Man.
stories of gay men living where masculinity is everything.
escapism.
As post Brexit Britain’s North-South divide worsens, how do openly gay men find life living in an isolated Northern region, where their sexuality solely defines them? Some seek escape, whilst others remain… Situated on the west coast of the country in the county of Cumbria, is Workington; an insular, predominately working class town. Traditionally, coal manufacturing and steel industries were the heart and soul, employing the masses and allowing many to make ends meet. Since the industries closure, pockets of social deprivation have entrenched provincial ways of thinking. The area is acknowledged as one of the least diverse regions in the country: where 99.3% of people class themselves as of a ‘White’ background. There is little to no immediate contact with diverse groups. The conversation surrounding male identity can be rather constrained - you’re either the hero, the breadwinner or being strong. One of Workington’s oldest traditions is the Uppies and Downies game. The men and boys of the town are divided into two teams according to where they live, having to transport one ball by whatever means possible; ‘hailing’ it - throwing it up in the air three times - at opposing landmarks within the town. It is very much an annual, free-for-all, where masculinity is fully flexed. The pastime is considered a rich part of Workington’s history; at its core, encouraging men to be men. “The Cumbrian mentality with old traditions such as this, it translates into their attitudes towards everything and for me that includes sexuality,” says Darren Finlinson, 39, the only openly gay man in the local paper mill. “When you live in a small place that has a small population of people that never go anywhere people become set in their ways. In a city, it’s a bigger place, nobody knows who you are. Being gay in the middle of nowhere – it’s like being famous.” Where you come from, your heritage is something you can neither pick or chose. The town’s attitudes can be a challenge and so many seek escapism - ‘the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities…’ - most commonly to the brighter lights of open-armed cities. Luke Straughton, 21, has grown up in the Cumbrian town all his life, facing challenges as he opened up about his sexuality. Having made the move to Manchester to study Film, started a job on Canal Street - the home of gay pride - and begun his first relationship, he reflects on growing up in Workington. “Coming out or not before moving away was a big thing for me, I think everyone knew I wasn’t gonna stay around, if you’ve got anything going on behind the eyes you’re not going to stay around here...” The revelation of homosexuality in such a strikingly handsome young man seemed to attract comments of ‘disappointment’ from the older, local generation, “A lot of my friends’ mothers would say ‘oh he’s a pretty one isn’t he!’ My friends would then explain I’m gay, ‘Oh what a waste!’ would follow. This reaction would drive me insane! A waste of what!?” Interestingly, Luke admits having changed the way he chooses to express himself, “I’ve definitely toned down a lot since moving to Manchester, which you wouldn’t assume. In the past, I’d bleach
my hair, wear my docs and my acid skinnies, definitely being the stereotypical flamboyant camp guy people expected me to be.” Yet, in Manchester he’s no longer a minority, “At home I’m regarded almost ‘queenie’...working on Canal Street you see what a ‘queen’ really is!” Luke laughs: “There really is a contrast being gay at home and being gay in Manchester. Like my suede coat, If I wore that here, which is ironically quite a traditional, working man’s coat it would be something for folk to talk about, but when I’m in the city I have different pieces of clothing that are what I like to call the ‘money makers’, and it’s in them, I wanna get the fucking head turns!” The need to flee home environments to truly express identity and artistic passion is a recurring theme amongst creatives. One only has to look at some of fashion’s leading homosexual figures and where life began for them. Before Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld grew up in 1930s’ Germany, with his family belonging to the old Catholic church, it wasn’t until he was able to reach Paris to pursue his love for the arts he was able to express his iconic look. Even Moschino’s Jeremy Scott started out with little, “…as a kid on a farm, in a small town in Minnesota, looking at magazines and seeing high fashion, I wanted so badly to be a part of it…”, his eccentric neon clothes a clear contrast against the grey houses of his cookie-cutter suburban home town. When in his home environment, Luke regarded himself as almost a “suburban legend”, his sexuality is his signifier. “In Workington, if you’re gay you’re immediately deemed effeminate, it becomes your identifier, you’re known for being gay.” For Darren it’s alike: “My generation found the concept of homosexuality a lot more difficult. When I was 18 I moved to Essex and that was completely different. I had always been known as ‘the guy that was gay’, it identified me to other people but never identified me to me, I never took my personal identity from my sexuality, other people did.” Darren has spent a lot of his life away from the town but interestingly returned. The factory environment is so heavily heterosexually male dominated it becomes nearly impossible for him not to be treated as an anomaly. “I’d be lying if I said that I hadn’t had that judgement, when you’re working in a mill with a load of fellas, they’re going to take the piss. They call me ‘Daisy’, which I think is quite funny but they’re all too scared to say it to my face, that’s sad really.” Within the fashion industry today, diversity is celebrated, applauded, to be gay and proud has become fashionable, a trend. But away from the populated cities where anything goes are the supressed characters, the Jeremy Scott’s of the future, where seeking escapism is their only opportunity to prosper. Text by Honor Askew
“In a city, it’s a bigger place, nobody knows who you are. Being gay in the middle of nowhere... ...it’s like being famous.”
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