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Ordinary people share the objects that have helped define their lives since homosexuality was decriminalised, including a rare collection of the first openly gay magazine.

Every so often the world changes beyond your wildest dreams. In 1967, the Sexual Offences Act partially decriminalised homosexuality, offering lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people the opportunity to start living openly for the first time.

Presented by Stephen K Amos and Susan Calman, this unique series features LGBTQ people from across the UK as they share the objects that have helped define their lives during 50 transformative years.

In episode one, these crowdsourced treasures range from a rare collection of the first openly gay magazine (featuring a virtually unknown young singer called David Bowie) to letters from worried parents trying to understand their newly 'out' daughters and sons.

Over 20 incredible years, 1967-1987, we meet the fearless revolutionaries of the Gay Liberation Front, a transgender pioneer who almost caused a strike and a woman who faced losing her children when she came out as a lesbian. By the early 1980s, LGBTQ people were starting to build a community, which would be tested to the limit when Aids loomed.

This is the story of ordinary people in extraordinary times - told through their cherished possessions - charting the joys and heartbreaks of just being true to yourself.

Prejudice and Pride: The People's History of LGBTQ Britain is part of Gay Britannia, a season of programming produced in 2017 to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Sexual Offences Act.

59 minutes

Last on

Mon 13 Jun 2022 02:30

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:02

    Frankie Knuckles

    Your Love

  • 00:05

    The Association

    Le Fruit De La Vie

  • 00:06

    Curtis Mayfield

    Pusherman

  • 00:06

    Brewer & Shipley

    One Toke Over The Line

  • 00:07

    Judy Garland, Herbert Stothart

    Wizard of Oz

  • 00:07

    David Bowie

    Space Oddity

  • 00:08

    Cat Stevens

    Morning Has Broken

  • 00:08

    The Delfonics

    Ready Or Not Here I Come

  • 00:10

    Cat Stevens

    Morning Has Broken

  • 00:11

    Stevie Nicks

    Edge Of Seventeen

  • 00:12

    Grace Jones

    La Vie En Rose

  • 00:13

    Simon & Garfunkel

    Cecilia

  • 00:14

    Harpers Bizarre

    The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)

  • 00:15

    The 5Th Dimension, 5Th Dimension

    Aquarius

  • 00:17

    The 5th Dimension

    Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In

  • 00:18

    Sandy Nelson

    Let There Be Drums

  • 00:20

    Joe Cocker

    The Letter

  • 00:22

    Jefferson Airplane

    White Rabbit

  • 00:24

    Clodagh Rodgers

    Goodnight Midnight

  • 00:25

    Barbara Dane

    I'm On My Way

  • 00:27

    The Temptations

    Papa Was A Rollin' Stone

  • 00:27

    Nina Simone

    New World Coming

  • 00:29

    Kraftwerk

    The Hall of Mirrors

  • 00:30

    The Rockin’ Berries

    He's In Town

  • 00:30

    The Yardbirds

    For Your Love

  • 00:31

    The Walker Brothers

    Make It Easy On Yourself

  • 00:32

    The O’Jays

    Love Train

  • 00:36

    Aretha Franklin

    I Say A Little Prayer

  • 00:37

    Brian Eno

    The Big Ship

  • 00:38

    Desire

    Under Your Spell

  • 00:39

    Bronski Beat

    Smalltown Boy

  • 00:40

    Frankie Goes to Hollywood

    The Power Of Love

  • 00:40

    Bronski Beat

    Smalltown Boy

  • 00:43

    The Hues Corporation

    Rock The Boat

  • 00:44

    The S.O.S. Band

    Just Be Good To Me

  • 00:45

    Donna Summer

    I Feel Love

  • 00:47

    Yazoo

    Situation

  • 00:48

    Yvonne Elliman

    Love Pains

  • 00:48

    Pet Shop Boys

    Being Boring

  • 00:48

    Pet Shop Boys

    It's A Sin

  • 00:48

    Grace Jones

    Pull Up To The Bumper

  • 00:51

    Joy Division

    Atmosphere

  • 00:54

    Joan Armatrading

    Love And Affection

  • 00:55

    Max Richter

    Dream 13 (minus even)

  • 00:55

    Joan Armatrading

    Love And Affection

  • 00:56

    Wet Wet Wet

    With a Little Help From My Friends

  • 00:57

    Johnny Cash

    We'll Meet Again

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Susan Calman
Presenter Stephen K Amos
Production Company 7 Wonder Productions
Interviewed Guest Tim Hughes
Interviewed Guest Gill Williamson
Interviewed Guest Nigel Quiney
Interviewed Guest Julian Hows
Interviewed Guest Stephen Crowther
Interviewed Guest Stuart Feather
Interviewed Guest Luchia Fitzgerald
Interviewed Guest Angela Cooper
Interviewed Guest Carol Steele
Interviewed Guest Brian Hart
Interviewed Guest Sandi Hughes
Interviewed Guest Frankie O'Reilly
Interviewed Guest Sue Gee
Interviewed Guest Sue Wade
Interviewed Guest Martyn Butler
Interviewed Guest Michelle Reid
Executive Producer Eve Kay
Director Satiyesh Manoharajah
Editor Lawrence Huck
Production Manager Rosie Gray
Production Assistant Harry Gardner
Production Assistant Pada Schaaf
Assistant Producer Joseph Ingham
Assistant Producer Emma Love
Executive Producer Steve Condie

Broadcasts

Featured in...

Find out more about LGBTQ history through articles and a timeline charting landmarks of the past 50 years

Find out more about LGBTQ history through articles and a timeline charting landmarks of the past 50 years

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