Another success with our Belper Friends. To the soothing sound of heavy rain crashing on our window, we benefited from an honest exchange of confidential issues, medical matters, NHS strikes, delays and other topical subjects together with a few funny stories.
On that same theme of current anxieties, our loyal INVISIBLES sent a kind message of helpful support and gratitude - Hi Narvel and Terry, Thank you for your recent fascinating Bulletin and all the news of Belper Friends. I can assure you; we read each and every one of your Bulletins and thoroughly enjoy them. Pass on our thanks to Allan Morton for all the assistance he gives you in bringing these emails to us. Your Bulletin certainly resonates with us. Virtually everything you mention we have experienced ourselves. And because of that - we are becoming increasingly concerned over the rhetoric of our current Home Secretary and the Conservative Government. There is definitely a schism developing in the government regarding our rights. They are being used as a political battering ram by Suella Braverman to gain advantage in the upcoming conservative party leadership election - post general election. Her recent speech blatantly stigmatised LGBT folk in her attempt to gain political advantage amongst the right wing of her party. LGBT people fleeing persecution in their own countries represent less than 2% of those seeking political asylum in the UK. If we were living in Nigeria or Chechnya, we would have an excellent reason to claim asylum here. Braverman is a political opportunist and should be removed at the earliest convenience. Regarding your recent post – OLD AND GAY - it's very true that many closeted gay men are terrified and in denial about being gay. Many men seeking liaisons don't want to kiss - as though that makes them non-gay - even though they are having gay sex! Many men don't want to give you their name - even their first name. They don’t want to acknowledge you in public for fear of their opposite sex partner saying 'Who's that?’ In short, there's a sizable chunk of gay men living terrified lives! Why should that be in 2023? When we first met, a song called Like Sister and Brother was very popular. It fitted our relationship to a tee. Just change the words to boy and brother. Click on the link below - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns8EQb8PRVE All the best to you all, THE INVISIBLES I’m grateful to the Editor of QB Magazine - David Edgley. He has generously offered to visit Belper Friends with his projector and entertain us at our next meeting on Wednesday, November 8th. You’ll all be invited into our cosy and comfortable living room which already has a pull-down screen originally installed for a TV projector. David’s presentation sounds most interesting - A guide to strange places, a tour of places of gay interest in Nottinghamshire. Warm wishes, Narvel Comments are closed.
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