Comments on: Stonewall: Prince Harry must apologise for homophobic remarks http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10439.html/ PinkNews.co.uk Gay News (UK and world) from Pink News - all the gay news for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community in the UK and beyond- thegaynews from Pink News Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:05:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: russ http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10439.html/comment-page-2/#comment-41980 russ Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:52:40 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=10439#comment-41980 I'm sick and tired of Stonewall shouting about every little thing just to get a few inches of media coverage. For goodness sake these boys and girls are going to go to war and kill people, or perhaps be killed, and we're worried about a bit of language. There was clearly no malicious intent - it's a storm in a teacup as other people have said. If you're going to join the bloody army then you really do need to toughen up a bit. I'm not saying bullying is good - but for goodness sake it's not the boy scouts is it! But I agree it's typical that the perceived homophobic stuff gets ignored in favour of the perceived racist words. Mind you, perhaps that's a good thing as it's a load of tosh anyway. I'm sick and tired of Stonewall shouting about every little thing just to get a few inches of media coverage. For goodness sake these boys and girls are going to go to war and kill people, or perhaps be killed, and we're worried about a bit of language. There was clearly no malicious intent – it's a storm in a teacup as other people have said. If you're going to join the bloody army then you really do need to toughen up a bit. I'm not saying bullying is good – but for goodness sake it's not the boy scouts is it!

But I agree it's typical that the perceived homophobic stuff gets ignored in favour of the perceived racist words. Mind you, perhaps that's a good thing as it's a load of tosh anyway.

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]]> By: Paul http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10439.html/comment-page-2/#comment-41937 Paul Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:22:35 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=10439#comment-41937 I agree with ScotsBam. It's not particularly offensive IMO; it's more that the race-related comments ended up causing something of a shitstorm while this was ignored. I agree with ScotsBam. It's not particularly offensive IMO; it's more that the race-related comments ended up causing something of a shitstorm while this was ignored.

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]]> By: K Wyon http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10439.html/comment-page-1/#comment-41927 K Wyon Sun, 18 Jan 2009 12:14:40 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=10439#comment-41927 Honestly Bryan, your workmates don't officially represent the nation, right. If Harry wants to be the boy-next-door then he should get rid of his princely title. Or apologize of course. Honestly Bryan, your workmates don't officially represent the nation, right. If Harry wants to be the boy-next-door then he should get rid of his princely title. Or apologize of course.

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]]> By: Riondo http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10439.html/comment-page-1/#comment-41880 Riondo Sat, 17 Jan 2009 11:21:07 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=10439#comment-41880 I'm afraid that, like it or not, what His Royal Highness Prince Harry, future Duke of York and possible King says and does is different from what most of the rest of us say and do, and if he knew a camera and mike were running it won't do to claim that he was engaged in private behaviour. People close to a Constitutional Monarchy meant to symbolise and represent an increasingly diverse and inclusive society just have to behave with more sensitivity, full stop. And what this episode seems to illustrate is HRH reinforcing the sort of macho culture that I suspect most people visiting this site would like to change. I'm afraid that, like it or not, what His Royal Highness Prince Harry, future Duke of York and possible King says and does is different from what most of the rest of us say and do, and if he knew a camera and mike were running it won't do to claim that he was engaged in private behaviour. People close to a Constitutional Monarchy meant to symbolise and represent an increasingly diverse and inclusive society just have to behave with more sensitivity, full stop. And what this episode seems to illustrate is HRH reinforcing the sort of macho culture that I suspect most people visiting this site would like to change.

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]]> By: Sister Mary Clarence http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10439.html/comment-page-1/#comment-41792 Sister Mary Clarence Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:19:10 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=10439#comment-41792 I entirely agree with Nick. Some people will say anything to get their name in papers and it appears that Ben Summerskill is one of those I entirely agree with Nick. Some people will say anything to get their name in papers and it appears that Ben Summerskill is one of those

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]]> By: Dan http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10439.html/comment-page-1/#comment-41742 Dan Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:02:44 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=10439#comment-41742 The Prince did not make the statements in public. It is none of our business what he says in private: Royals are also entitled to their own opinions. If the statements are offensive it is the person who published them that should apologise. The Prince did not make the statements in public. It is none of our business what he says in private: Royals are also entitled to their own opinions. If the statements are offensive it is the person who published them that should apologise.

