#For clarity I'm not suggesting the named authors were the ones Moore had to morally blackmail they're just the most recognisable names

[crowns-of-violets-and-roses]

The Alan Moore comic my new blog name is taken from has an interesting background.

In 1988 Thatcher's government banned the "promotion of homosexuality" by local authorities and schools. This law would remain in place in England and Wales until 2003.

Moore already antipathic towards the tories organized a comics anthology to raise funds to oppose the law - AARGH or Artists Against Rampant Government Homophobia.

Moore convinced (or to use his own words "morally blackmail most of them") a lot of famous comic creator to contribute pieces. Art Spiegelman, Frank Miller and Dave Sims all contributed stories. You may have seen the comic Neil Gaiman wrote for it floating around tumblr.

The quality of the comics varies widely but the best of them is the comic Moore himself wrote for it a poem/comic The Mirror of Love. I don't think the original comic is licitly available online but there's a reading of it by Moore on youtube.

The Mirror of Love depicts queer people throughout history. Moving from pre-history to the modern day and Moore's fury at the homophobia of Thatcher's government and then looking to the future.

It's been one of my favourite comics by Moore since I first read it but as an eight page piece that for decades was only available as part of AARGH it doesn't receive a lot of attention.

My blog name is from the final line of the poem:

While life endures we’ll love, and afterwards, if what they say is true, I’ll be refused a Heaven crammed with popes, policemen, fundamentalists, and burn instead, quite happily, with Sappho, Michelangelo and you, my love. I’d burn throughout eternity with you.

#the user formerly known as loved-the-stars-too-truly #also considered huddled-under-neolithic-stars from the same poem for username continuity but I like that less #For clarity I'm not suggesting the named authors were the ones Moore had to morally blackmail they're just the most recognisable names #alan moore #section 28