Worth a watch. Archive footage from 1988 of Ian McKellen objecting to the introduction of Section 28. The parallels to the anti-trans push in the UK almost 40 years later is alarming. - ThreadSky

unicornsrockuk.bsky.social • 84 days ago

Worth a watch. Archive footage from 1988 of Ian McKellen objecting to the introduction of Section 28.

The parallels to the anti-trans push in the UK almost 40 years later is alarming.

Reposted from Joshman

Came across this the other day and it's wild how the line of questioning is a 1:1 of the "gender critical" movement.

youtu.be/9ezc59-aSXw

Comments

donepretending.bsky.social•84 days ago

Much harder now. Even back then, homosexuality was ‘sort of understood’ by society in general. A lot of people had cousins, friends who were ‘different’. It was tacitly acknowledged, even if not publicly accepted.

unicornsrockuk.bsky.social•84 days ago

I think you simplify it too much. People knew gay people existed back then, sure. But few people were out like today. Elton John didn't dare come out until the late 80s, same with Kenny Everett, Biggins and even Freddie Mercury.

Similar applies to trans people today.

donepretending.bsky.social•84 days ago

You could be right.

My idea is that, even though not many gay people were out, being gay was at least recognised more frequently (even if only with a nod and a wink).

unicornsrockuk.bsky.social•84 days ago

My acceptance of being trans was fine back then at primary school. They knew there was something different about me and probably thought I was trans, even if they didn't fully have a name for it. But trans people were few and far between.

I remember thinking I must be one of only a dozen in the UK

donepretending.bsky.social•84 days ago

When you write 'my acceptance' do you mean how others accepted you or your self-acceptance?

I can't speak from lived experience, but I have friends around my age group (48) who were terrified of telling anyone how they felt, and some have told me they thought there was something wrong with them.

donepretending.bsky.social•84 days ago

Interesting how you thought you were one of so few. Goes to show how it was swept under the carpet. And I expect you would have had your eyes wide open looking for others. Non-trans people wouldn't have had a clue.

donepretending.bsky.social•84 days ago

The trans community (I assume) is a smaller minority, so less frequently encountered? Also, perhaps it is more threatening in some ways to some people? (I'm not defending their bigotry)

unicornsrockuk.bsky.social•84 days ago

I went to school parties with the girls in 1978. They knew we were always 'there' as trans people even if a name wasn't known.

Granted, it was probably more for the rich or middle classes than otherwise.

donepretending.bsky.social•84 days ago

That the trans community is (I assume) smaller, means fewer people are able to relate to it, even if only tangentially. Not to mention the (possibly) greater fear it generates in those who recognise a gender fluid element in themselves but deny it. The struggle to overcome bigotry is much greater.

ellisb77.bsky.social•84 days ago

He’s one of those rare famous people who you feel like you know in real life.

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply