I’d like to talk to you about what happens to who we are when we start to
happens to who we are when we start to
happens to who we are when we start to win I’m going to use the example of gay
win I’m going to use the example of gay
win I’m going to use the example of gay liberation but I want to make a bigger
liberation but I want to make a bigger
liberation but I want to make a bigger point what happens to how we identify
point what happens to how we identify
point what happens to how we identify when as in our case you go from being
when as in our case you go from being
when as in our case you go from being illegal to being in the closet to being
illegal to being in the closet to being
illegal to being in the closet to being married and why does that matter in
married and why does that matter in
married and why does that matter in today’s politics now Brighton’s always
today’s politics now Brighton’s always
today’s politics now Brighton’s always been a fabulous home for gay people
been a fabulous home for gay people
been a fabulous home for gay people Brighton’s a city that’s half made up of
Brighton’s a city that’s half made up of
Brighton’s a city that’s half made up of people who ran away and half made up of
people who ran away and half made up of
people who ran away and half made up of the people who took us in and the
the people who took us in and the
the people who took us in and the history of being gay has always been for
history of being gay has always been for
history of being gay has always been for hundreds of years the history of running
hundreds of years the history of running
hundreds of years the history of running away and we ran away we ran away to the
away and we ran away we ran away to the
away and we ran away we ran away to the seaside and the seasonal employment and
seaside and the seasonal employment and
seaside and the seasonal employment and the hundreds of soldiers that were
the hundreds of soldiers that were
the hundreds of soldiers that were billeted here during the Napoleonic Wars
billeted here during the Napoleonic Wars
billeted here during the Napoleonic Wars and we ran away to the fashionable
and we ran away to the fashionable
and we ran away to the fashionable permissiveness of the Prince Regent and
permissiveness of the Prince Regent and
permissiveness of the Prince Regent and together with other people we created a
together with other people we created a
together with other people we created a city of difference we may Brighton into
city of difference we may Brighton into
city of difference we may Brighton into a stick of rock but a stick of rock that
a stick of rock but a stick of rock that
a stick of rock but a stick of rock that didn’t say the same thing all the way
didn’t say the same thing all the way
didn’t say the same thing all the way through but we were illegal it was only
through but we were illegal it was only
through but we were illegal it was only in 1835 which is five years after the
in 1835 which is five years after the
in 1835 which is five years after the Prince Regent died that the last person
Prince Regent died that the last person
Prince Regent died that the last person in England was hanged for sodomy and our
in England was hanged for sodomy and our
in England was hanged for sodomy and our but life carried on you know gay life
but life carried on you know gay life
but life carried on you know gay life flourished in Brighton on the surface so
flourished in Brighton on the surface so
flourished in Brighton on the surface so suburban but underneath at dark life
suburban but underneath at dark life
suburban but underneath at dark life veered dangerously at unpredictably
veered dangerously at unpredictably
veered dangerously at unpredictably between sex and love and violence and
between sex and love and violence and
between sex and love and violence and prison and arrest and our gay identity
prison and arrest and our gay identity
prison and arrest and our gay identity was forged as we internalize that
was forged as we internalize that
was forged as we internalize that criminality and that rejection by
criminality and that rejection by
criminality and that rejection by society our solidarity was born not out
society our solidarity was born not out
society our solidarity was born not out of something positive but out of
of something positive but out of
of something positive but out of oppression by a cruel world it’s not
oppression by a cruel world it’s not
oppression by a cruel world it’s not easy to feel too proud about who you are
easy to feel too proud about who you are
easy to feel too proud about who you are when you’re forced to live your lives in
when you’re forced to live your lives in
when you’re forced to live your lives in the shadows and then 1967 happened
the shadows and then 1967 happened
the shadows and then 1967 happened I know it was only partial
I know it was only partial
I know it was only partial decriminalization but suddenly we
decriminalization but suddenly we
decriminalization but suddenly we weren’t illegal we could be visible and
weren’t illegal we could be visible and
weren’t illegal we could be visible and visibilities pretty much all gay people
visibilities pretty much all gay people
visibilities pretty much all gay people have docked politically it is the big
have docked politically it is the big
have docked politically it is the big difference between being gay and being
difference between being gay and being
difference between being gay and being black is if you’re black you don’t have
black is if you’re black you don’t have
