Editor’s Letter
I am not ashamed to admit that I was a bonafide history geek as a child. Ancient Greek mythology, the Roman Empire, Medieval madness, the chaotic Tudors, even the drab and often bleak Victorian way of life piqued my interest. Stories chronicling the evolution of human society as we know it are always fascinating, helping us to understand the world around us today a little bit better. But as we all come to discover as we get older, history is made by those who write it. As compelling as some of these historical tales were to me as a child growing up, the true richness of the human experience was far from captured.
It’s why LGBTQ+ History Month remains absolutely crucial. Queer people have existed for a millenia, but you’d be hard pressed to believe that if you picked up the history books we are given in schools. In the UK during the month of February each year, we have an opportunity to discover the stories and experiences of the LGBTQ+ people who came before us; whether that’s more recent history in the form of the Pride movement, or further back in time where accounts of queerness are more difficult to come by. Understanding not only the struggles and challenges, but also the joy, subcultures and coded language of LGBTQ+ people in the past can help us gain a greater appreciation for what we have today, as well as pushing us forward to ensure all queer people will someday have the freedoms some of us enjoy already. History is there to be built upon, not to be repeated. Acknowledging the persecution that queer people have histrocially faced helps us to avoid our community suffering again and again. As the old adage goes – and I’m paraphrasing here – it’s important to look back in order to move forward.
It’s also important to recognise the history being made today. When it comes to LGBTQ+ rights in the Global North, we’ve come a long way in recent decades. In 2021 we saw more protections come into place for LGBTQ+ people, including the banning of conversion therapy in a handful of European nations, the lifting of blood donation bans, and the introduction of LGBTQ+ inclusive education in schools. But the liberation of queer people is a global movement, and in some parts of the world still suffering from colonial laws imposed on them by the West, very little progress is being made at all.
In February we will also see the 2022 Winter Olympics take place in Beijing, China. Our new cover star Gus Kenworthy is preparing to represent Team GB at the global sporting event. Gus made a little bit of history himself back in 2015 when he became the first action sports star to come out publicly as gay. He’s gone on to be a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, and in our interview with him he reflects on the “privilege” of being an out gay athlete and getting to compete on a global stage. He also discusses how international sporting events need to do more to push for greater human rights in countries whose governments discriminate against marginalised communities within their own population.
Elsewhere in this issue we take a look at the mythologising of queer history and how it can do our trail-blazing predecessors a disservice, why gender-inclusive award categories are here to stay, and we catch up with the inaugural Queen of the Universe, Grag Queen, about her historic win and what it means to her community in Brazil. We also have an interview with Drag Race executive producers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato about the beginnings and continued success of their global franchise.
There is plenty of history yet to be made and pushing for a better future for LGBTQ+ people everywhere is paramount. The resilience, creativity, and perseverance of the LGBTQ+ experience throughout history is one of the greatest stories seldom told – it’s on us to make sure future school kids read about them in their textbooks.
Lewis Corner Editorial Director