What Happens When We Win? The Story Of Gay Liberation | Simon Fanshawe OBE | TEDxBrighton

I’d like to talk to you about what

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]