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]]> By: Olivetree http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10439.html/comment-page-1/#comment-41732 Olivetree Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:42:29 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=10439#comment-41732 Hey Harry, you're only third in line for the throne, so you'd better shape up or you won't get the crown and the ridiculous marching band. I think it's more concerning that as royalty he has a chance to set an example, and what does he do? He fights in a war and kills people. I don't want Harry getting pissed at some guy and blowing him to Kingdom Come. That said, S to the four, Harry- Stop Saying Stupid Stuff. And that uniform is unattractive- get Parliament to change it b/c the beige clashes w/ your hair. Hey Harry, you're only third in line for the throne, so you'd better shape up or you won't get the crown and the ridiculous marching band.

I think it's more concerning that as royalty he has a chance to set an example, and what does he do? He fights in a war and kills people. I don't want Harry getting pissed at some guy and blowing him to Kingdom Come.

That said, S to the four, Harry- Stop Saying Stupid Stuff. And that uniform is unattractive- get Parliament to change it b/c the beige clashes w/ your hair.

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]]> By: Nick http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10439.html/comment-page-1/#comment-41634 Nick Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:05:03 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=10439#comment-41634 As a gay officer in the Royal Navy I dont feel anyway offened by this comment, nor would I if I had been asked it within the context and situation that it was said. This is clearly the media and Stonewall being oversensitive to an simple comment. Please look at this in a realistic manner and stop chasing a young army officer for anything and everything he says. He's doing a fine job and hasnt really hurt anyone by the comments he made 3 years ago. This is such a NON news story - there are more important things to be chasing like homophomic bullying in schools. These are the REAL issues of the day and should be what we are focusing on. Leave the guy to get on with his job. As a gay officer in the Royal Navy I dont feel anyway offened by this comment, nor would I if I had been asked it within the context and situation that it was said. This is clearly the media and Stonewall being oversensitive to an simple comment. Please look at this in a realistic manner and stop chasing a young army officer for anything and everything he says. He's doing a fine job and hasnt really hurt anyone by the comments he made 3 years ago. This is such a NON news story – there are more important things to be chasing like homophomic bullying in schools. These are the REAL issues of the day and should be what we are focusing on. Leave the guy to get on with his job.

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]]> By: Outraged of Tunbridge Wells http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10439.html/comment-page-1/#comment-41613 Outraged of Tunbridge Wells Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:09:32 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=10439#comment-41613 <i>"Get rid of the royals and become a democracy" - Simon Murphy</i> That's more like it! It's obvious most of this has damn all to do with minorities and far about class war. Just like fox-hunting, nobody actually cares about the fox, they just like to put down people that weren't born in a council house. As for your so-called socialist democracy, Nu-Lab has brought this country to it's knees. We are now awash with politically correct bureaucrats dictating to scumbag benefit claimants and asylum seekers whilst the rest of us have to suffer the dictates of yet more Euro-prats from across the channel. The Monarchy generate more income than any of your nest-feathering socialist cronies. Leave them alone. "Get rid of the royals and become a democracy" – Simon Murphy

That's more like it! It's obvious most of this has damn all to do with minorities and far about class war. Just like fox-hunting, nobody actually cares about the fox, they just like to put down people that weren't born in a council house.

As for your so-called socialist democracy, Nu-Lab has brought this country to it's knees. We are now awash with politically correct bureaucrats dictating to scumbag benefit claimants and asylum seekers whilst the rest of us have to suffer the dictates of yet more Euro-prats from across the channel.

The Monarchy generate more income than any of your nest-feathering socialist cronies. Leave them alone.

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]]> By: Richard http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10439.html/comment-page-1/#comment-41592 Richard Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:44:27 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=10439#comment-41592 You would think with his education he would stop and think before shooting his mouth off, but I guess Harry Windsor also has the freedon of speech. You would think with his education he would stop and think before shooting his mouth off, but I guess Harry Windsor also has the freedon of speech.

