RIP Stephen Gately (?)

Jan Moirs article in the Daily Mail on 17 Oct has created more righteous indignation amongst the literate intelligentsia than has been seen for quite some time. Twitter and Facebook resounded with red-faced declamations of this arrogant harridan. One of my friends posted a comment on the R4 coverage about the complaints piling up on Ofcom's pending tray; 'This isn't orchestrated - we're just tuning up!'. When I replied observing the tendency towards illiberality of those calling themselves liberal (small L, natch) she came back with 'OMG - have you read it though? It's the DM though, so hardly a shock'.

As it happened I hadn't read it so couldn't comment further. Since the torrent of phlegm surrounding the piece has refused to die down I eventually and grudgingly Googled it up.

I was struck by how mild the piece actually is. All it really does is ask a couple of awkward questions regarding the circumstances of the poor sods demise and the response thereafter. Admittedly there is a tinge of discomfort with the whole gay marriage/lifestyle thing, but a lot of us outside this particular 'ouvre' feel much the same. Sorry gays everywhere but it's true, deal with it.

So, to reprise. How and why did he die? Apparently healthy 33yo men do NOT just keel over  and crock. The news reports at the time immediately said natural causes, both prematurely and inaccurately. Unfortunately the event happened in Spain, with a police force which would welcome Closeau as a sage and knowledgeable advisor. However it seems he died of fluid in the lungs, according to a court spokeswoman NOT alcohol or vomit. Basically he drowned then. Natural enough, young men drown on the sofa all the time. It seems there was a young Bulgarian (one Georgi Dochev) there too, seemingly as a playmate for Andrew Cowles, Gate's partner. Now the thought that occurred to me, and more than likely to Ms. Moir too is exactly what fluid could be introduced to a gay mans lungs in a quantity sufficient to kill? No, I didn't want to think about it either. There's always the swimming pool option though, now where have we heard that before?

Jan Moir also goes on to criticize the lifestyle of many gay celebs. I assume this is the part which has drawn the bile from Guardian readers everywhere. But from my point of view, and I think many who have no voice in the media, there is a germ of truth in that criticism. And truth as is well known, hurts.