First published by Chortle, 21/11/2013; to read more, click here. ‘Homosexuality still remains to some extent a taboo and therefore a basis–if not a target–for comedy,’ wrote Tom Crawshaw on these pages last month. Yet, despite his obvious interest in the life and work of the late Graham Chapman (the subject of his play Not The […]
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Yes, Minister – The history of Disabled Representation at Westminster
2014 marks the 40th anniversary of the creation of what was then called the “Minister for the Disabled”. As latest ministerial incumbent Mike Penning settles into the role, what difference has such a role made over the years? “I came into politics to make a difference in people’s lives,” says Mike Penning MP, the new […]
20 Years Out! Glasgay!
In 20 years the annual Glasgay! festival has become the UK’s largest multi-media LGBT arts festival. Pride Life asks Producer Steven Thomson why you should add it to your cultural diary. Remember the ‘L’ word? “Legacy” was the buzz term attached early on to the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games, and it’s been inevitably […]
Can We Work It Out?
Paul F Cockburn asks whether internships are good news for disabled people looking to improve their employment prospects… Chelsea is profoundly deaf and has learning difficulties. In the summer of 2012 she started a supported internship, working in the Print Shop at the University of Surrey. During the internship, Chelsea gained experience of collating, […]
Walk on the Wild Side
Perhaps because most of us live in towns and cities, the appeal of the great outdoors has never been greater, but just how accessible is the British countryside? Paul F Cockburn finds out… “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to […]
Out on the Fringe
CRAIG HILL Scottish comedian Craig Hill has toured his saucily-punned shows around the UK and internationally. What’s it like being a gay stand-up? It’s pretty much like being any stand-up; it just comes down to whether you’re funny or not. Some people think gay comedy is about being gay but, really, all it is is […]
Bringing the Law to bear
“In many ways disability hate crime is the hate crime that has been overlooked. The criminal justice system must therefore change to provide an improved service for those with disabilities.” That isn’t the opinion of an exasperated disability campaigner – it’s the reasoned, evidence-based view of Michael Fuller, HM Chief Inspector of the Crown Prosecution […]