black is if you’re black you don’t have to tell your mother
and so we started to campaign we started
and so we started to campaign we started to to argue for what we wanted and the
to to argue for what we wanted and the
to to argue for what we wanted and the thing about solidarity movements in
thing about solidarity movements in
thing about solidarity movements in their early days is that they’re well
their early days is that they’re well
their early days is that they’re well served by solidarity our differences are
served by solidarity our differences are
served by solidarity our differences are submerged under the shared experience of
submerged under the shared experience of
submerged under the shared experience of the insult to our Liberty we know
the insult to our Liberty we know
the insult to our Liberty we know exactly who we are and what we want so
exactly who we are and what we want so
exactly who we are and what we want so when the twelve is started Stonewall in
when the twelve is started Stonewall in
when the twelve is started Stonewall in the late 80s we were really clear about
the late 80s we were really clear about
the late 80s we were really clear about what we were campaigning for we wanted
what we were campaigning for we wanted
what we were campaigning for we wanted equality pure and simple we just wanted
equality pure and simple we just wanted
equality pure and simple we just wanted to be treated equally under the law with
to be treated equally under the law with
to be treated equally under the law with everybody else and as we fought these
everybody else and as we fought these
everybody else and as we fought these battles something strange started to
battles something strange started to
battles something strange started to happen we started to win not only first
happen we started to win not only first
happen we started to win not only first in the court of public opinion I can’t
in the court of public opinion I can’t
in the court of public opinion I can’t remember how many times we lost the vote
remember how many times we lost the vote
remember how many times we lost the vote on the age of consent in Parliament but
on the age of consent in Parliament but
on the age of consent in Parliament but I coined at the time this rather Maoist
I coined at the time this rather Maoist
I coined at the time this rather Maoist sounding phrase which was every defeat
sounding phrase which was every defeat
sounding phrase which was every defeat is a victory because every time we lost
is a victory because every time we lost
is a victory because every time we lost nonetheless ordinary members of the
nonetheless ordinary members of the
nonetheless ordinary members of the public were one round to the simple
public were one round to the simple
public were one round to the simple Justice of our cause and then we started
Justice of our cause and then we started
Justice of our cause and then we started to win legally so the age of consent was
to win legally so the age of consent was
to win legally so the age of consent was equalized at 16 so then we did gain the
equalized at 16 so then we did gain the
equalized at 16 so then we did gain the ability to foster and adopt children and
ability to foster and adopt children and
ability to foster and adopt children and then the military ban the ban on
then the military ban the ban on
then the military ban the ban on lesbians and gays serving in the Armed
lesbians and gays serving in the Armed
lesbians and gays serving in the Armed Forces was lifted and that gave rise to
Forces was lifted and that gave rise to
Forces was lifted and that gave rise to some fantastic arguments I remember once
some fantastic arguments I remember once
some fantastic arguments I remember once being in a television studio with a very
being in a television studio with a very
being in a television studio with a very senior military man who said to me we
senior military man who said to me we
senior military man who said to me we can’t possibly have homosexual soldiers
can’t possibly have homosexual soldiers
can’t possibly have homosexual soldiers in the army because the other soldiers
in the army because the other soldiers
in the army because the other soldiers will be forced to share the showers with
will be forced to share the showers with
will be forced to share the showers with them and that will make them feel
them and that will make them feel
them and that will make them feel nervous and anxious and I remember
nervous and anxious and I remember
nervous and anxious and I remember saying to him at the time I said look if
saying to him at the time I said look if
saying to him at the time I said look if what makes you feel nervous and anxious
what makes you feel nervous and anxious
what makes you feel nervous and anxious is another guy thinking you’ve got a
is another guy thinking you’ve got a
is another guy thinking you’ve got a really cute but I’m not sure the Army’s
really cute but I’m not sure the Army’s
really cute but I’m not sure the Army’s the job for you
the job for you
the job for you [Laughter]
so we started to win and as we won these
so we started to win and as we won these legal battles then there were more gay
legal battles then there were more gay
legal battles then there were more gay pop stars and politicians and
pop stars and politicians and
pop stars and politicians and journalists and the occasional
journalists and the occasional
journalists and the occasional businessperson and a sports person but
businessperson and a sports person but
