Penelope. 20 years away from her. I could have done it. – Waited to be back with my idealised vision of her whilst in Troy and on the Odyssey – and yet probably would still have sinned with Calypso as Odysseus did…

The quote I particularly agree with being, “Nobody has actually said (yet?) that “we don’t want to talk about homosexuality”. Rather, it seems to be “we don’t want to talk about it like this.”” which should be entirely within the remit of the school/LEA to say that, and which of course, isn’t ON’s fault and doesn’t instantly infer that they are homophobes.

Lee Hall has specifically said he was asked to cut the gay character.according to Lee the school asked that the man be treatened by the yourh because of his age, rather then gay – this would have meant removing the only reference to the fact the character is a gay man.

I do not believe Lee Hall is lying, do you? Why do people try and escape the issue by muddying the waters about the language. Lee had said he would be happy to use the word ‘gay’ instead of ‘queer’ if that is what was needed to get pass the impasse. Stop making it sound complex, is is very simple, Lee was asked to cut the reference to the man being gay as the school thought it unacceptable for primary children, and instead asked the scene to be abour ageism!

I mentioned race, because I do think it is true that people who think Opera North are only at fault for bad PR, would not say this if the issue was about a gay character

Your claim that Opera North had no choice to cancel looks premature – it seems they are now talks to go ahead with the production. We have to wait for definite confirmation.

I again restate, no one thinks the school/Lea is not at fault – but people are also shocked that Opera North should refuse to stand by their artist on an issue of homophobia.

One does not have to be a homophobe to act homophobiclly. Just insensitive, silent when confronted with homophobia – ie cowardly!

Here is a great post by another blogger that shows what Opera North should have said if they had a back bone.

http://notsowunderbar.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-opera-north-could-have-said.html

This is what one blogger thinks Opera North should have said

‘Opera North is very disappointed in the decision made by the school to withdraw its pupils from our production, which has come so late as to make the scheduled run impossible. While respecting the concerns of parents and teachers, the company cannot agree with their decision.

We remain committed to producing this opera, and will not allow a dated narrative of shame around homosexuality to prevent us from presenting works of art which feature gay characters. It is not harmful to children for them to be informed that homosexuality exists; it is a simple fact of life. We would welcome the chance to collaborate with any community and school in our catchment area who would like to work with us on mounting a production of ‘Beached’ as it is currently scripted, and greatly regret that it cannot be in Bridlington.’

The quote I particularly agree with being, “Nobody has actually said (yet?) that “we don’t want to talk about homosexuality”. Rather, it seems to be “we don’t want to talk about it like this.”” which should be entirely within the remit of the school/LEA to say that, and which of course, isn’t ON’s fault and doesn’t instantly infer that they are homophobes. I wish the people that are screaming that Opera North are homophobic would quit it – it’s not their call to say what is and isn’t part of a school’s curriculum activity, especially when funding depends on it.

And should they really have had to unequivocally pick sides in this argument? Should they really have to defend one side over the other? Surely not – because they are the mediators, the form through which this production can (or can’t) go ahead. The problem is between the school and the playwright, and the school, by all accounts, didn’t want to get rid of the gay character, they apparently issues with the way it was approached, which in my eyes has a crowbar separation.

Thanks for your comments.

“However, you think this let’s Opera North off the hook, and that when it comes to self-interest – better to remain silent when confronted with homophobia rather than speak out! A shameful point of view.
I wonder if the point of view that they should be no black characters in the play, would allow you to write of Opera North’s stance that, “This was an arse-covering decision, not a racist one” as you so easily write “This was an arse-covering decision, not a homophobic one.”
I may be mistaken, but I suspect not!”

I think it’s slightly reductive to bring race into this debate – my point is that whatever you think about Opera North’s decisions or level of pubic support, the real issue is that the school seems to equate mentioning homosexuality with teaching children about sex.

I absolutely don’t think it’s better to stay silent than to speak out when confronted by homophobia, but it seems to me that we have no idea how long this debate has been raging or how much ON has done already to reach a compromise with the school. The whole situation is a sad mess, but I just don’t like the blanket damning of ON. Yes, it handled the fiasco badly, but that doesn’t make it homophobic.

However, I agree completely that ON was wrong and foolish to say in its statement that ‘“it appreciates the viewpoint” of the school’, as it seems that the school is both misguided and wrong, and, yes, possibly homophobic. What I fail to see, though, is what ON could have done to keep the opera going ahead once the school removed its pupils? A more strongly worded statement in support of Hall would have been better, but beyond that it seems that ON is in an impossible position.

Apologies!

I disagree with your post.

Opera North should have stood with Lee Hall, and issued a statement saying it supports the decision to remove the reference to a gay character on the grounds that it is not suitable for primary children. Rather then simply cancel the project with no publicity! If Lee Hall had not spoken out we would not know about the situation.

Opera North should not have released statements saying “it appreciates the viewpoint” of the school, that the school is “morally within its rights” to make such a decision.

Opera North’s latest statement attacks Lee Hall for going public about the lack of support he received from Opera North!

Of course the school and the local authority are at fault – do you know anyone who is offended by Opera North’s actions who would not agree with such a statement???? It does seem a rather futile observation.

However, you think this let’s Opera North off the hook, and that when it comes to self-interest – better to remain silent when confronted with homophobia rather than speak out! A shameful point of view.

I wonder if the point of view that they should be no black characters in the play, would allow you to write of Opera North’s stance that, “This was an arse-covering decision, not a racist one” as you so easily write “This was an arse-covering decision, not a homophobic one.”

I may be mistaken, but I suspect not!