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]]> By: paul macdonald http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10439.html/comment-page-1/#comment-41583 paul macdonald Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:26:49 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=10439#comment-41583 The British army is well known for its colourful turn of phrase. I'm sure Harry is painfully aware of how much he stands out in his unit,because of his role and upbringing and of course because he's a ginger. I'm sure he is not offended I call him that. poor lad probably tries his level best to blend in so If you wish to single him out for this type of conversation you are being wholly unfair as the entire armed forces are equally guilty. I wouldn't wish to pick over the young mans remarks unless I was prepared to step in for him under fire and set a better example. I think a bigger issue here is the tosspot who filmed him on their mobile phone and flogged it to the news of the world, nice. The British army is well known for its colourful turn of phrase. I'm sure Harry is painfully aware of how much he stands out in his unit,because of his role and upbringing and of course because he's a ginger. I'm sure he is not offended I call him that.
poor lad probably tries his level best to blend in so If you wish to single him out for this type of conversation you are being wholly unfair as the entire armed forces are equally guilty.
I wouldn't wish to pick over the young mans remarks unless I was prepared to step in for him under fire and set a better example.
I think a bigger issue here is the tosspot who filmed him on their mobile phone and flogged it to the news of the world, nice.

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]]> By: mike http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10439.html/comment-page-1/#comment-41580 mike Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:40:26 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=10439#comment-41580 ' In the film, he is heard asking a member of the squad to run through an exercise they had just completed together. ' "[I want to hear] your ups and downs in the exercise. Highs and lows … Good points, bad points. How do you feel? Gay? Queer on the side?" ' <b>Where are these comments? I haven't seen or heard them on the film!</b> ' In the film, he is heard asking a member of the squad to run through an exercise they had just completed together.

' "[I want to hear] your ups and downs in the exercise. Highs and lows … Good points, bad points. How do you feel? Gay? Queer on the side?" '

Where are these comments? I haven't seen or heard them on the film!

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]]> By: Ryan Haynes - fyi radio http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10439.html/comment-page-1/#comment-41579 Ryan Haynes - fyi radio Tue, 13 Jan 2009 10:46:08 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=10439#comment-41579 Great stuff - loving the comments. However Harry's been portrayed he is not guilty - it's the portrayers who should look in the mirror and reconsider how this is causing more divisions. If words that once had two connotations can only be accepted through their defamatory definitions and be banned from public use then we are losing the essence of the English language. Losing their negative positioning is completely understood, but let's not bin them all together! Great stuff – loving the comments. However Harry's been portrayed he is not guilty – it's the portrayers who should look in the mirror and reconsider how this is causing more divisions.

If words that once had two connotations can only be accepted through their defamatory definitions and be banned from public use then we are losing the essence of the English language.

Losing their negative positioning is completely understood, but let's not bin them all together!

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]]> By: Simon Murphy http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10439.html/comment-page-1/#comment-41573 Simon Murphy Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:50:50 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=10439#comment-41573 Harry is a royal - therefore even if he never uttered an offensive comment he is still a parasite. If the head of state in the UK was democratically elected this would not be happening. Get rid of the royals and become a democracy - that's what we should be pushing for. Harry is a royal – therefore even if he never uttered an offensive comment he is still a parasite. If the head of state in the UK was democratically elected this would not be happening. Get rid of the royals and become a democracy – that's what we should be pushing for.

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]]> By: andy http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10439.html/comment-page-1/#comment-41571 andy Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:40:42 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=10439#comment-41571 Leave the guy alone! He's a soldier, anyone know any soldiers? i do and their language when they are talking to each other tends to be rather "colourful" and not for the faint hearted. There's no evidence that he's remotely homophobic, and i very much doubt he's remotely racist. It makes me very angry when there is REAL homophobia in the world, you know like people getting murdered/imprisoned/executed/gay-bashed for being gay, that Activists would waste a minute worrying about something as irrelevent as this.Get over it Leave the guy alone! He's a soldier, anyone know any soldiers? i do and their language when they are talking to each other tends to be rather "colourful" and not for the faint hearted. There's no evidence that he's remotely homophobic, and i very much doubt he's remotely racist. It makes me very angry when there is REAL homophobia in the world, you know like people getting murdered/imprisoned/executed/gay-bashed for being gay, that Activists would waste a minute worrying about something as irrelevent as this.Get over it

