in which I become an accidental EXPERT ON BISEXUALITY

Sooo - a totally random thing just happened, and I need advice which some of you are way better equipped to provide than I am.

An email came into my inbox from someone I was at college with as an undergrad, over 20 years ago. My undergrad days weren't my finest hour for various reasons, and this is someone I was pretty good friends with at the time, but haven't been in touch with for 99.99% of the last twenty years. I vaguely know what he's up to and that he lives in London, but that's about it.

The email starts 'Great to hear that you're [in senior academic post]! I'm writing to ask for a favour'. So obviously I assume this is an academic favour: he's a musician, there are all kinds of things I might be able to help with.

Then the next line of the email is: 'In my late 30s, I realised I was attracted to men as well as women."

( Read more... )

I mean - it's nice, I guess, that someone from my distant past wants to seek my advice? But frankly if I'm the only person someone can think of to turn to when they want to discuss bisexuality, then they need more resources. Anyone got any suggestions? Are there friendly queer internet or RL communities where someone who is very unworldly and lives and breathes classical music might hang out? Useful links I could send him?

the Gentleman's Magazine

For work-related purposes I happen to be reading about the Gentleman's Magazine of Fashion (big in the 1820s), and the critic has quoted this typical editorial:

‘saunter not of a morning into Crockford’s, unless your “builder” has fitted you, sans wrinkle, with a coat fumée de Navarin, (smoky brown) setting tight round the waist, and, (that it may give a resemblance in the male form to that of the female,) being very full in the skirts. It should be left (as if carelessly) open in the front, so as to discover a pale silk under-waistcoat with gold buttons…'

Entire Eliot Waugh fashion magazine Regency AU springs into head, fully formed.