Almost certainly not news to any British people, but it was news to me and I think that’s really cool.
I couldn’t even imagine something like that in the U.S.
There is a history of inclusive radio in the UK which goes back at least to the 1960s. Anyone who was born here and is over the age of about 50 will know about Kenneth Williams, who appeared in radio comedies with Hugh Paddick. The material is dated and may be regarded as clichéd and demeaning now, but they played two gay men called Julian and Sandy on a show called Round the Horne from 1965 to 1968, and the same characters came up in later shows as well. Bear in mind this was on national radio at a time when gay sex was still illegal in the UK. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_and_Sandy for more details.
I’m british, and I was today years old when I learned this. Thanks!
What I also liked is they are way more open with disabled people on TV and radio as well. Now if they could just get the public financing in order after the Tories ran up the credit card for 13 years.
I used to listen to Gaydio when I had more time. I Shazam’d the songs I liked and weeks later it would tell me I had great test because I listened to songs before they chart on Billboard in the US. Found out about London Grammar through them.
We emigrated here (three weeks ago) because my daughter is gay and it’s just safer for her here. And every time I find out about something like this, or Scotland making queer history part of its standard school curriculum, it just makes me feel even better about it.
People keep telling me I made the wrong choice of countries to go to. I’m sure there are better options out there. This is still so, so, so much better than what she is used to. Her self-confidence about being in a place where people are actually willing to not just accept her for who she is, but treat her as just another person, has gone from zero to I don’t know what. Enough to actually go out and make friends and have a social life.
Where did you move from?
Indiana. Also known as The Middle Finger of the South.
I’m surprised anywhere in the US is that bad, I thought it was okay for gay people. Where in the UK? How are you finding the weather? Summer’s the same except you only need one jacket.
Unfortunately, it is. It doesn’t help that she dresses in punk clothes and is neurodivergent either.
As for where, Blackburn, but only temporarily while I look for work. I’m looking all over Britain while staying in a VRBO (sort of like AirBnB). The weather compared to Indiana right now is amazing. In Indiana, the low next week will be -16C. I can actually walk around outside here.
Your daughter is welcome here. We have plenty of problems here in the UK, some of those are shared with an increasingly fascist thinking world, but we also have a long history of refusing to accept it. Look back at the eras of punk, two-tone, heavy metal, new wave, you’ll find cultural movements where minorities were embraced for their differences and our shared hatred of being oppressed and divided.
When I grew up, the National Front were openly posting up outside football stadiums trying to recruit young men to turn this country fascist. In many ways, it’s the same thing as is happening now, only they do their recruiting on social media. In some places it was able to fester, but in many others a combination of blacks, gays, punks and the everyman found themselves allied with a common hatred of fascism and we drove them out.
I was a Londoner then, but I agree with the person suggesting Manchester as a safe spot too. I knew Blackburn a little, 30 years ago, and it was a town with some problems, but generally decent people. Maybe not where I would choose were I gay. I think most places have a decent enough group of kind people though, and I would even say to look specifically for the places where the punks and the weirdos hang out, people are safe and welcome among us whoever they are.
Thank you!
You’re not far from me in Manchester which I’m sure you’ve visited. Great gay (home of Gaydio) and music scene too. Manchester punk festival is on soon.
Just the once. We went to the CuppaPug cafe so she could play with the pugs.
