Earlier this year, I came across multiple articles about new polling by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) regarding the sexual identification of American Gen Z adults.
Perhaps one of the most alienated and widely criticised generations, a significant 30% of them identified as LGBTQ, with the majority identifying as bisexual. This was not an isolated finding; many subsequent surveys have consistently shown much higher rates of bisexual identification among Gen Z compared to older generations.
According to Gallup, over the next 10 to 30 years, the American LGBTQ population could exceed 10%.
Beyond Binary Thinking
This is not just an American phenomenon. According to a survey in the UK by Stonewall, 14% of Gen Z respondents identified as either bisexual or pansexual, compared to 2% of Baby Boomers.
The widely accepted analysis is that Gen Z doesn’t like to be defined or categorised, whether it’s as straight, lesbian, or gay. They are seeking freedom of thinking. As a rapidly growing voting bloc, this could change the political landscape forever.
Culture War
As you might imagine, conservative news channels reacted to these surveys with fervour, rallying behind slogans like “Make the country great again!” Some Republicans have even threatened a potential civil war if they lose this cultural battle.
Similarly, one of the highlights of the Tory leadership contest back in 2022 wasn’t house pricing or economic issues, but rather the focus on “protecting children from propaganda on social media and radical activists.”
But is there any way to return to the so-called heydays, when everything seemed simple and clear: male and female, straight and gay, good and evil, ally and enemy, perhaps before the Vietnam War? Ironically, the new Democratic presidential candidate’s main slogan seems to be “We are not going back.”
Things Between Heaven and Earth
The titular character, Eric, in the play Things Between Heaven and Earth is a renowned novelist, but his public persona as a writer is often overshadowed by his activism as an openly gay individual from a minority group.
When he launches his new novel, inspired by his relationship with May’s late husband, Harry, she invites him to the anniversary of Harry’s death to uncover the truth behind it.
As with many reunions, despite May’s true intentions behind the invitation, both characters feel the lingering emotions from their past relationship before Eric came out as a gay man. However, with his dark secret involving Harry, Eric finds himself unable to betray his established status in the industry.
Partially inspired by Steven Daldry’s marriage, the story delves into sexual fluidity, akin to the themes explored in Mike Bartlett’s Cock and Ira Sachs’ Passages. However, it also addresses issues specific to the prejudices within the East Asian immigrant community, as well as themes of faith, identity, grief after the loss of a loved one, and the creative process as an artist.
Underbelly Bristo Square (Jersey), Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG from 8 to 26 August (not 13) 1 pm