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]]> By: Ian J http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10439.html/comment-page-1/#comment-41564 Ian J Tue, 13 Jan 2009 07:16:53 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=10439#comment-41564 Come on guys get a life, stop being offended every time someone farts, this is clearly a media manipulated story and you are biting at the first hook dangled in your face, lighten up! Come on guys get a life, stop being offended every time someone farts, this is clearly a media manipulated story and you are biting at the first hook dangled in your face, lighten up!

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]]> By: apYrs http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10439.html/comment-page-1/#comment-41563 apYrs Tue, 13 Jan 2009 07:01:56 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=10439#comment-41563 Erratum: I meant "green light" Erratum:
I meant "green light"

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]]> By: apYrs http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10439.html/comment-page-1/#comment-41562 apYrs Tue, 13 Jan 2009 07:01:23 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=10439#comment-41562 a case of a young man using the language of his group in his group. However, he's not ordinary; no matter how innocently he meant the words, or how inoffensively they were received, they still became unacceptable once they were publicised (by whichever lowlife broke cover in what should be private interactions) NOT because they were incredibly offensive (the "queer", "gay" ones were puerile) BUT because they give a green like to the thugs who queer and paki bash. a case of a young man using the language of his group in his group. However, he's not ordinary; no matter how innocently he meant the words, or how inoffensively they were received, they still became unacceptable once they were publicised (by whichever lowlife broke cover in what should be private interactions) NOT because they were incredibly offensive (the "queer", "gay" ones were puerile) BUT because they give a green like to the thugs who queer and paki bash.

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]]> By: eddy http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10439.html/comment-page-1/#comment-41561 eddy Tue, 13 Jan 2009 06:54:25 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=10439#comment-41561 I hope Ben & Stonewall read the comments on this site and take note of the general feeling within our community which seems to be a) Prince Harry made some silly off-the-cuff comments to his army mates Three Years ago, that have been blown out of all proortion by our sensationalising gutter press, as usual, that were daft but not malicious. It is a delicate balance between freedom of speech and causing offence and the danger of the rabid PC brigade suppressing all freedom of thought or expression is very real and far more offensive than such remarks. b) Calls for him to apologise to the Pakistani or gay communities are ridiculous over-reactions that scream over-sensitivity and just make minorities look ridiculous in the eyes of the wider public c) Nevertheless the issue of heirarchy of discrimination flagged up by several commentators is very relevent. Gay people are fed up with the hypocracy of always being bottom of the pile when it comes to certain minority groups being 'more equal than others' and issues of race being taken more seriously by those in power (and the media) than our equal treatment. Ben take note! I hope Ben & Stonewall read the comments on this site and take note of the general feeling within our community which seems to be
a) Prince Harry made some silly off-the-cuff comments to his army mates Three Years ago, that have been blown out of all proortion by our sensationalising gutter press, as usual, that were daft but not malicious. It is a delicate balance between freedom of speech and causing offence and the danger of the rabid PC brigade suppressing all freedom of thought or expression is very real and far more offensive than such remarks.
b) Calls for him to apologise to the Pakistani or gay communities are ridiculous over-reactions that scream over-sensitivity and just make minorities look ridiculous in the eyes of the wider public
c) Nevertheless the issue of heirarchy of discrimination flagged up by several commentators is very relevent. Gay people are fed up with the hypocracy of always being bottom of the pile when it comes to certain minority groups being 'more equal than others' and issues of race being taken more seriously by those in power (and the media) than our equal treatment.

Ben take note!

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]]> By: Richard http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-10439.html/comment-page-1/#comment-41556 Richard Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:13:57 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/?p=10439#comment-41556 The first I heard about these homophobic comments was on this website. Disappointed but not surprised that the mainstream media, once again, takes racism seriously but ignores homophobia. The first I heard about these homophobic comments was on this website. Disappointed but not surprised that the mainstream media, once again, takes racism seriously but ignores homophobia.

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