In a community where mental illness and internalised homophobia are rife, sharing memories that many of us have suppressed for years can only be a good thing. This image has prompted us to discuss our childhoods because we see something in it that we recognise. It is incredibly rare to see anything that remotely represents my childhood reflected in popular culture.
Thanks to a supportive environment created by my parents, I felt that I could play with whichever toys I wanted for those short years before the outside world pressured me to conform.Įffeminate gay men like me have very specific experiences that relate to growing up in a heteronormative world. The time before boys are told they should like “boy things”, before femininity becomes associated with weakness or frivolity. When I look at the carefree image of George, it reminds me of those precious years in early childhood when I didn’t know I was supposed to be manly. The reaction to this photo isn’t really about sexuality it’s about the innocence of childhood. But to assume that gay men tweeting this photograph are labelling Prince George is a misunderstanding of what we take from the image. I also understand that speculating about a child’s future sexual orientation, especially from one photograph, has potential to cause them distress. Events and Offers Sign up to receive information regarding NS events, subscription offers & product updates. Ideas and Letters A newsletter showcasing the finest writing from the ideas section and the NS archive, covering political ideas, philosophy, criticism and intellectual history - sent every Wednesday. Weekly Highlights A weekly round-up of some of the best articles featured in the most recent issue of the New Statesman, sent each Saturday. The Culture Edit Our weekly culture newsletter – from books and art to pop culture and memes – sent every Friday. This Week in Business A handy, three-minute glance at the week ahead in companies, markets, regulation and investment, landing in your inbox every Monday morning.
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