Men in love

Andrew is cruising through Europe with his long term partner and this week he wrote how he couldn't bring himself to join the fun on the dance floor because of a silent sense of disapproval of displays of same sex relationships amongst fellow cruisers.

Gays of our generation, and I am a few years older than Andrew, know this feeling well.

Andrew's timing was exquisite, his post falling as it did between two public displays of man to man affection.

The first was ESPN televising Michael Sam's reaction at the moment he was notified that he been drafted into the National Football League. The interest in this event was that Sam is the first out gay man to be drafted to play in USA's most popular sporting competition.



Sam's reaction was first publicised on Twitter as a still shot from the video in which he was kissing and embracing his partner. As the photograph of a single moment in time that picture suggested a very passionate, almost sexual, moment. Seeing that moment in context the video reveals an emotional Sam sharing his joy - and probably relief - with presumably family, friends and his loved one in just the same manner as we view heterosexuals doing without any disapproval.

Whist the majority of published comments about Sam and his partner celebrating his selection have been supportive there were still a number of high profile highly negative reactions. The fact that people feel any need to comment at all about the situation indicates that GLBT individuals still have a long way to go for complete acceptance.

Fast forward a week or so to the Europa Cup Final (soccer) between Sevilla (Spain) and Benfica (Portugal) a match played in Italy and viewed by hundreds of millions around the world. Here adult men, presumably heterosexual, hugged, danced with excitement and even kissed each with joy.



Did anyone complain? Did anyone see the end of human civilisation through such public displays? Were Christianity, family values and the like threatened? Not that I am aware. But they were straight men and, of course, European. Enough said.