I Do radio
News, Writing|In case you missed it some of the authors from the “I Do” anthology were on the radio the other night at some ungodly time to us Brits. That’s why Alex Beecroft was as far as I’m aware our honourary Brit. My schedule didn’t allow for me to be on at 4am our time and I’m not at all sure I would have been coherent. Also…shy! Yes, I know. Read my books and you’ll never believe me but it’s true. If you missed it and would like to listen to the programme, you can download it here: talkshoe.com (I will just warn you it’s two hours long but if you’re messing about on the PC you can listen to it in the background).
You know, when Alex said she was doing this anthology I thought yayyy, great cause, and then pouted because at the time I didn’t think I had anything suitable. And then I remembered a story that I’d been dithering to place and it was exactly what the editorial committee wanted for the book. Now, it feels almost as if my story was waiting for this book to come into being. Although I know ‘why’ I wanted to donate a story in the first place, having listened to the other authors helped me articulate my thoughts and beliefs. The fact is a fight for equality is a fight for all.
There’s a question, which ironically one of the stories in the book covers: Prop 8 affects Americans so why should other countries become involved? Why, I, as a writer living in the UK, why do I care? You may as well ask me why as a straight woman do I care? My reasons are numerous but one stands out most of all. You allow one law to stamp out the rights of the individual and where does that stop? Remember the old story which in a nutshell states “I spoke out for no one, so when it was my turn there was no one to speak out for me.” You think this has no bearing in your life, you are wrong. If you think this doesn’t affect the world you live in, you are wrong. If you can withhold equality from one person you can withhold all types of equality for all.
The other thing that came across in the show is that there will undoubtedly be readers out there that believe a number of authors are writing glbt stories purely to thrill their audiences. What I realised is that what so many of us hope to do is make the reader care for the couple involved within the story. It comes down to “this is a great couple and we want them to get their happy ever after” and at that moment their sexuality doesn’t matter. These writers are women and men who are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts and friends of glbt people and all they want is for others to view their loved ones with the same respect that they would extend to any couple who hopes to find someone in this world to connect with, someone to love and to care for, someone to hold their hand at the side of the bed when their time comes to be ill or die, and right now in a large part of the world, as the laws stand so many partners can’t stand by the people they love during the most vulnerable times in their lives, through illness and death.
What came across on radio was an intelligent, informed, caring group of authors and having finally finished the book I have to say that yes, like most anthologies there are stories I love more than others, but the book is a fine body of work that I’m delighted to be part of. The stories aren’t about marriage. They were never intended to be. They are about ‘human’ relationships and hopes, doubts, fears and adversities. They are light or intended to make you laugh, or dark and disconcerting, just like life. The writers don’t believe they can change the world but maybe they can make people open their minds and their hearts a little more.
