Hello! Older trans British anon here who sent you that ask about David on the Assembly backalong. Here to say, I’m another vote for reading Outrageous, it’s a very good historical facts read. And also, it’s worth remembering Section 28 stayed in force until Nov 2003 so it’s incredibly recent really. More than enough time to have shaped and scarred David and Michael’s lives. Anyway, thank you for keeping this blog!
Hi, Anon! I'm so delighted to hear from you again. Thank you for the additional recommendation, re: Outrageous. I feel like these historical eras need to be thoroughly documented--especially because there is so much effort lately on the part of those in power to revise or even erase entire segments of history--to remind us of what did happen, and why we have to be doing everything in our power to prevent it from happening again. Because this is living memory, like you said, and 2003 is not even 25 years ago. And while the law might have been repealed, the culture it created didn't magically disappear along with it.
I think what you said about "scarring" is really a key point here, too. It could certainly be argued that things have shifted since Section 28 was enacted and since it was repealed, in terms of acceptance of LGBTQ+ people (although we are in some seriously dark and scarily regressive times right now). But living through that era and especially having one's formative years during it as Michael and David did absolutely does leave scars--scars that often run deep and that are carried throughout one's life.
A lot of fans often seem to think that the problems the rest of us have don't affect someone if they're famous and wealthy, or that being either of those two things makes every problem disappear. But money cannot and does not buy peace of mind. It doesn't erase someone's past or the experiences they've had in life--all it does is make it easier to bury them. Yet even then, those scars don't go away.
And from the things both David and Michael have said over the years specifically in regard to Section 28, those scars are very much still there. They've shaped and affected how Michael and David move through the world, the relationships they've had, how they see themselves, and what parts of themselves they're able to be open about. With Michael, I feel like he's gone outward--lashing out, having this very "Fuck you, this is who I am" attitude that at times feels like a cover, using it to hide the vulnerable parts of him and the fact that he is afraid of getting hurt again.
With David, though, I feel like he's gone more inward. Buried all of those feelings and memories inside himself, shoving them deep down and protecting himself by pretending they didn't happen. The notion that if he makes himself small and quiet enough, that part of him will cease to exist...but instead it's eating him alive. And more and more, we've started to see it come out in the interviews David has given in recent years especially, and seen how some of those scars still haven't healed.
Healing from scars is an incredibly difficult process, too, and it's different for every person. Being in the public eye undoubtedly makes things even more complicated for David and Michael, because perfection is so frequently demanded--by the fans, by the media, and by the world at large. And that leaves no room for someone to have the same scars, the same struggles as the rest of us, or for them to be crumbling apart inside. And it shouldn't be that way.
Thank you again for your comments, Anon. As I said previously, your input is incredibly valuable, and I'm so glad you again felt comfortable enough to message me. Thanks for writing in! x
