Riding high from his ‘Alienation: Alternative Gay Styles’ exhibition, Kieran Gowan Clarke sits down to tell us his views on his exhibition, gay tribes and dating apps.

 

1.Why did you decide to look into alternative gay styles?

 

I decided to look into alternative gay styles due to the recent uprising

of gay tribes upon gay dating apps. GayTimes refer to the select category that

Grindr says everyone should fit into. Not everyone fits these tribes though,

so why should we categorise ourselves within a community that has already

been so alienated for such a long time? Upon Grindr there is no option for those

that may class themselves as alternative. Alternative meaning anyone that does

not fit the selected tribes. My reasoning for looking into alternative styles is as I

myself have experienced a lot of people telling me that I am alternative and “Do

no fit into the community”. For someone that I don’t even know tell me

that I do not fit into my own community lead me onto looking as to why I

may not fit in.

 

2. What are your views on the various subcultures of the LGBTQ+

community?

 

I feel that many people outside of the community do not understand

all of the different letters that have been added to the usual

‘LGBT’ but I feel that this is very important as it is including

anyone that may not necessarily fit that criteria. For example,

involving people who may be Pansexual or Asexual is very important

as it allows for them to have somewhere safe to go and somewhere

to maybe meet other people who are like themselves.

 

 

3. Do you feel that the LGBTQ+ community is becoming too

mainstream?

 

I wouldn’t say so much mainstream, just more accepted. The only

thing that is coming mainstream is sayings that gay people might

have been saying for years, for example, the term ‘hot mess’

refers to someone who is beyond help. Recently this term has been

adopted by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian etc and then made

its way into the vocabulary of straight girls. This phrase

originates from the voguing scene of the 1970’s in New York.

 

4. You mentioned in your exhibition that 'tribes' are flourishing

on dating apps. Do you feel that this is a positive or a negative?

 

I feel that this is very negative on the community as we are

segregating people more than necessary which is leading to a very

bitchy atmosphere when it comes to going to the gay bars, a space

where you’re meant to feel like you can be yourself.

 

5. RuPaul recently stated that he would not let a trans woman onto

his show; RuPaul's Drag Race. What's your view on the topic?

 

I feel that this statement from RuPaul was out of order

completely. For him to state that someone who is trans can not

compete on the show is absolutely ridiculous. ONE OF THE MAIN

PEOPLE BEHIND THE STONEWALL MOVEMENT WAS A TRANS PERSON! (Marsha

P.Johnson) If it was not for a trans person being the pinnacle of

the stonewall movement, the gay rights act would not have passed

in the late 60’s!

 

6. Do you feel that as you have aged, your views on subjects

within the LGBTQ+ community have changed?

 

When I was much younger, 16, and I had just come out, I was very

naive when it came to the whole community. For example, like most

young gays (that I know anyway), I thought I was the bee’s knees.

Everyone wanted Kieran, everyone look at me, laugh with me. But as

I’ve grown up, I have noticed the community shouldn’t be all about

yourself, it should be about involving everyone that is like you

and that everyone should get along (not always the case, but you

know). It is hard to actually pin point at what time I realised

that the community wasn’t actually as close knit as what it should

actually be. I think in recent years, since moving to Manchester

where the gay scene is so big, I have realised that maybe the

community could do with a bit of a shake-up.

 

7. How would you identify yourself?

 

I myself identify as male, but I always like to experimenting with

different ways of dressing. I would not say no to wearing

clothing that is a little more feminine, I would not say no to

wearing something that is hyper masculine. I’m open to

interpretation. I’m just very free.

 

Instagram: @kierangowan