last night, Facebook has been awash with pictures, videos and comments about the Chorus's retreat which as taking place this week-end. This is awakening ugly feelings of envy and fear in me. I didn't go the retreat partly because of the presence of The Young Man I mentioned in this post , but mostly because of my experience during the trip to Belfast with the Chorus (a lonely affair for me) and my general dismal track record with groups of people who know each other. Judging by Facebook, everybody seemed to have a great time. Although I guess, only those who did have a great time would be posting. Thinking a bit more about this and examining my feeling further, I am as I said envious. Envious that those people can actually find themselves into a group of other people they variously know, if at all, and look forward to it. Envious tha...

Some months ago, I joined the Gay Photographers Network . This has allowed me to look at photography and my practice of it a little more seriously. To the point in fact that in February I took part in my first exhibition (showing two pictures and selling one!). I will be taking part in a second exhibition, f20-12 , later this month (only one image this time). Last February, at one of the Network's monthly meetings, I had a taster of studio work with models and I was keen to further the experience. So when one of my Twitter contacts mentioned that he needed to pictures of himself, I offered my services and a date was set. To help me with this, one of the members of the Network, Manel Ortega , who seems to have taken an interest in me both as a photographer and a model, had offered access to his studio in Brighton. The results of my side of the shoot (Manel took pictures too) is now online on Flickr and can be viewed here . Some of Manel's pictures of me which he allo...