
Illustration by Rebecca Chew. Fliped vertically.
Further on Crossing
At the start of Crossing, Pajtim Statovci’s second novel, a twenty-two-year-old man, dressed in denim shorts and a padded bra—“a man who cannot be a woman but who can sometimes look like a woman”—throws himself in front of traffic on a street in Rome in 1998. We later learn that his name is Bujar, that he is Albanian, and that his desire to die stems not from anxiety about his gender identity Statovci was widely praised for his first novel, My Cat Yugoslavia, which was published in 2014, when he was twenty-four. The book was striking for its juxtaposition of wildly heterogeneous styles, intertwining the life story of a young woman in an unhappy marriage in Kosovo with that of her son, Bekim, a student in Helsinki. Statovci, like Bekim, immigrated to Finland as a child, but the book was hardly autofiction: its most remarkable character is a sexy and abusive talking cat, with whom Bekim lives for months in an increasingly untenable ménage. I just wanted to take further the review projecting the literary narrative in to the cinematographic one. I really enjoyed Miruna Tiberiu’s witty and insightful review of Crossing (“Bridging the Gap with Unconditional Kindness: A Review of ‘Crossing’,” April 15th). I’m happy to see that a queer publication can have a quality akin to The Guardian. We deserve better queer press.
Evelyn Ashford, 36
Associate Professor
University of Edinburgh, The UK
..
Charli XCX Voting Green
I am quite surprised Jude Jones (“BRAT’s Manifesto for the Modern Party Girl”, June 17th) did not [see] the dimension of the political impact. And her involvement in electoral actions. Could’ve been an interesting approach from a different angle. Charli XCX’s album spawns ‘brat summer’ trend. Described as ‘clout-bombing at its finest’, the movement has involved the Green Party. The Green Party has used the cover as a template, urging Instagram users to vote for the party. The Twin Peaks actor Kyle Maclachlan is a self described brat, paying homage to the pop star on Instagram. The citrus fruit lime is a brat (it seems anything lime-coloured is a brat). Also, the brat’s semantic change, as millennials and gen Z taking ownership of a negative term. The language expert Vyvyan Evans said in The Guardian that it wasn’t clear how the word brat had come into modern usage. “Using and co-opting former insults as a badge of honour is a common linguistic artifice throughout history. Not only does the use of ‘brat’ by younger people signal a co-opting of an external negative term to signal in-group belonging and values, it serves to weaponize the very insult against its users.”
Marinus Vermeer, 21
Artist
Utrecht, The Netherlands
..
Writing about a Taoiseach
I want to commend your publication for the in-depth and insightful article on Leo Varadkar’s tenure as Taoiseach. The piece (“A Profile: Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s First Gay Prime Minister”, April 5th) by Danny Tye not only chronicles his journey from a young political rebel to Ireland’s first openly gay and youngest head of government but also critically examines the complexities and controversies of his leadership. Varadkar’s achievements, such as championing the legalization of abortion and advancing LGBTQ+ rights, are noteworthy milestones in Irish history. However, your article does well to balance these with an honest assessment of the challenges and criticisms he faced, particularly regarding housing issues and the resurgence of far-right sentiments. Moreover, your coverage of the societal impact during Varadkar’s term, including the challenges to queer community security and the broader political polarization, is both timely and necessary for understanding contemporary Irish politics. As a reader, I appreciate your commitment to providing comprehensive coverage that goes beyond mere headlines, delving into the nuanced dynamics of leadership and its impact on Irish society. I look forward to more such thought-provoking analyses in your future publications.
Finn Gallagher, 22
Waiter and Actor
Cork, Ireland
..
A Podcast Perspective on the Future
I’ve been an avid listener of your podcast from the start, appreciating the nuanced discussions on queer perspectives in political and social spheres. (“GenClash: Queer Perspectives on Current Affairs”, bimonthly podcast). Your commitment to highlighting underrepresented voices is commendable and essential in today’s media. The quality is way above anything I was listening [to] until now in the queer media landscape. However, I’d like to offer some constructive feedback. At times, the discussions can feel insular, focusing heavily on academic jargon that might alienate listeners unfamiliar with the terminology. Striking a balance between depth and accessibility could broaden your audience and enhance understanding. Moreover, while the diversity of voices is a strength, it’s crucial to ensure that all perspectives within the queer community are represented. Despite these points, your podcast remains a vital platform. The passion and dedication of your team are palpable, and the impact of your work is undeniable. Keep pushing boundaries and fostering important conversations. With a few tweaks, I believe your podcast can become even more influential and far-reaching.
Bálint Nagy
Writer
Budapest, Hungary
..
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ONE MORE THING… EXCLUSIVE CONTENT.
For your dedication and support, we offer subscriptions including fresh exclusive content every week, access to The9 newsletter before being published, and more. For our weekly premium newsletter subscribe to Substack.
Yearly subscriptions come with a printed, signed and numbered collectable edition of the magazine.
GAY45. SUPPORT. WE NEED YOU.
Support GAY45’s award-winning journalism. We need help for our mission.
You can donate to or support our Queer Journalism Campus on PayPal. You can also buy our merchandise.
We appreciate it. Thanks for reading.