NOTHING TASTES as good as ripe mango eaten on a sunny beach in Jamaica. Or so I am told. I’ve never been and don’t plan to go anytime soon. Ditto Russia. I’d love to be whisked across its cold beauty on the Trans-Siberian Express, curled up with coffee and Tolstoy, but I’ve never booked a ticket. There are safer places to go. I’m extremely lucky to enjoy ‘passing privilege’ these days. I can get on a train to Nottingham and not expect to be called a ‘fucking tranny’ or have people stare and snigger at me – but is it really worth the risk in Russia? I’m not sure. It only takes one arsehole ‘clocking’ you to become a target in a hostile land.
So yes, if you want to feel instantly depressed, do a quick search of countries where it’s still illegal to be gay. Morocco. Barbados. The Maldives. Even India for fuck’s sake. That doesn’t mean that gay or trans people can never visit those places – and there are states, like Russia where gay sex is legal but society is still homophobic – but I can’t help listening with bitterness whenever I hear straight university pals telling me about their trips to countries where being two men holding hands can land you in prison. So no, David, I don’t want to see your holiday photos.