businessperson and a sports person but as we won something happened to our
as we won something happened to our
as we won something happened to our coherence as a group that coherence
coherence as a group that coherence
coherence as a group that coherence started to be accompanied by a diversity
started to be accompanied by a diversity
started to be accompanied by a diversity amongst us and that diversity was born
amongst us and that diversity was born
amongst us and that diversity was born of our new freedom and that diversity
of our new freedom and that diversity
of our new freedom and that diversity enabled us not just to be gay but to
enabled us not just to be gay but to
enabled us not just to be gay but to pursue our individual ambitions and
pursue our individual ambitions and
pursue our individual ambitions and aspirations so who had we become a world
aspirations so who had we become a world
aspirations so who had we become a world had fundamentally changed
had fundamentally changed
had fundamentally changed homophobia wasn’t over but while
homophobia wasn’t over but while
homophobia wasn’t over but while prejudice was still an everyday event it
prejudice was still an everyday event it
prejudice was still an everyday event it was no longer an all-day event so how
was no longer an all-day event so how
was no longer an all-day event so how had we changed identity in the context
had we changed identity in the context
had we changed identity in the context of changing freedoms is a very
of changing freedoms is a very
of changing freedoms is a very complicated thing what that freedom does
complicated thing what that freedom does
complicated thing what that freedom does is it means that even though when
is it means that even though when
is it means that even though when somebody hits you in the face
somebody hits you in the face
somebody hits you in the face metaphorically or literally you’re still
metaphorically or literally you’re still
metaphorically or literally you’re still just a pawn for the rest of your life
just a pawn for the rest of your life
just a pawn for the rest of your life you’re Simon who’s also gay and here’s
you’re Simon who’s also gay and here’s
you’re Simon who’s also gay and here’s the thing being gay is not very
the thing being gay is not very
the thing being gay is not very interesting it just is growing up gay is
interesting it just is growing up gay is
interesting it just is growing up gay is interesting because that’s the question
interesting because that’s the question
interesting because that’s the question about what contribution it makes to the
about what contribution it makes to the
about what contribution it makes to the many-faceted person that you have become
many-faceted person that you have become
many-faceted person that you have become so identity in growing freedom is
so identity in growing freedom is
so identity in growing freedom is complicated I have a friend who is a
complicated I have a friend who is a
complicated I have a friend who is a judge and she is black and she sits on
judge and she is black and she sits on
judge and she is black and she sits on the family bench because she sits on the
the family bench because she sits on the
the family bench because she sits on the family bench in court she’s God because
family bench in court she’s God because
family bench in court she’s God because she can take your kids away but walking
she can take your kids away but walking
she can take your kids away but walking home she’s just a black woman on the
home she’s just a black woman on the
home she’s just a black woman on the streets of South London she and I have
streets of South London she and I have
streets of South London she and I have talked about this a lot what does being
talked about this a lot what does being
talked about this a lot what does being black mean at all those different parts
black mean at all those different parts
black mean at all those different parts of the day and of her life being black
of the day and of her life being black
of the day and of her life being black he’s always absolutely essential to who
he’s always absolutely essential to who
he’s always absolutely essential to who she is but so is being a judge a
she is but so is being a judge a
she is but so is being a judge a barrister and
barrister and
barrister and is being Marco now my husband is
is being Marco now my husband is
is being Marco now my husband is Nigerian should I steal those out saying
Nigerian should I steal those out saying
Nigerian should I steal those out saying the word husband it’s gorgeous
the word husband it’s gorgeous
the word husband it’s gorgeous ma my husband is Nigerian and I’m you
ma my husband is Nigerian and I’m you
ma my husband is Nigerian and I’m you know British and he so he’s African and
know British and he so he’s African and
know British and he so he’s African and I’m European
I’m European
I’m European so he’s black and I’m white and he’s
so he’s black and I’m white and he’s
so he’s black and I’m white and he’s religious and I’m not religious at all
religious and I’m not religious at all
religious and I’m not religious at all in fact he’s a Muslim and I’m definitely
in fact he’s a Muslim and I’m definitely
in fact he’s a Muslim and I’m definitely not a Muslim and we’re 26 years apart
not a Muslim and we’re 26 years apart
not a Muslim and we’re 26 years apart and whenever I tell people that they
and whenever I tell people that they
and whenever I tell people that they always say the same thing they say how
always say the same thing they say how
