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To mark the 50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act 1967, Andrew Scott presents the remarkable story of how gay people transformed pop culture, despite persistent oppression.

Your love - forbidden.

Your way of life - against the law.

That was the chilling reality for countless gay people in the UK.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act of 1967 which partially decriminalised sex between men, Andrew Scott tells the remarkable story of how gay people and gay culture came to transform pop culture in the face of persistent oppression.

This first episode covers some of the pioneering queer entertainers such as Fred Barnes and Noel Coward, both of whom managed to incorporate coded references to their sexuality within their music and writing.

The Kinks biographer, Jon Savage, details how the band enjoyed challenging conventional ideas of 1960s masculinity, whilst Ex-Rolling Stones manager, Andrew Loog Oldham reveals his pride in teaching Mick Jagger to dare to be himself - incorporating a camp on-stage swagger which would go on to inspire a generation.

Broadcaster and Scissor Sister, Ana Matronic details the liberation that gripped the nation when disco hit in the 1970s. Spandau Ballet bass guitarist, Martin Kemp reminisces the post-punk attitude of the New Romantics in the 1980s, genres would eschew traditional masculinity, favouring a heavily made-up look and outrageous outfits that drew heavily on the aesthetics of gay culture.

Professor Matt Cook and Dr Rebecca Jennings give insight in to the unique challenges faced by gay men and women throughout, alongside activist Peter Tatchell who explains the acts which began the journey towards equal rights for queer people, as well as giving a first-hand account of London's first Gay Pride event in 1972.

57 minutes

Last on

Wed 26 Jul 2017 22:00

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Music Played

  • Fred Barnes

    Black Sheep of the Family

  • No毛l Coward

    We All Wear A Green Carnation

  • No毛l Coward

    Mad About The Boy

  • No毛l Coward

    20th Century Blues

  • No毛l Coward

    A Room With A View

  • Jimmie Rodgers

    Secretly

  • Frank Sinatra

    We Kiss In A Shadow

  • The Who

    Im A Boy

  • The Kinks

    You Really Got Me

  • The Kinks

    Im Not Like Everybody Else

  • The Kinks

    Lola

  • The Kinks

    See My Friends

  • The Tornados

    Telstar

  • The Tornados

    Do You Come Here Often

  • The Honeycombs

    Have I The Right

  • The Beatles

    Love Me Do

  • The Beatles

    Boys

  • The Rolling Stones

    I Cant Get No Satisfaction

  • The Rolling Stones

    I Wanna Be Your Man

  • The Rolling Stones

    I'm Free

  • The Rolling Stones

    Id Much Rather Be With The Boys

  • The Rolling Stones

    Have You Seen Your Mother Baby

  • The Tremeloes

    Even The Bad Times Are Good

  • Dusty Springfield

    Am I The Same Girl

  • MFSB

    TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) (feat. The Three Degrees)

  • Valentino

    I Was Born This Way

  • Carl Bean

    I Was Born This Way

  • Sylvester

    You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)

  • Alicia Bridges

    I Love The Nightlife

  • T. Rex

    Children of the Revolution

  • Tom Robinson Band

    Glad To Be Gay

  • David Bowie

    Changes

  • David Bowie

    The Man Who Sold The World

  • David Bowie

    Ziggy Stardust

  • David Bowie

    Oh You Pretty Things

  • David Bowie

    The Jean Genie

  • Visage

    Fade To Grey

  • Spandau Ballet

    True

  • Culture Club

    Do You Really Want To Hurt Me

  • Culture Club

    Time Clock Of The Heart

  • Culture Club

    Karma Chameleon

Broadcast

  • Wed 26 Jul 2017 22:00

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