gay places

[Lynsey Cox]

Half Homo! love it!

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

plus I like that I've got somewhere to go to more easily find a drunken snog haha.

Edited May 20, 2014 by Frankly Mr Shankly

[Babyquack]

As someone who stands up for gay rights quite verbally, due to the fact that i've had to deal with a gay family member having to live their life through a huge amount of discrimination. I feel that you should probably keep a comment like this to yourself, I know it may not seem offensive to you but it in fact it's pretty ignorant.

Glastonbury has areas themed / aimed to certain types of people, doesn't stop anyone going to them but they sure have them. So why would an area at glastonbury aimed for Gay People hurt or "not be right at glastonbury".

I understand where your thinking comes from though, as you've labelled you're a straight man who's never had to experience going to places where you may not feel welcome. Glastonbury is open to people of all races and lifestyles but sometimes people like to know if there's areas where they can feel most comfortable.

[progue]

I can kind of get where Fuzzy was coming from. Separating ourselves into zones or areas is not what most of us want at Glastonbury...I'm not sure defining areas by sexual preference is in anyones interests really.

Of course at the same time I think we have to be realistic about where society is and so having an area where gay people can feel more comfortable seems to make sense. It's obviously not exclusively gay, but rather more gay friendly.

[frostypaw]

Well said. Having a place for gays implies the rest is for the not-gays

We're great at building ourselves ghettos - big part of the glasto joy is that sexuality is pretty irrelevant. long may it stay that way

[mattgimmeshelter]

Hmm, I'm not sure I fully agree with you Matt. What fuzzydunlop was saying was that everyone should be able to go anywhere and the Glasto vibe allows that. He never said it'd hurt the festival and never alluded to it not being right at glastonbury in the way you're putting it across as.

As a gay guy, I would prefer there not to be a specific area for homosexuals as I know some of my friends wouldn't like to go there on the basis they could never pull and then I'd be left going solo

I guess it's good if there's areas where people can feel more comfortable but does that mean they wouldn't be comfortable at the pyramid or any other stage as it's not exclusively for one type of people?

You say he should keep comments like that to himself but he's just being honest (and not one bit discriminative) so perhaps you should be more lenient on other people's views no?

[Babyquack]

Of course at the same time I think we have to be realistic about where society is and so having an area where gay people can feel more comfortable seems to make sense. It's obviously not exclusively gay, but rather more gay friendly.

[dentalplan]

Okay well I guess it's just me being pretty angsty, I find any form of homophobia disgusting because i've seen how much it can escalate and ruin someones life. So I guess my view may be skewed.

I personally feel that the whole the argument that he makes saying "it doesn't need one", is quite hypocritical seeing as he isn't the person it would apply to anyway? So it's abit harsh to dismiss something for a complete other section of the public just because it doesn't apply to him

[mattgimmeshelter]

I guess i'm in the minority here so i'l just leave it at, I don't see why it hurt to have one... or hurt glastonbury goers to have an area which is got specific places.

Glastonbury's big enough, feel excluded there... surely you can go somewhere else.

[FuzzyDunlop]

Firstly if my comment offended anyone, I certainly didn't mean it to. I may not have worded it perfectly, but Ive re read it and I am a little surprised it has caused a fuss.

I had read the orignal post as the NYC downlow was a gay area - as in gay only. To me, as I say, Glastonbury should be about treating everyone equally. No matter where they are from (as should life... But we know it doesn't work like that). I have absolutely no problem what so ever with gay culture being expressed at glastonbury. In fact it should be encouraged. I read the original post as it was "a gay club" an arena I wouldn't be wanted. That is my fault.

I would be offended if a gay person was not allowed in any other area of the festival, as I say. It was meant to be a "we are all one" kind of post. Quite anti homophobic in truth.

[frostypaw]

i don't currently feel excluded anywhere at glastonbury

i think people would be fairly right to object if they did make an area exclusive - take note of the snakepit providing fake tats

the NYC Downlow is the right thing in the end I think - gives me somewhere to avoid

[JGP]

Firstly if my comment offended anyone, I certainly didn't mean it to. I may not have worded it perfectly, but Ive re read it and I am a little surprised it has caused a fuss.

I had read the orignal post as the NYC downlow was a gay area - as in gay only. To me, as I say, Glastonbury should be about treating everyone equally. No matter where they are from (as should life... But we know it doesn't work like that). I have absolutely no problem what so ever with gay culture being expressed at glastonbury. In fact it should be encouraged. I read the original post as it was "a gay club" an arena I wouldn't be wanted. That is my fault.

