KUDOSMAN

A/W 16

‘THE DIVERSITY ISSUE’KUDOS

Page 3-10. But a lesbian kiss is hot? article.

page 11-14 Daniel Atkinson interview.

page 15-18 Embrace the wrinkle article.

page 19-26 Lloyd Dishman interview.

BUT A LESBIAN KISS IS HOT?

Would you think twice about holding your partners hand in public? Do you feel as if you need to be aware of who is watching you before you peck your other half on the cheek? When these questions are asked, the majority of people have automatically created an image of a male and female couple in their head and therefore believe that this small amount of harmless public affection is ‘normal’ and completely acceptable. So why when we then pass a same sex couple, who are obviously happy and comfortable enough to hold hands like any other ‘normal’ couple, do our eyes suddenly become drawn to them? Many would defend this by stating that they

do not often see same sex couples showing gestures of affection towards one another in public, but why? Do gay or lesbian couples feel somewhat ashamed or uncomfortable to do so and therefore is the reason that same sex affection is not seen as a normality or something people come across on a day to day basis. Although people argue that they are completely for the gay community when it comes to them ‘flaunting’ their relationship publicly they tend to feel awkward and uneasy and would therefore choose not to be in their company. Studies have shown that the younger same sex couples would 100% decide not to hold hands with their partner in public for fear of reprisal.

BUT A LESBIAN KISS IS HOT?

A number of Heterosexual parents who have children that are gay or lesbian have admitted they have found watching their child show affection to their partners hard to come to terms with and even hearing them say things such as ‘I love you’ makes them feel disturbed. After the gay community has conquered the argument of being able to marry in the UK, Scotland and states in the US why is it STILL frowned upon do so much as subtlety hold hands in public areas? A recent survey has suggested that heterosexual people are equally supportive of legal benefits of same sex couples but are much less supportive of public displays of affection. Yet gay and lesbian couples are happy enough to accept public displays of affection between a male and a female even though it is different to their way of life. An issue that has recently been raised is ‘the double standard’ it has been proved that Lesbian ouples are slightly less frowned upon than a male same sex couple as a recent poll shows that less than 50% of people approved of a male kissing another male on the cheek wear as a larger 72% approved of a female kiss another

‘unable to do as they please’

female on the cheek. When the people of the poll were returned their results they stated that it is not looked at twice when a woman or a girl hugs another girl or kisses them on the cheek when greeting them or saying goodbye as It is normally just perceived as a friendship however men or boys are normally less affectionate towards their friends and therefore are automatically saw as a gay couple- which then can unfortunately lead to abuse, harassment, judgement and in worst case scenarios, violence. Is this because woman are more sexualised in this day of age and in the media? Is it perceived as ‘hot’ to see two females show affection?Same sex couples have often stated that they feel as if they should be allowed to show affection to their partner in public because that’s who they are and being gay or lesbian is something they do not want to hide. The use of the word ‘allow’ was used as if they feel that they are physically unable to do as they please.In an interview with Daniel Atkinson, who has recently been ridiculed for holding his partners’ hand in public, it has been discovered that there can most definitly be two different opinions of this matter in the same relationship.

female on the cheek. When the people of the poll were returned their results they stated that it is not looked at twice when a woman or a girl hugs another girl or kisses them on the cheek when greeting them or saying goodbye as It is normally just perceived as a friendship however men or boys are normally less affectionate towards their friends and therefore are automatically saw as a gay couple- which then can unfortunately lead to abuse, harassment, judgement and in worst case scenarios, violence. Is this because woman are more sexualised in this day of age and in the media? Is it perceived as ‘hot’ to see two females show affection?Same sex couples have often stated that they feel as if they should be allowed to show affection to their partner in public because that’s who they are and being gay or lesbian is something they do not want to hide. The use of the word ‘allow’ was used as if they feel that they are physically unable to do as they please.In an interview with Daniel Atkinson, who has recently been ridiculed for holding his partners’ hand in public, it has been discovered that there can most definitly be two different opinions of this matter in the same relationship.

‘If he spots s o m e o n e looking he’ll pull

away’.

‘If he spots s o m e o n e looking he’ll pull

away’.

KUDOS: So, Daniel, What are your feelings towards showing your other half affection in public areas?

Daniel: I say embrace it, I am who i am and i am proud of that. I still love like any body else does.

KUDOS: Do you find that you do get people dissaproving of this? Do you get dirty looks and unwatned comments?

Daniel:To be honest, i don’t take any notice anymore. It’s normally parents with their children who find it most disturbing, i often see mum’s and dad’s attempting to distract their childrens’ attention when we walk past them holding hands. It’s as if they want their children to think that it’s not normal for people to love and be attracted to the same sex in fear that they might ‘turn out like me’

KUDOS:It’s a good sign that you’ve decided not to take notice. Has there not been a point in your life where you could say you’ve felt awkward and uneasy when showing affection.

Daniel:When me and my partner first became an ‘item’ we we’re sitting in a coffee shop when family friends of Jack’s (Partner) walked in. They’re an old-ish couple and quite old fashioned, they started chatting on with us and i mentioned something about a romantic trip away we had planned, not realising they had no clue Jack was gay never mind the fact he had a boyfriend. They muttered something under their breaths and made an excuse and left right away. I felt a little upset then, more for Jack really though.

KUDOS:So what are Jack’s views on this matter? Is he with you on embracing it or-?

Daniel: I wish (laughs) quite the opposite actually. He’s really sensitive about this kind of stuff. I think he likes approval.

KUDOS?i take it he isn’t one for public kissing then?

