When a word becomes a political football, only the brave refuse to play

SOCIAL media often rewas co-written by comedian Karen minds me of being back in Dunbar, who is also gay. high school and the joys of Context is everything, particularly peer pressure, the demand when we’re talking about comedy and for conformity with the satire, and words must be considered in-crowd of the moment. within it. The reclaiming of the word On political social “dyke” is common in the lesbian commedia, it takes the form of the munity. When the backstory is known, #mustcondemn phenomenon, where this does not scream “nationalists in people are expected to immediately homophobic slur against unionist” to distance themselves from something me at all, but that was the context sothat has just happened, regardless of cial media immediately moulded it in. how much (or how little) they know Dunbar was furious at this about it. What’s clear, amid the sound misrepresentation, retorting: “As a gay and the fury, is that the failure to woman who has experienced horrencondemn the latest great offence is dous homophobia, I feel confused that akin to support, and people tend to anyone could interpret anything in the follow the line first and think later. rap as being homophobic.”

As is often the case when we’ve In modern Scottish politics, social all set our stalls out on social memedia just loves to frame issues in dia in the strongest terms, if the nationalist vs unionist terms, but to thinking-later part suggests the incarelessly pull nuanced LGBT issues itial reaction might have been the into that battleground was incredibly wrong one, we’re far too stubborn to insensitive and misplaced. backtrack. It’s all about that sense of Some argued that it wasn’t the right absolute, uncompromising right and setting for edgy, shocking humour. wrong. Changing your mind is like However, comedian Janey Godley peradmitting defeat, and it often feels like formed at the same event in a set that the death of productive discussion. mocked attitudes towards Catholics,

Last week’s “must condemn” Protestants and autism. Outrageous? incident arose after female comedy Of course. Funny? Yes. Why? Because collective Witsherface performed a satire is often brutal in its delivery, “rap-off” at the Scottish Independand it tackles society’s biggest taboos. ence Convention event on the second Others believed the Witsherface anniversary of the Indyref. sketch was inappropriate because it and watch these lads as they did our In it, one of the performers rewasn’t performed in a decidedly gay garden or painted the garage. Most ferred to Scottish Conservatives leadsetting, as though gay comedy must be of these boys had spent their time in er Ruth Davidson as “Ruth Dykey-D,” separated from the straights in case a detention tattooing themselves. That a nod in the style of hip-hop homophobe happens to laugh as well. was my abiding memory of what now nomenclature, towards the fact There were more nuanced has been elevated to an art form. that Davidson is gay. arguments, particularly outside of

Every single friend I know who has Twitter erupted at this social media, about taking care over a tattoo is acutely aware of how they supposed homophobic slur the use of language, and exploring are perceived. I know one guy who on Davidson. It was beyond the wider effects of using controverworked at a very well-known London contempt, Tweeters quickly sial words in art. Reading thoughtful, restaurant who had more than half of concluded, as a video lasting well-argued pieces about the issue was his body tattooed. Seeing him at work under a minute was bounced refreshing, as was the knowledge that you would have no idea that under that around the network. Even I didn’t have to tick a box at the end smart suit, his back carried the image I had Tweeters frantically and pick a side. of battling angels and devils, brimstone demanding I comment on it and On social media, the debate about a and fire. make my position clear – I’m word became a political football, and

Much as I admire Margaret Mountstill not sure why. the pressure to condemn mounted ford, the world has continued spinning Yessers, it seemed, should rapidly. Joanna Cherry was lambasted on its axis since I shared her viewpoint. toe the line of condemnation for refusing to play, but I say, good on

Is there any link between tattoos and her.anddoitquickly,lestthewhole talent? Is there any link between genindependence movement be laWe’re terrified to have honest conder, race, sexuality and talent? If the belled homophobic. versations on social media in case CEO of a company is prepared to turn But one person in particular what we say is misconstrued or misdown a young, brilliant, able, future indidn’t toe that line. SNP MP represented by somebody else. We dustry leader because she has a tattoo Joanna Cherry QC, who is herself begin to care more about image than then maybe that CEO doesn’t deserve gay, was quick to tweet: “Definiabout saying something important. to reap the benefits of such an employtion of mansplaining = men & But the issue has been framed and ee. After all, a torso of tattoos never did boys telling a lesbian who’s been out this will continue to be dredged up in David Beckham’s career any harm. for 30+ years what she should and the future as a point-scoring exercise.

I’m just hoping my son won’t want shouldn’t be offended by.” The LGBT community, sadly, is the a St George’s flag wrapped around a She added: “For many years one likely to be swept aside in a haze freshly slain dragon inked across his lesbians have self-referenced as dykes, of endless demands for condemnation. chest. That may be a tattoo too far… now it seems we must apologise to others for no longer finding the word offensive. Lol.”

Upon further inspection story, it emerged that the of the sketch