L G B T Q + Big Moments on the Small Screen
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South
1959
Open D o
1970 1 973
Edward II
2
or
Girl
197
4
A Ch ange of
197 9
Sex
1983
A I DS
Report
Eastenders
1 9 89
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t e e r t S Coronation
1994
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Brookside
1998
2 1 20
s c i p Olym
es m Ga
s/ k a o ly l o H rs e d n ste a E
5 1 0 2
Songs of Praise
2018
2019
Emmerdale
s 5
South ITV
1959
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South is believed to the earliest surviving uk gay TVt dramas. First shown 24th November 1959, it follows the story of Lt. Jan Wicziewsky (Peter Wyngarde) who is staying as a guest on a plantation in the Deep South, on the verge of the civil war. When Eric MacClure (Graydon Gould) turns up at the plantation, Wicziewsky has to face up to his love for MacClure. The play addresses both sexuality and race and was shown just two years after the Wolfenden report. Homosexuality was still very taboo at the time and wasn’t decriminalised in the UK until 1967.
First UK gay TV Drama 7
During the time when South was shown, any homosexual act was still illegal in the U.K., but the Wolfenden report was being discussed. Before this any homosexual act between men had been illegal since The Buggery Act of 1533 had been passed, where the act could even be punishable by death. In 1861, acts of homosexuality were not punishable by death by you could be imprisoned or transported to Australia. The Wolfenden Report was brought on after World War II as convictions and arrests for homosexuality had risen and there was paranoia for them being blackmailed into passing state secrets to the USSR. In 1954 the conservative government set a committee up, under Sir John Wolfenden, to consider homosexuality and prostitution. Over three years they had 62 meetings. Over half of the meetings were used to conduct interviews. The committee focused on three men, Carl Winter, Patrick Trevor-Roper and Peter Wildeblood, after struggling to find gay men who would give evidence. . In 1957 the report was published for five shillings and recommended 'homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private should no longer be considered a criminal offence'. Wolfenden tried to reach his conclusion impartially and took care to avoid widespread prejudice, at the time.
"There must remain a realm of private morality and immorality which is, in brief and crude terms, not the law's business"
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"So soon after two world wars... is not a time when... the approval of homosexual conduct should be introduced"
The report brought about the passing of the Street Offences Act of 1959 which made it illegal to loiter and soliciting in public places for prostitution. Members of the conservative party and the committee itself did not agree with the published report, with James Adair from Scotland speaking of the 'serious effects on the whole moral fabric of social life', stating that 'so soon after two world wars... is not a time when... the approval of homosexual conduct should be introduced'. His dissociation from the report later hinder Scotland's legalising of homosexuality. Initially, the report was rejected by the British Government, but in 1958, The Times wrote an article by Tom Dyson calling for the reconsideration of the report, being signed by many important figures including J.B. Priestly. This helped to introduced the Sexual Offences Act of 1967, decriminalising homosexuality in England and Wales. Scotalnd had to wait until 1980 for these laws 9 and Northern Ireland until 1982.
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Edward II features Sir Ian Mckellen and James Laurenson, with Mckellen playing Edward II. It shows Edward II reign and shows his love for his favourite Gaveston, whom he passionately kisses in the play. Which makes that kiss the first same sex kiss to be featured on UK tv and possibly American TV when it was showed there five years later. The play shows homophobia and same sex relationships as well as power and tradegy.
BBC
Edward II
1970
First kiss between two men
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Open Door BBC 12
1973
Trans programme for trans women
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On the 2nd April 1973 Open Door was first aired on BBC TWO at 11.30pm. The programme featured different marginalised groups and allowed them to have a voice and better more the people of the marginalised groups could edit the programmes themselves. Rowan Ayers was in charge of the programme and went to David Attenborough, whot was in charge of programming at the time, for approval of the initial contributors he wanted. Two of which being, a group of black teachers and the Transex Liberation Group.
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"Here we have the BBC effectively abandoning its traditional concern with balance and handing over total editorial control to groups who rarely get a voice – certainly not on a national institution such as the BBC. Nothing like it had been seen on TV before."
