This morning, I listened to The Reunion on Radio 4 – today’s episode reunited the founders of Stonewall.
I have some very clear political memories of the 1980s – I remember the Falklands War, the miners’ strikes, the waves of privatisation (including the ‘Tell Sid’ ads), perestroika, the poll tax riots, the Berlin Wall coming down, Mrs Thatcher being deposed (even down to John Sergeant’s famous interview in the courtyard of the Paris embassy) but I have absolutely no recollection at all of anything to do with Section 28. Maybe I have blanked that hideous prejudice in my party out of my mind – but I really don’t remember anything of it. I do remember Michael Cashman on Eastenders playing a gay character, but even then I don’t recall much of the detail.
I haven’t really thought about any of the issues discussed in Sue MacGregor’s excellent programme for a long time. For me and my generation, being gay is just normal. I have lots of gay friends, it’s not something I think about. But the fact that only twenty years ago, legislators were still trying to set gay people apart from everyone else shocked me.
Go and listen again. It’s a really good programme, it’s interesting and informative, and it shows just how far we have come – but also makes the point that there is much still to do.
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