Daily Joy Reminder

When My Bin Men Danced (and made a film of it)

It’s been an exhausting month. Just one month ago I leaked the Rein pornography scandal which hit the press and general public like a ton of bricks. Creative Scotland, our national arts funding body, was rightfully criticised for funding hardcore porn. (what’s next subsidies for Only Fans and Porn Hub?)

Then we had the revelation of the WPATH files which demonstrated the utter Mengele experimentation being done to children in the name of ‘kindness’, ie ‘gender medicine’.

Then Scotland’s Hate Crime bill descended like Orwell’s best dream encouraging children to report their parents for ‘bad words’.

Finally the Cass Report, which again demonstrated beyond doubt that affirmation is damaging to children’s lives.

I mean (pardon my French) FUCK ME. One month of this nonsense and I am ARGUING with politicians and the ‘right on’ folks that WE HAVE A PROBLEM HERE.

I just want people to enjoy their lives, to take their lives (but not themselves) too seriously and for children to not have BODY PARTS CUT OFF. Is this so wrong?

One might expect (hope) that any one of these ‘moments’ would create a watershed of common sense. Wherein our public servants would step back and say ‘you know, you are right, we did something bad’. But no. It seems they view themselves as gods, unable to make mistakes, or certainly to acknowledge them.

Today Creative Scotland released a statement iterating in the most condescending manner that it was only people who do not understand ‘experimental art’ who could possibly oppose this groundbreaking work. That ‘Rein’ represented the most marginalised and therefore it was necessary to have it produced. If ever there was a master in gaslighting and subterfuge, the person who wrote that should be leading the course.

At the same time MSP Meghan Gallacher petitioned Scottish Parliament to consider the Cass Report in regards to ‘gender care’ for children. And was voted down. It seems Sandyford (our Scottish Equivalent of Tavistock that was shut down) is doing a BANG UP job (in prescribing puberty blockers for children as young as nine). WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?

So here’s the thing if, like me, you are feeling utterly exhausted with the quagmire of the state of Scottish public life, I think it’s time to remind ourselves of the wonderful surprises that comes from the most unexpected places when we are not looking.

In 2021 I was doing one of my 'standard’ dances about the streets. This time it was for a project I called ‘10 Seconds of Joy’. I danced like a ‘Disco Chicken’ aiming to get people dancing where ever and whenever I could in ten second bursts. Every day for weeks I’d go out in my Disco Chicken glory and have a boogie with whomever would join. And (as per usual with my outdoor dancing) hundreds of people joined in on the street, in their cars, whilst tending to our bins….. This particular April day I kept ‘running into’ our local bin men, who graced me with some moves every time. Unbeknownst to me the driver was filming us (note: there was no music). He then made this film, found me and sent it through email.

These beautiful (WHITE!) fun men remind us of all that IS great and good about Glasgow and Scotland. Hold onto that and #getin

We got this. Keep fighting. Keep speaking in truth. Keep speaking out and standing up for children. And don’t forget to HAVE FUN.

Thank you for reading. Please consider supporting my work. I have sacrificed my livelihood in order to speak up for children.

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