Show Notes
Journalist and producer, Abi McIntosh begins her journey uncovering Black LGBTQIA+ history with a black and white photo showing a man with short hair and a look of determination on his face as he glances towards the camera. His leather jacket and flared jeans are a staple look for the 70’s. The man - is Ted Brown - a Gay Liberation Front activist and journalist - he is straddling a bicycle and has a copy of the paper he writes for clipped to the back. Abi tracks down Ted and together they reflect on the media treatment of Black LGBTQIA+ people from the 70’s to today.
CONTENT WARNING: This podcast is about the experience of Black LGBTQIA+ communities with open discussion about racism, homophobia, transphobia and sexual discrimination.
Black and Gay, Back in the Day is an Aunt Nell Production. This eye opening series highlights the importance of Black LGBTQIA+ history, amplifying the work of its founders Marc Thompson and Jason Okundaye, as we repaint the photographs through audio, helping to facilitate the mission of honouring and remembering Black queer life in Britain.
Host: Marc Thompson Co-host: Abi McIntosh Guest: Ted Brown Producers: Shivani Dave, Tash Walker Artwork: Kemi Oyolede Music: Amaroun
Black and Gay, Back in the Day is an Aunt Nell Production, supported by the Audio Content Fund. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Black and Gay, Back in the Day
To celebrate Black LGBTQIA+ communities throughout history and on this podcast, a fantastic panel met at The Standard Hotel in Kings Cross, London. Bringing together amazing contributors - Femi Otitoju, Jordan Onubogu, Fopé Ajanaku and Marc Thompson - allowed for a wider conversation on what Black and Gay, Back in the Day means to them with additional Q&A from a live audience.
Digital creator and the director of BlaqUK (spelt with a q) Nic Farmer is inspired by a colour photograph of a man sitting on a red metal bench, his legs crossed and right arm resting across his body. He is holding a black tote bag with gold sequin detail. We know the man to be David McAlmott on his way to London Pride in 1992. It looks hot, similar to the day Nic went to UK Black Pride to talk to people about what it meant to be at such a huge gathering for the Black LGBTQ+ community. Together we go on a journey to celebrate Black culture and heritage in a space where Black Queer people are the majority.
LGBTQ+ organiser and trans activist, Rico Jacob Chace is inspired by a colour photograph of two men who appear to be posting for the camera at a party. We know the men in the forefront to be Colin and Neville at the Big Up Christmas party in Brixton, 1996. This event was organised by the first fully funded organisation in the country to work specifically to address HIV prevention amongst Black gay and bisexual men and to support those living with HIV. Rico finds another man who was there at that party, Reverend Jide Macauley. Both Rico and Jide support Black LGBTQIA+ people in thier work today and highlight the importance of looking out for each other.
Trans activist and lover of all things queer and erotic, Iesha Palmer switches things up this episode. They are looking at a photograph that was at the heart of a public campaign for HIV+ awareness in the early 2000s. A colour photo shows two Black men in a tight embrace, looking into each other’s eyes - their noses touching, as though they are about to kiss. Underneath the image reads the caption ‘We’re so much closer now - condoms are changing.com’. Medical advances mean HIV is no longer a death sentance and social attiudes are slowly shaking free of that stigma. Someone who has been there to see the progress made in the last 30 years is Marc Thompson! Together, Iesha and Marc discuss the importance of healthcare parity for Black LGBTQIA+ people.
Community organiser, Jewel Foster, is uncovers a Black and lesbian collective from the 80’s by starting with a black and white picture of a woman angled from below. It is slightly out of focus but the woman who is wearing flared trousers with a white belt and polo t-shirt draws you in. Her right arm is bent with her hips popping to the left, as she leans on sound system speakers that pile high up to the ceiling. The woman who we know to be Yvonne Taylor is looking directly at you, and wearing glasses that reflect the flash of the camera. Yvonne was one of the founding members Sistermatic, a lesbian-run sound system. Together Jewel and Yvonne reflect on how having Black LGBTQIA+ community is a priority.