I would be offended if a gay person was not allowed in any other area of the festival, as I say. It was meant to be a "we are all one" kind of post. Quite anti homophobic in truth.

[dentalplan]

I agree to an extent, like there are areas that are themed in certain ways which will attract a certain type of person. I don't think there's anything wrong with having a stereotypical 'gay' themed place at all.

[Stokesy10]

You say that, but we have a gay couple who camp with us at glastonbury every year. In 2011 whilst watching Pulp in The Park, some nasty piece of work spat in one of their faces because they apparently had a problem with two men holding hands. Utterly vile, and the last place on earth I'd expect to see that kind of behaviour. You get idiots everywhere I guess.

[sassy2012]

I went to NYC Downlow last year on the Saturday night with the bf in tow. Ive dragged him to plenty of gay clubs in the past so nothing new.we had a fab time dancing on the stage and chatting to people but as we were leaving I overheard a guy saying "eurgh there are far to many straights in here these days"- very much aimed at us. It really made me laugh coz as far as I could see we were in a tent in Somerset and not a club in Soho. I guess some people are territorial where ever you go!

Edited May 20, 2014 by sassy2012

[audio farm]

i dont feel anyone is being discriminate as such here and i totally get that people feel glasto should be an 'all inclusive' society....

but... its not always easy for gays to spot one another... especially if your not super camp (who are not the kinda guys i'd go for).

I like the idea of meeting a guy at glasto as they are much more likely to have good stuff in common with me than the typical guys youd see in gay scene places... for me most people who go to glasto are open minded so id like to meet the gays there without mistaking straight guys as gays... and if i fancy hitting on a girl then theres the rest of the festival to do that.

NYC downlow isnt a gay only place.. rather gay friendly... and i feel its good to have these places so gay/bi guys can have a place where its easy to meet each other... its not about exclusivity, but rather convenience.... and that shouldnt be an issue with anyone right?!

its important for glasto to represent the gay sub/counter culture as so many others are so well represented throughout the festival too.

[zero000]

I don't however think there should be anywhere on site that only a certain type of person is actually allowed into eg, only back people allowed in this tent, only women allowed in this tent etc etc.

Edited May 20, 2014 by zero000

[Babyquack]

I'm pretty sure gay clubs aren't like that. I've been to a few with my gay friends and I've never had a problem because I'm straight, as long as you're not a judgmental prick no one cares.

Also there often seems to be a lot of attractive women in there which is always a bonus!

[muddyslingbax]

Although the festival is 'all inclusive' unfortuantely some of the punters aren't.

Although NYC Downlow is modelled on a New York gay disco, i don''t think it's touted as a gay bar.

Whatever it is, I love it and have spent many a mashed up hour in there.

Tashes at dawn:)

[monkey1989]

I didn't realise there were quite a few homos and half homos on the forums

[Festival Liam]

Another one here! Amazing they get everywhere. I wasn't aware the NYC bar was that way inclined, will definitely have to check it out (with the boyfriend). Wasn't there something to do with mustaches and a bear bar last Saturday night was just such a drunken haze.

Also regarding "gay bars" at Glastonbury - I think the same should apply as to the "real world". They are there to provide a safe space and a meeting place for people of similar minds (much like the green fields or jazz bars some might argue). As long as they don't enforce some kind of militant door policy on only allowing gays in, I can't see the problem. It just gives people something to aim for.

[frostypaw]

I'm pretty sure gay clubs aren't like that. I've been to a few with my gay friends and I've never had a problem because I'm straight, as long as you're not a judgmental prick no one cares.

Also there often seems to be a lot of attractive women in there which is always a bonus!

[carlosj]

Liam... does there need to be positive discrimination for those Jamie Cullem/Cleo Laine jazz hand types? Can't they stay in New Orleans and Ronnie Scott's bar???

[FuzzyDunlop]

Also regarding "gay bars" at Glastonbury - I think the same should apply as to the "real world". They are there to provide a safe space and a meeting place for people of similar minds (much like the green fields or jazz bars some might argue). As long as they don't enforce some kind of militant door policy on only allowing gays in, I can't see the problem. It just gives people something to aim for.

[salvador wali]

I have always loved going to gay bars such as Canal Street (as a pretty much straight person) but purely because it has a great atmosphere and it a place full of acceptance and love. I think that is what Glastonbury is- great atmosphere and anything goes as long as no harm is done and everyone is happy. Who cares who you're having sex with - man or woman