Sheep.

Gays, Homos, Dykes, Puffs, Lezzas, Fairies, Queens, Muff Divers. 




I can imagine what you're all thinking this blog might be about. 
These names will probably all make you think of one thing only, homosexuals and lesbians. So, why have they been given these names? Is it just another way of stereotyping homosexual and lesbian people? 


For example, you see the word fairy. Typically this is used to describe a gay male, but why? Well, of course it must be the way they mince around and flail their arms and squeal like little girls when they see the MUST HAVE shoes this season in the shop window. Or maybe it's just because they wear pink and some wear make up like pretty fairies do too? 

Now, let's take the word, dyke. No, I'm not referring of course to an artificial slope or wall to regulate water levels. I am in fact talking about a lesbian of course. You see the word dyke and what comes to mind? A well built, burly woman, probably with short hair, and she's wearing mens trousers, and boots. Don't forget of course she's probably got tattoos and piercings too. 

You can probably see the point that I'm getting at, where have these stereotypes come from? 


The name Queen, used to describe gay men, originally it came from the name Drag Queen and often described a man that was particularly effeminate. Other examples from what I found include - 
"Queen, as in drama queen, as in ridiculously over the top behaviour"
Another person a victim of stereotyping. Also, one person suggested that it was because of the band Queen, and the homosexual lead singer of the band, although both incorrect, you can see the thinking. Either way, gay males are often produced by the media to be incredibly feminine, and to act "camp" so to speak. But, of course not all gay males are camp, or feminine even in the slightest, but after being judged by the media, you can imagine the pressure to almost have to fit in with the rest of the people. Or maybe, I'm just assuming that's the way they feel, they could in fact just be generally more comfortable within themselves acting feminine. But stereotyping has in fact probably encouraged many to take this on as their "suggested" personality. 


Now, let's take a look at the word Dyke, this is a name that is being used to describe a lesbian woman, and in fact did evolve from a derogatory term for masculine women. Surely, using a derogative term to label yourselves isn't right? I'd imagine not many lesbian women may know that it was intended to be used as derogatory once upon a time, and just in fact use it as they would call any other group of people that fit into a certain clique. Before the word dyke, the word bulldyker was prominently used to describe lesbians, however even in this context it was considered crude. A dyke, being a ditch in other terms may have been used to describe the vulva. Either way, you hear the word dyke, you presume certain things about the way that woman looks. Dyke, being a term used for masculine women, brings the thought about by itself. But, why should lesbians be considered to look masculine? Is it because of their feminist manner, they shouldn't conform to look the way the average woman does etc. Or is it just a matter of a woman being more comfortable in her own skin? Either way, this shouldn't be encouraged just because of your sexuality. I know many women, that before they came out as a lesbian, had long hair, more make up more frequently and dressed themselves in a more feminine way, why should your sexuality have to change that? It probably doesn't have to.


Either way, we're probably never ever going to break these stereotypes, and a lot of people probably think they shouldn't have to if they're happy. Well no, you shouldn't have to change who you are to suit everyone else, but if you think about it, you might have already done that. 

Livin' La Vida Scarborough

As requested I am going to write a blog about Scarbados.
I probably won't be able to include everything I want to write about this interesting little town, but I'm sure as hell going to give it a good go.

In the town of Scarborough alone there are over 50,000 people. I just found this out myself and quite frankly, you would think that were about 30 people alone in the entirety of Scarborough as I personally find it quite difficult to know someone without knowing someone who knows someone I know, who is friends with my Dad and has had a baby with someone I used to work with and is in fact my Mum's old friend. You get my point? Even though we are considered a town, I would certainly not be one of the first to say that Scarborough is an overcrowded village, and being an overcrowded village, everybody knows everyone, and every single little bit of their business.

You all have your opinions on everybody, and you probably have an idea of what they think of you too. However, whether these people know you or not, they probably have some reason for judging you for whatever they've heard about you, this can lead to dirty looks from people you've never met in the middle of the street, people laughing behind your back, or people that you know telling you exactly what they heard about you on Saturday night on the piss.

Either way, this town can be a nasty place, whether you want to be involved or not. If you've spoken to anyone in Scarborough, the fact of the matter is, you're going to be part of somebodies business. As an example, my ex girlfriend after we split up, got with someone else, who happened to be seeing someone else I knew previous to her. When I met this person, I heard first hand that apparently my ex girlfriend had told the lady she was seeing that I used to beat her up in the bedroom and strangle her, so of course, the lady that she was seeing told her previous partner who I'd just met that I had been like this with my ex girlfriend, and was actually told to delete me off Facebook for apparently being this 'bad person'. I'd never met this woman in my life, but knowing that people were spreading something untrue about me made me furious... If this had been said, what else did people know? Was I going to be judged for being a person I wasn't before even knowing people?

I know for a fact that throughout this town gossip is pretty much the life and soul of it, and if you don't know any gossip then, well... where have you been? Something is always going down in this town, whether you're involved or not, you're always going to know about it. This place is full of vicious circles of people who would strike you down if you ever crossed them based upon what so and so told them on that night out 3 months ago.

It's probably all bullshit what everyone thinks they know about people in this town, but that's irrelevant, they know it, and that's all that matters to people.
I'm not going to lie and say I don't know my fair share of gossip or not get involved, it just worries me the way it gets nasty when it doesn't need to. I know that it'll never probably stop, and things will probably just get worse, but hey, what happens in Scarbados, stays in Scarbados, and don't worry, your neighbours already know about it!

Mobile Blogging!

This shit just got real!

Anyway, this is a totally pointless blog and is literally only for the purpose of trying out the mobile app!

Rather looking forward to going hold and actually managing to write a proper blog, I think I've decided on the topic of my wonderful hometown of Scarborough, expect lots of joy from that blog!

Anyway, over and out!

Revelations

I guess I should probably follow up my previous blog so you don't think I've disappeared into the oblivion without any news on how it went! 


I can literally tell you, I posted the blog onto my Facebook wall, and my stomach dropped. I thought:


What have I done?
Do people really need to know this about me?
Do I just take it off and pretend it wasn't real?


I was absolutely petrified at the thought of someone reading it and thinking "What an absolute freak, what are they talking about?", before posting it I had none of my friends' views on transgender issues, only two people in the entire world knew before I posted. 


Well, so what had I done?
I'd come out in theory right? I've been here before, it's not a fun place, but the world has never been a fun place for anyone really. I thought what I'd thought when I came out 6 years ago, I am who I am, and nobody can make me feel bad for it or change that. Of course I cared about everyones thoughts on what I wrote, but if they thought negatively of me for it, it wouldn't change the way I felt, nothing could. 


Did I need to tell people, or was it private?
A lot of people probably are thinking, why is this going to change what we think of you as a person, and does the entire world really need to know about it? I don't like keeping things from people, and that I ever managed to keep this recurring thought in my head for so long, is a miracle. I think because I'd believed it was all madness and suppressed it for so long, I'd denied myself it in fear of coming out to people once again. So, I do believe I had to share it, I'm not ashamed of myself, I don't think that anyone who knows me will think any differently of me regardless, but I wouldn't feel as though I'd been true to myself if I hadn't told them. It's just the same as trying to hide homosexuality from your friends or family, it just becomes unbearable. 


Everyone who read my blog has spoken positively, it's even inspired some people to write about themselves, which really makes me feel honoured. I don't feel particularly brave, like some have said, I just feel as though I had to share something with the world that years ago I would've passed off as a fleeting phase. 


Once again, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it.


Buddy x