always say the same thing they say how do you deal with the age gap
but those are just our headlines as
but those are just our headlines as anybody who’s in a relationship or been
anybody who’s in a relationship or been
anybody who’s in a relationship or been in a relationship knows the real journey
in a relationship knows the real journey
in a relationship knows the real journey is not just understanding the headlines
is not just understanding the headlines
is not just understanding the headlines but it’s understanding each other as two
but it’s understanding each other as two
but it’s understanding each other as two different separate individual human
different separate individual human
different separate individual human beings it’s exploring our differences
beings it’s exploring our differences
beings it’s exploring our differences that bring us together and it’s sharing
that bring us together and it’s sharing
that bring us together and it’s sharing our values that keep us together and my
our values that keep us together and my
our values that keep us together and my fear at the moment is that when we over
fear at the moment is that when we over
fear at the moment is that when we over focus on identity politics it drives us
focus on identity politics it drives us
focus on identity politics it drives us into a political dead-end because people
into a political dead-end because people
into a political dead-end because people are using their identity to form their
are using their identity to form their
are using their identity to form their politics but then dangerously they’re
politics but then dangerously they’re
politics but then dangerously they’re using their identity to defend those
using their identity to defend those
using their identity to defend those views and invalidate any challenge to
views and invalidate any challenge to
views and invalidate any challenge to those views from anybody else we’re
those views from anybody else we’re
those views from anybody else we’re living in what I call the azor phase of
living in what I call the azor phase of
living in what I call the azor phase of politics as a gay man as a black woman
politics as a gay man as a black woman
politics as a gay man as a black woman as a person with disabilities as a
as a person with disabilities as a
as a person with disabilities as a middle class wanker
don’t clap too much please it’s my
don’t clap too much please it’s my sister
sister
sister the witch is my husband I think
the witch is my husband I think
the witch is my husband I think azor is used to make people’s politics
azor is used to make people’s politics
azor is used to make people’s politics but it’s then used to repel any
but it’s then used to repel any
but it’s then used to repel any challenge when Donald Trump banned trans
challenge when Donald Trump banned trans
challenge when Donald Trump banned trans people from serving in the Armed Forces
people from serving in the Armed Forces
people from serving in the Armed Forces it wasn’t about trans people he was
it wasn’t about trans people he was
it wasn’t about trans people he was playing to his base he was just using
playing to his base he was just using
playing to his base he was just using trans people as the latest political
trans people as the latest political
trans people as the latest political punch bag but too many people took the
punch bag but too many people took the
punch bag but too many people took the bait and in defending trans rights they
bait and in defending trans rights they
bait and in defending trans rights they diverted the argument the point of the
diverted the argument the point of the
diverted the argument the point of the campaign wasn’t to argue about the ins
campaign wasn’t to argue about the ins
campaign wasn’t to argue about the ins and outs and ups and downs and whether
and outs and ups and downs and whether
and outs and ups and downs and whether or not B’s of trans people serving in
or not B’s of trans people serving in
or not B’s of trans people serving in the Army the issue at stake was that the
the Army the issue at stake was that the
the Army the issue at stake was that the President of the United States the
President of the United States the
President of the United States the commander in chief was banning a group
commander in chief was banning a group
commander in chief was banning a group of citizens from one of the fundamentals
of citizens from one of the fundamentals
of citizens from one of the fundamentals of citizenship which is the opportunity
of citizenship which is the opportunity
of citizenship which is the opportunity to volunteer to serve in defense of your
to volunteer to serve in defense of your
to volunteer to serve in defense of your country I saw a guy protesting it and he
country I saw a guy protesting it and he
country I saw a guy protesting it and he had a a placard and on the placard it
had a a placard and on the placard it
had a a placard and on the placard it said pro-trans write anti-war and I
said pro-trans write anti-war and I
said pro-trans write anti-war and I thought how egotistical
thought how egotistical
thought how egotistical this isn’t about what you think about
this isn’t about what you think about
this isn’t about what you think about war that’s getting in the way that’s
war that’s getting in the way that’s
war that’s getting in the way that’s stopping us mounting a campaign a huge
stopping us mounting a campaign a huge
stopping us mounting a campaign a huge alliance of people around the idea of
alliance of people around the idea of
