What is in Kelvin's Head?

International Day Against Homophobia

17/05/2014

Today is the International Day Against Homophobia.

I’m not going to say much about it except to point towards a youtube video – one of the most articulate speeches of recent years about the topic.

It is an unlikely person speaking in an unlikely location – a drag queen called Panti Bliss speaking at the end of of a production in the Abbey Theatre in Ireland.

Lots of people will have seen it. If you haven’t, take a look.

The next time you hear a straight church leader speaking about how it is not actually homophobic to take actions which work to the detriment of gay and lesbian people remember this speech. And ask who is best placed to decide what is homophobic and what isn’t.

5 responses to “Evensong for Advent Three”

annie t

14/12/2009

Couldn’t agree with you more about ‘Jesus Christ the Apple Tree’. It was sung, at his own request, at the great Michael Mayne’s Funeral in Salisbury Cathedral and the preacher on that occasion said the following: ‘And perhaps most of all, those strands of simplicity and humility that are the harbingers of gratitude and grace caught in three musical choices with which we celebrate Michael’s life today. Elizabeth Postern’s ‘Jesus Christ the Apple Tree’ – if she never wrote another piece (and I know nothing else by her), this wonderful essay in simplicity would earn her reputation.’ I’d like it sung at my own.

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emma

14/12/2009

Evensong is wonderful. Compline is almost as good…. “Brethren, be sober, be vigilant……”.

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fr dougal

14/12/2009

I remember the then Provost of St Andrew’s Cathedral Aberdeen Donald Howard describing Evensong as being “like a relaxing soak in a hot bath after a busy Sunday”. He had a point.

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Martin Ritchie

15/12/2009

When I lived in Glasgow I travelled from the darkest southside to St Mary’s for evensong most weeks. Now, I’ve been to many stunning evensongs in grand cathedrals and college chapels over the years but St Mary’s Glasgow is hard to beat for the intimacy of the experience and the absence of pretension – as well as the high musical standards! Keep up the good work.

With you on Jesus Christ the Apple Tree. Great text. I’ve recently used a setting in the Oxford Book of Flexible Anthems which uses a traditional folk melody to stunning effect – even simpler than the Poston, but just as effective!

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Harry Monroe

18/12/2009

Our little choir, Angelus Singers, was formed, and still exists, to sing Evensong in churches where no choir exists.

In my write-up about the value of Evensong, I said that..’You cannot go away angry, after Evensong’, and I still believe that.

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