So. Lists. Yes they are odd (especially when we find we’re not on them!), and yes they’re subjective, like prizes they very much depend on who judges from one year to the next, which means one year can never truly be measured against the another. Regardless, I appreciate the Indy’s efforts towards inclusivity and wider representation, I love that (unlike so many) this isn’t an all-white, all-straight, all-able-bodied, almost-all-male list (you know, like the list of people running the country). It’s not even a totally middle class list and that’s astonishing and brilliant. I also know that if I were 14 again (or 85 now), and feeling alone and isolated again because of my sexuality, it would be of some comfort to know that not am I not the only one, but there are LOADS of others – and I can even tweet them if I want, and they might respond. And if I were in Russia right now, or any of the 76 countries where it’s illegal to be gay, I’d be very happy to find this list and see the wide range of people on it (ie, NOT a huge load of celebs this year) and trust that change WILL come and that those people care about me too.
I’m happy to be on it, proud to be out, glad that so many others are too, aware it does make a difference.
We all have to keep coming out all the time, for the first time, the 100th time, the 1000th time. For those of us who’ve been doing so for years it can be annoying, tiring, boring, frustrating. But the more of us who do, the sooner change will come for those for whom it really is a matter of life and death.
It’s not fixed yet.
And in the same paper, My Mrs’ beautiful, hopeful, coming out story. It’s not always easy. It is always worthwhile.
(I love that David Gwinnut, founder of the PinkJack flag is on the list this year. The PinkJack always makes me really happy.)
Not Writing But Blogging 