I’ve never met Antonia but I think this quote quite possibly gives the whole being a lesbian thing away. Or is it possible that, despite the number of comments you’ve posted, you’ve never actually read Antonia’s blog?

I don’t like the word lesbian a lot because the sound is harsh. Nothing personal Don’t like the name Scullard much for the same reason.

I don’t want to know about your sex life any more than I want to know about my next door neighbour@s.( who are “straight” as far as I know ) It is a private matter. I would not dream of asking them. Why should I presume to ask you?

In that sense I think our Evan is right.He says a person’s sexuality is private. I don’t like all this stuff about homophobia. I think it is going too far ,or is too “in yer face” or whatever you want to call it.

I am now starting to think that gay people have more rights than I do.

No-one can be criminalised for expressing an opinion about a lone woman bringing up children alone , but one had better not say anything about a gay couple? Is that the way it is?
That is the way it seems to me.

I am glad to see that Peter Tatchell is alot happier now. But I think he is going too far telling students ,who are impressionable and open -minded to a great fault at best ( and I would include my former self in that) that gay marriage is just as good an idea as heterosexual marriage. I think he may be wrong and that the students will may regret it if they act on his advice.

When I see(PT) him settled in a good relationship then just maybe. When i see him making some of teh sacrifces that agoo dparent would make ,well oK.

I personally think ‘wot who me?’ When I read this stuff about homophobia.

I did not used to see gay people in a different light to me, for the simple reason that the gay people I met had a range of experiences just the same as anyone else only gay ,but now I feel a bit threatned by the talk of homophobia.
I don’t think it is Ok to call it an “international sickness.”

It makes gay pople sound like spiders or something.

It is Ok to be afraid. (phobia) unless you allow people to admit they afraid and reasure them it is going to be hard on others.

can think of people who would not want to “come out” for fear of hurting their new families or for fear of rejection. I think that applies to all “skeletons in the cupboard” not
” just” gay ones. Just look at Lady Heather Mcartney.She should have been allowed a fresh start.

That’s a new phase of life for me never before attained by my dad in his clogs and cloth cap.

Does two planks mean you think thegood doctor is thick? Well I amsure he isn’t .His waelthy supporters locally assure me he has served them well.

Yes, I know the work of the women’s budget group pretty well, and your point about rural poverty is taken. In my defence, Oxfordshire is overwhelmingly an affluent rural county, so the issue of providing a lifeline is less pertinent.

The reference about subsidies for rural bus routes worries me though. The deprived rural poor may be less familiar to you than urban young people, but their problems are real. Giving some of them house arrest to transfer a relatively small amount of money to urban areas is unfair and actively costly if the elderly who cannot contiue to live independently move into care.

Public transport is an interesting issue, and one that needs the type of analysis provided by gender budgeting. http://www.wbg.org.uk/

Or Saj Malik would be happy to talk you through it all.

Dan xxx

No? Well, perhaps ask John Goddard to explain to you.

It’s one of Oxford’s best kept secrets

Good post.

Best,

Richard.