As a straight middle-aged dad to three kids today, I just want to acknowledge that it was you, your community that came to us, and showed us all we are all in this together. And that was never going to be engaged from the other side, so I genuinely mean thank you, and you have the right to share and show that pride.
My uncle is gay. He was like Richard Simons gay. Pretty obviously gay. My father told me a funny story of how my uncle came out to him. They were in a hotel for a tennis event in the 70’s. My uncle said he had something important to tell him. My uncle went out to get some ice. My father knew what he was going to tell him so he hid in the closet. When my uncle got back to the hotel room my father jumped out of the closet and yelled , “Surprise!”
It was awful when i was young, 70s😬, so much more compassion and understanding now to all differences between us. Certain communities still need to evolve 😡
I grew up in exactly the same era. Left school at 15 in 1995. The spectre of AIDS haunted every jurisdiction. It was touted as a gay problem. Lies. We were raised & schooled catholic; my twin brother & me. He is a proud gay man in a relationship more enduring & stable than any other couple I know. He & his partner are a shining example of what it means to be citizens of the world. Love is no third thing, but the prime. & to quote our most sensitive poet. What will survive of us is love.
‘Liking’ your comment draws mixed emotions. Sad to hear about your brother. My behaviour in the 90’s wasn’t the nicest towards gay boys. I remember and regret my actions…thoroughly embarrassed, ashamed and remorseful.
I was never quite sure how to take David Walliams depictions of gay men but this changes my perspective. I'm impressed 😊. It also reminds me of a childhood in the 90's filled with years of conversion therapy, where anytime someone heard me speak, I could see their potentially dangerous reaction to my "gayness" play out on their face. I was forced out of the closet in 1996, when I was 12, and that was the first of many times my parents threatened to expel me from the family and my home. From that moment on, I became the embodiment of everything my parents despised about gay people. They directed all their disgust and prejudice toward me, channeling every instance of queerness they encountered into their treatment of me. I have no relationship with any of them. At 39, it still colours every interaction I have with a straight person, particularly men. I find it hard to stop questioning the motives of straight men who attempt to befriend me. I always find myself thinking, "What's your game, pal?" 😅
Open real discussion with one and all, you rock a diverse interview Fearne, there is more support and availability of information, keep our world colourful, bright and Loved 🎉❤
I still call my friend Dave "Davith" and try and fit "the only gay in the village" in whenever I can in a conversation. These fellows are comedic icons!
To quote one of my children - 'they're not people, they're sheeple' - I love the way David Walliams used to wear 'unusual' clothes when they met up. He was already trying to get him (Matt Lucas) to be braver. What a fantastic friend to have. 💖
I wonder if some of the ‘shove it down my throat’ were just uncomfortable with public displays of affection generally. I know I was, I had enough comfort to not be offended to being pecked on the cheek or lips by anyone, 90s were an odd time, and I was most comfortable around woman or gay men. Although I certainly didn't exude liberality at the time.
I'd say generally not. I bet you ask the majority of those ppl who see straight people doing pda they'd be fine with it. Having an lgbtq couple doing the same thing, we'll that's shoving it down everyone's throat. I remember Dawson's Creek had the first prime-time gay kiss between two guys. There was a media firestorm around it. I'm pretty sure the actor, Kerr Smith, didn't work for ages after it, too. It was literally just a kiss. Nothing gratuitous or sexpoltative. Because it was between two guys tho it was sensationalized.
To be honest I grew up in the 1970‘s and 80‘s in Essex. At secondary school one of my best friends was openly gay and within our circle of acquaintances this was not an issue.
Everything that was bad was "gay" in the 90s ...they couldn't talk about it. It was a big deal to have 2 gay people kiss on tv in eastenders, ...if you think we ain't come a long way you are incorrect .
It seems ironic that he is so aware of his own difference and prejudice around being gay and Jewish and yet happily did blackface in his comedy show on multiple occasions
I think it’s called “acting” you know playing a part , a character that he or someone created , did you complain or get your knickers in a twist when the Wayans brothers doned white make up and played girls in White Chicks ?
I'd really like to ask him why he did the "Only gay in the village" thing, I don't see how it helped "Our community" same with the "We're LADDIESSS" sketches, I guess you could call it self mockery in a way, but it's also harmful, must have been used to tease kids in the 00s and perpetuated stereotypes
I remarked under another comment that I only know the Will-from-Will-and-Grace kind of gay men, and in a way, I think it's that exactly. That character is so naively, beautifully self-affirming. He doesn't want to be ambiguously ordinary. His biggest flaw, apart from appalling taste, is not realizing that you can be gay without being a peacock. He's being HIS version. And it's ok. It's obviously ok, because no one else in the village even blinks. That's a powerful message for some people.
@@MelissaThompson432 It made me super cringe as I grew up in A Cornish Village [In the mid 80s when everyone thought GAY = AIDS and the only representation on TV was Larry Grayson, Mr Humphries etc] but yeah I kinda 'Got' the chara [wanting everyone to be shocked/getting attention] though
@@kumachan9311 the first gay friend I lost killed himself because his mother's husband (a thoroughly nasty little man) tormented him endlessly. If he could have had that strength, to be The Only Gay In The Village, he might still be alive.
The "only gay in the village" thing is reversing the trope. The villagers don't just "not care at all", they actively acknowledge and support his existence. In a time when the opposite was mostly true on all fronts almost everywhere. But mostly their humour falls in the category: If you can laugh about it together you can talk about it together. Humour softens the lines of pigeonholing groups of people. Ridiculing stereotypes, especially if no one is safe, helps diverse societies bond at a time when there are tensions. Even "black face" in America tended to draw large black audiences. In some communities a majority even. Precisely because they recognised their auntie or neighbours in the crude stereotypes and thought it was incredibly funny. To point that those in favour of segregation started banning performances because they were bringing people together. Ofc they were also used in a very targeted negative political way, but this was the minority and an attempt to appropriate a medium. "Crude" humour has always been the humour of the people. When in doubt, check ancient graffiti xD
There is nothing wrong with the opinion of not caring what people do as long as they don't shove it down my throat. I think that about both my straight and gay friends in the same way.
Why are they talking about the 90s like it was some sort of dark, horrible homophobic tyranny. I was very much gay in the 90s and it was great. The 80s were difficult yes for obvious reasons but leave the 90s alone. I swear people want to rewrite history.
I’m 60 and loved Little Britain..got both dvd’s….of course it would not be acceptable now in this WOKE VICTIM world!…even my kids watched it…they loved it and thought it was hilarious..NONE of them oppose people who are gay!…I’ve educated them about that…I could happily live with a woman even though I’m with a man!….it was just supposed to be abit of fun comedy…and I will still watch LB and laugh 😆
No im not, I think that’s what we call ignorance, and you can choose what it is that you listen too or hear, you don’t have too watch or hear about anything you don’t want too 👍
