Episode notes
In this episode, singer-songwriter and host Kris Zar speaks to Ralph and Pete, two lifelong friends and Londoners now in their seventies, reflecting on decades of gay life in the capital and the social changes they have witnessed - from a time when homosexuality was still illegal to the introduction of equal rights. Their memories offer a valuable insight into the lived history of LGBT+ people in Britain across more than half a century.
They discuss what it was like growing up in Britain when homosexuality was criminalised, police raids on gay venues and events, and how they saw the gay scene evolve from hidden bars to the large clubs of London's West End. They also discuss Ralph's contribution to establishing early fundraising initiatives for the Terrence Higgins Trust during the AIDS crisis, the fear and loss experienced by the gay community in the 1980s, how attitudes changed over the decades, and why Pride marches still matter today.