Daniel:Most of the time, no. We’ve had some pretty serious arguements where iv’e gone to give him a peck - only on the cheek by the way- i’m not into this whole tounge in cheek kissing (laughs) and he’s spotted someone giving us a funny look and pulled away. It makes me feel so stupid and it causes even more of a scene.

KUDOS:Not an ideal scenario then? Does this affect your reationship then? Daniel:We try expeptionally hard to not let it, but truthfully, yes. It’s a daily struggle for us really. When one half of us couldn’t care less and the other half of us cares too much it can get difficult. It makes me feel as if he’s ashamed of us and ashamed of me. I can’t understand his side of things even though he tries his best to undertand where i’m coming from. We’ll get through it though, i’m sure plenty of same sex couples go through this, well infact even some normal couples like to keep their privacy eh?

KUDOS?Would you not consider your relationship as normal?

Daniel:(laughs) of course it’s normal, i suppose i’m just that used to being told it’s abnormal, its sad isnt it.

KUDOS:Yes, we wish the very best for you and Jack and hopefully you’s can overcome your issues.

Daniel:Thank=you very much!

‘ I ’m that used to being

told that it’s

abnormal.’

Embrace the

wrinkle?

Although the vast majority of the general public believe wrinkles are a sign of gettng older and are not percieved as a sign of beauty, recent studies have proved that a fair percenatge of 40-70 year olds feel that each wrinkle upon their face ‘tells a story’. When digging deeper in to this theory it was found that our older generation feel that they have ‘earned’ their wrinkles and should therefore embrace them instead of at-tempting to keep their youth by using drastic amounts of makeup or through the use of cosmetic surgery such as fillers or botox. It seems that todays society has put a great amount of pressure on to even the older generation to look a certain way and to somewhat fit in with the youth of today, this goes for not only woman but for men just as much.

The amount of males going under the knife to look those few years younger has drastically grew over the past few years, howvever after asking the opostite sex what their opinion was after seeing a beofre and an after picture of an over 50 year old after they had surgery to decrease their look of wrinckles, almost 80% agreed that the before picture was more attractive and that the wrinkles before-hand showed signs of happiness and character as the surgery had vanished any signs of laughter lines. People assume that the amount of wrinckles upon someones face is measured by their lifestyle and habits, the amount of sun they have been exposed to,and dietry plans, however a great amount of older individuals have claimed that their wrinckles are due to certain episodes in their lives, some of those from battling and beating ilness, to being in unhappy, abusive relationships, to watching loved ones pass as well as living through the most happiest moments such as giving birth and accomplishing dreams and ambitions and being well travelled.Shouldn’t the elder generation be living their life to the full as the majority are now retired instead of worrying about their appearance in deperation to be look younger? ‘

The amount of males going under the knife to look those few years younger has drastically grew over the past few years, howvever after asking the opostite sex what their opinion was after seeing a beofre and an after picture of an over 50 year old after they had surgery to decrease their look of wrinckles, almost 80% agreed that the before picture was more attractive and that the wrinkles before-hand showed signs of happiness and character as the surgery had vanished any signs of laughter lines. People assume that the amount of wrinckles upon someones face is measured by their lifestyle and habits, the amount of sun they have been exposed to,and dietry plans, however a great amount of older individuals have claimed that their wrinckles are due to certain episodes in their lives, some of those from battling and beating ilness, to being in unhappy, abusive relationships, to watching loved ones pass as well as living through the most happiest moments such as giving birth and accomplishing dreams and ambitions and being well travelled.Shouldn’t the elder generation be living their life to the full as the majority are now retired instead of worrying about their appearance in deperation to be look younger? ‘

In an interview with Lloyd dishman, a 50 year old grandfather, unphased by the wrinkines upon his face, speaks to us about his relationship with his 38 year old girlfriend and how she is a lot more concious of her aging apperance.

KUDOS: It’s quite unusual to hear of a male who isn’t concious of his age showing upon his face. Do you choose to not worry about signs of aging and looking old or are you naturally a person who’s apperance dosen’t worry them?

Lloyd: No, naturally i’m not one of these that check the mirror constantly and buy all these expensive products -that obviously don’t work- to try and make me look younger. How could you live your life to the full if you were constantly inseecure about the way you look.

KUDOS: So your’e happy with the way you look and so you want to focus on enjoying your life- makes sense. Your’e girlfriend is more than 10 years younger than you? Does that not make you slightly insecure knowing you have ten years worth of wrinkles more than her?

Lloyd: (laughs) Of course not, well. no one has mentoned that i look obviously older than her. To be honest she is a lot more concious of her apperance than most women i know. She’s always getting herself down about the wrinkles around her eyes and age spots and what not. She’s constantly looking in to cosmetic procedures in desperation to try and look younger.

KUDOS: Does it bother you that she’d go to the lengths of surgery because she’s that upset about the way she looks?

Lloyd: The fact that she gets herself so worked up about looking old does bother me to some extent, i want her to be happy. I just need to reasurre her a lot and give her plenty of compliments, she gets compliments all the time, i find it bizarre how she’s so insecure.

KUDOS: From your point of view do you feel she is currently enjoying her life as much as you or do you feel that the insecurities are holding her back?

Lloyd: Don’t get me wrong, Lynne (Girlfriend) is happy with her life and she loves what she does in work, but i can’t help but feel that because she works with the older generation and therfore see’s the drastic signs of aging and i think this worries her.

I’M NOT ONE TO COSTANTLY LOOK

IN THE MIRROR’

‘How could you live your life to the

full if you were insecure about the way you look?’

‘How could you live your life to the

full if you were insecure about the way you look?’

‘constantly looking in to

cosmetic procedures to look yo u n g e r .’

KUDOS MANAW/16

NEXT ISSUE:

‘THE BEAUTY OF

TRANSGENDER MODELS’