(Untitled)

[labellementeuse]

Okay, let's review, shall we? New Zealand has a robust, bitchy Parliamentary system in which members will backstab, connive, pointscore, mudsling, in short, do anything to keep life interesting in the Beehive. The media usually stays far away from commentary on private life but everything else is open season.

May 2005, National opens up with

Comments

[aim_toothpaste]

Because a photo of two men hugging must mean they're gay. We don't take photos of women hugging and go 'Look a Lesbian!'

Too ineloquent to rant further and this is probably a good thing/.

[karenhealey]

Unless it was Helen Clark. Then it would be incontrovertible evidence of the lesbian cabal.

[aim_toothpaste]

Clearly. I mean women hugging: that's a sight you don't see every day

[blythely]

I thought any picture of Helen and Jude Tizard fit that standard. Also, how cool would it be if NZ was *actually* run by the lesbian cabal?

[deinacrida]

This fucked me off, too.
Where's FaceLift when you need it?... good venting mechanism.

[labellementeuse]

So true. It was a blow to the country when that show finished.

[jo_nzl]

Yes, it's all highly amusing (I burst out into hysterical laughter when I saw the Peter Davis thing on the paper) just because it's so ridiculous, but why is it even relevant to anything really? Why should we care? And why, in this day and age, do they need to have a headline like "Davis Comments "Disgraceful""? Why is being accused of being gay so awful and bad and disgraceful, still?

Meh. It would have been much more interesting if it had been news of Peter Davis and Don Brash having an affair.

(But anyway, if hugging a gay man makes you gay, would hugging a straight man turn you straight? must try it)

[jo_nzl]

Yeah, all well and good, but I thought we'd at least established by now that Investigate are the comical villain you can't help but harbour a secret love for, if only for the amusement they offer. But judging from media coverage, what Helen is saying etc, it seems accusations of gayness are A Big Thing with like, everyone. Funny, that, whenever I've been accused of being gay (ok, like once) I've felt a similar need to semi-refute it/qualify it (i'm generally bi), yet why should I?

"Makes you think"

[labellementeuse]

You know I completely agree with you, of course. I think to some extent though this stuff is really focused on media obsession with sex, particularly of course "deviant" sexual behaviour. *sigh* Prurient curiosity?

[melata_fic]

Oh, bloody hell. Hugging does not make someone gay!

*headdesk* Sorry, I just... it's bleeding out into RL, and that's absurd. Also, I do not want to be thinking about slashing politicians, thanks. It makes my brain hurt a little.

But, yeah, what you said.

[labellementeuse]

hahaha brash/davis otp.

ohgod, you're right, that's so wrong.

anyway, yeah, it's just... the whole thing is ridiculous.

[melata_fic]

Eeek. Bad/wrong, dude.

I loved the page of Helen Clark in the Herald where she said as much.