SURPRISE PACKAGE

FROM IRELAND

 

One of the best things about editing BENT is getting the kind of unexpected e-mails I've come to expect. The latest was from someone named Brian Finnegan, with an e-mail address ( ".ie") that I didn't recognize. Seems that Brian had discovered BENT and wanted to send me something in return.

Soon thereafter I got a package in the mail and discovered that Brian edits "Gay Community News," which describes itself as the longest-running free gay publication, with the largest gay and lesbian readership "throughout Ireland, north and south."

"GCN" may be free, but its not some scrappy little rag. What I found was 50+ pages of full-color features and news. It does not eschew entertainment (or a bit of modestly flashy flesh, as you can see above), but in its coverage of politics, health, and community news it reminded me a little of what "The Advocate" was like long, long ago, before its present-day glossy lifestyle makeover. Provincial San Franciscan that I am, I'll confess "GCN" is not what I associated with Irish gay life. (OK, OK, what was I expecting? Clog dancing in the peat bogs? I should know better.)

It was the October issue that Brian sent, and what he wanted me so see was half a dozen pages of disability coverage. Included are some beautiful photographs by, as it turns out, an old friend of BENT's, Belinda Mason-Lovering.

In particular I liked a short, direct piece by Tony Matthews, who comments about cripgay coming out: "When religion is brought into the picture, disabled people are seen as kind of special. If you bear the 'cross' of disability you are seen as a kind of saint. Catholics don't equate being saintly with being gay, or having any kind of sexuality at all."

"GCN" is only now developing expanded Website content, so among the limited highlights available you won't be able to read the October issue's disability features. But thank's to Brian's generosity, you can read his editorial here. Take a look. "GCN" will broaden your worldview. It did mine.

© 2003 BENT

-Bob Guter, Editor

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