I work for a large organisation that bends over backwards to promote equality and fairness. There are, however, some instances where I feel that they have got it wrong.
Yesterday, I visited a small library that is maintained in the training department at head office and I saw that they had a number of copies of a well known gay magazine. The organisation subscribes to this magazine. Out of curiosity I flicked through the latest edition and was appalled by the sexual content, particularly in the advertisements. There were loads of photographs featuring naked men, some engaged in oral sex. The genitalia is starred out but little imagination is necessary. One advert was for penis enlargement.
I can understand any argument for including in the library a magazine that addresses gay issues as we have a number of gay employees. What I can't understand is any justification for having this particular magazine, with the sexual images. There must be a different way of dealing with this, e.g. another magazine, photocopies of relevant articles and then ditching the magazine, etc.
I was not offended by the images but I was offended by the double standards. If the "Beefcake" photograph on the front cover was substituted by a scantily clad female and the contents included photographs of heterosexual sex, I know the magazine would not be allowed anywhere near the library. Also, albeit that I was not offended, the test is whether the person on the top deck of the Clapham omnibus would be offended.
I spoke to the person responsible for deciding on what is placed in the library. His response was no more than "Well, that is a view". I was informed that one of the directors approved of the subscription to the magazine, although nobody could tell me whether he had actually read a copy.
The only conclusion I can come to, because I am convinced that this is wrong, is that those who could stop it are frightened to do so. It is a disease that prevails in this country. People are frightened of doing the right thing for fear of being accused of being racist, sexist, homophobic, etc. I am not going to let this go and I am going to pursue it. Watch this space.
