1984. Film: Orientations: Lesbian and Gay Asians
The 1980s saw a significant increase in the production of queer-themed documentaries. This was aided, in part, by the introduction of videotape, which was not only cheaper than ...
LGBT History
1984. The man behind the ‘Pits and Perverts’ icon
If you’ve seen the movie Pride then you will have seen his work. If you’ve been anywhere near a member of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (past or present) you’re likely to ...
1988: Film. Hairspray – Gay in the 80s
Hairspray was a milestone for both John Waters and Divine. For Waters it was his directorial debut in mainstream films; for Divine it was the first film in which he didn’t have the ...
Documentary Film: Paris is Burning
Technically this film is outside the remit of this blog as it was released in 1990. But I have included it for two reasons. Firstly, the people and events therein were all filmed in the late 80s. ...
UK Launch of hardcopy ‘Gay in the 80s’ book
I’m pleased to announce that the hard copy of my book Gay in the 80s: From Fighting for Our Rights to Fighting for Our Lives is being launched in the UK this month (February) for LGBT ...
1989. Bob Hope speaks out against homophobic violence
Bob Hope was an American comedian who was at his most popular from the 30s to the 60s. A staunch Republican, Hope’s comedy reflected the values of that period,and his material often included ...
1981: Brisbane Festival of Gay Films
A couple of years ago someone posted a Comment on this blog asking, “if I lived in those times, would it have been possible to be happy as a gay male or not.” I replied that it most certainly ...
1983. Eddie Murphy on “faggots” and AIDS
There is a theory about ‘straight’ men who go out of their way to make homophobic remarks. It says that they they’re actually trying to convince themselves that they’re not queer. Certainly ...
1989. Film: Looking for Langston
Isaac Julien’s ‘breakthrough’ movie focuses on black writer Langston Hughes and Harlem’s Cotton Club to explore the issue of being black and gay from the 1920s to the present day. ...
Movie: After 82 – Gay in the 80s
I’ve written extensively in this blog and my book about the early days of HIV/AIDS. And with a new TV drama – It’s a Sin – currently playing in various countries, there’s been a renewed interest ...
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