Perpetuating ignoranceDecember 13, 2011Dear Sir,I’m not a theatre critic, but in my opinion, this year’s pantomime, Cinderella, was brilliant in almost every way.The sets, props, and costumes were immaculate. The script was full of wonderful wit, which, though almost painfully corny at times, was always entertaining. And the music, catchy and amusing, gracefully carried the production through the night.However, I am not writing to say how much I loved the pantomime. I am writing because it let me down in one major way. Bermuda has let me down in one major way.At one point in the story (I believe it was Act II, Scene 8), all the ladies, and a gentleman, that attended the Prince’s ball line up to try on the crystal slipper, hoping for a chance to marry the prince and live happily ever after.It was the gentleman in this queue that offended me. Throughout the scene I felt his actions were exaggerated. I know that’s what pantomime is, but this was to the point where it distracted me from the main scene. When his turn came, he excitedly and flamboyantly sat down in the chair to try the crystal slipper an action that the audience greeted with laughter. After being turned down on the basis that the prince’s sexual orientation was not in line with this particular suitor, this character retired to the other side of the stage, where he resumed effeminate behaviour.Being non-straight in Bermuda, I’m always excited to see the LGBT community represented in the public sphere. I believe that if we are represented in the right way, the wider community will eventually come to understand and accept us, and hey, maybe we’ll even get basic human rights some day.But this is a joke. Literally. This minute part of the pantomime, the implications of which were possibly overlooked by everyone except me, was included in the production for laughs. Because, ha ha ha, isn’t being gay so ridiculous?It perpetuates ignorance and more importantly, it perpetuates hatred. I’m not talking about straight-on-gay hatred. I’m talking about self-hatred because all the gay children in the audience this Christmas have just had another source tell them that they are ridiculous. I like the idea of the LGBT community being represented more in Bermudian media.But until we can do it in a mature and accepting way, I think it’s best we tackle the problem of discrimination from another angle.DEVONSHIRE DANDYDevonshire