alliance of people around the idea of citizenship and fighting Donald Trump’s
citizenship and fighting Donald Trump’s
citizenship and fighting Donald Trump’s attack on the very idea of citizenship
attack on the very idea of citizenship
attack on the very idea of citizenship itself if we’re going to find a way of
itself if we’re going to find a way of
itself if we’re going to find a way of creating utopia we have to find a way
creating utopia we have to find a way
creating utopia we have to find a way like we did with Stonewall we won
like we did with Stonewall we won
like we did with Stonewall we won because we made alliances we won because
because we made alliances we won because
because we made alliances we won because we convinced people our mothers and
we convinced people our mothers and
we convinced people our mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters and
fathers and brothers and sisters and
fathers and brothers and sisters and uncles and aunts and cousins and
uncles and aunts and cousins and
uncles and aunts and cousins and colleagues and friends and neighbors we
colleagues and friends and neighbors we
colleagues and friends and neighbors we convince people of a vision of a country
convince people of a vision of a country
convince people of a vision of a country in which all of us them and us could be
in which all of us them and us could be
in which all of us them and us could be equal a country in which which was not
equal a country in which which was not
equal a country in which which was not just a gay country not still a straight
just a gay country not still a straight
just a gay country not still a straight country but a country in which equality
country but a country in which equality
country but a country in which equality flourished for all of us
flourished for all of us
flourished for all of us the historic imperative of politics at
the historic imperative of politics at
the historic imperative of politics at the moment is for us to reach across
the moment is for us to reach across
the moment is for us to reach across boundaries so we can unite around a
boundaries so we can unite around a
boundaries so we can unite around a principle which the vast majority of us
principle which the vast majority of us
principle which the vast majority of us agree on it is not to strengthen the
agree on it is not to strengthen the
agree on it is not to strengthen the sectional interests of the tribes but to
sectional interests of the tribes but to
sectional interests of the tribes but to build alliances between them in the
build alliances between them in the
build alliances between them in the greater good and it’s complicated
greater good and it’s complicated
greater good and it’s complicated identities complicated when when people
identities complicated when when people
identities complicated when when people say to me sorry correction when white
say to me sorry correction when white
say to me sorry correction when white people say to me oh I don’t see race I
people say to me oh I don’t see race I
people say to me oh I don’t see race I just treat everybody equally I say to
just treat everybody equally I say to
just treat everybody equally I say to them if you don’t see race you’re really
them if you don’t see race you’re really
them if you don’t see race you’re really missing out on something but if you only
missing out on something but if you only
missing out on something but if you only see race you’re also missing out on
see race you’re also missing out on
see race you’re also missing out on something and that’s true whether you’re
something and that’s true whether you’re
something and that’s true whether you’re talking about race or sexual orientation
talking about race or sexual orientation
talking about race or sexual orientation or gender or any of the other big
or gender or any of the other big
or gender or any of the other big identity groups in my life I’m Simon I’m
identity groups in my life I’m Simon I’m
identity groups in my life I’m Simon I’m gay I’m a citizen and those things
gay I’m a citizen and those things
gay I’m a citizen and those things overlap and intersect and if we’re going
overlap and intersect and if we’re going
overlap and intersect and if we’re going to build a utopia we need to seek to
to build a utopia we need to seek to
to build a utopia we need to seek to understand each other’s lives
understand each other’s lives
understand each other’s lives and each other’s experiences and each
and each other’s experiences and each
and each other’s experiences and each other
other
other differences in order to collaborate to
differences in order to collaborate to
differences in order to collaborate to build a society that we all can live in
build a society that we all can live in
build a society that we all can live in if the personal really is the political
if the personal really is the political
if the personal really is the political then we need to see difference value
then we need to see difference value
then we need to see difference value difference understand different and
difference understand different and
difference understand different and embrace difference of individuals and of
embrace difference of individuals and of
embrace difference of individuals and of groups in order to build a world that’s
groups in order to build a world that’s
groups in order to build a world that’s fit for all of us thank you very much
fit for all of us thank you very much
fit for all of us thank you very much [Applause]
”
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