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"If you are lucky enough to find an employer that will employ you, he knows that you are sort of under this thumb. Therefore he is not going to offer you as much money as he would the girl next door, for instance, and that's where I think it is so unfair."
Two months after the first episode of Open Door aired, Transex Liberation Group got their chance to be featured on Open Door. The programme featured trans women and discussed things such as day-to-day issues they would face, work issues, their transition journeys and how they met their partners. Although, the terminology used within the programme would today be deemed offensive, it was the terminology of the15 day.
1974
Produced as part of BBC Birmingham's 'Second City Firsts' series, Girl features Alison Steadmen and Myra Frances. The story shows Jackie, an Army Recruit forced to leave her position after becoming pregnant and her secret relationship with Chrissie and subsequently shows the first female same sex kiss on UK TV. The producer of the show had to come to the show to ensure the kiss didn't go 'too far'. The BBC TWO controller at the time thought the programme could be so controversial, he provided a warning to viewers before the show began. In 2016 the programme was made available for the first time since it had been broadcast.
First kiss between two women 16
Girl BBC 17
Julia Grant was the subject of a documentary called Inside Story: A Change of Sex, featuring three episodes of it in 1979 and then returning 20 years later, in 1999 to feature her in a final episode called 'Julia Gets Her Man'. The programme follows her journey to medically transition. Starting with getting advice about transitioning at Charing Cross Hospital to life after transitioning. Almost nine million people watched the first episode. Grant helped change public attitudes towards trans people by doing this.
George Roberts transition into Julia Grant
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Inside Story: A Change of sex BBC
1979
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1983 20
BBC
First indepth report on AIDS Both panorama and horizons covered AIDS in depth for the first time in the UK. On panorama they looked at AIDS during a wider segment about STD's and covered AIDS. Horizons had a documentary called Killer in the Village. It was the first full length in depth programme on AIDS. It was centered in New York's Gay Village where the virus was emerging from. When the programme was first shown very little was known about the virus itself, but what they did cover was the virus'ts progress, effects and awful death toll. 21
Eastenders BBC
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First Gay character and kiss on a soap
In 1986 Colin Russel (Michael Cashman) Moved into Albert Square and became the first Gay Character in a Soap Opera. But that wasn't the only thing his character is known for. Colin entered into a relationship with Barry Clark. On an episode aired on the 17th November 1987, Colin kissed Barry on the forehead, to become the first gay kiss on a British Soap Opera.
1986
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t This kiss between Colin and Barry caused numerous complaints from the British public and even caused parliament to have discussions as to whether it was appropriate to televise a gay in the midst of the AIDs crisis. It was then found out that Barry was under the legal age of consent (21 at the time), when he and Colin first moved in together. Colin broke up with Barry for fear of the repercussions of his homophobic father. Colin later went on to a relationship with Guido, where this time, In 1989 Colin is shown to kiss him on the lips. This kiss is the first gay mouth to mouth kiss on a British Soap Opera and caused outcry from the sun. The Sun published the headline 'Scrap Eastbenders' and in their article went on to write '[It was]... a homosexual love scene between yuppie poofs'. When the soap first announced they were having a gay character The Sun also called the show Eastbenders. Before his character was announced, it was leaked from the inside. The Sunday Mirror had run an article claiming he'd had a HIV test in the USA and was dying and even attempted to orchestrate 'sinister' stories on him.
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"Kids in the playground pushing and shoving and calling you a 'fag'. Throwing their drinks on you. Because of Section 28 it meant that a lot of teachers felt like they couldn't step in."
"Margaret Thatcher at the introduction of the law said "Children who need to be taught to respect traditional moral values are being taught that they have an inalienable right to be gay. All of those children are being cheated of a sound start in life." In the middle of Colin's character run, Margaret Thatcher introduced Section 28 which stated local authorities "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship". The law itself was inspired by a book called 'Jenny lives with Eric and Martin'. The book was written to show children about different types of relationships families can have. After being found in a library, the media soon stoked outcry with The Daily Mail proclaiming 'save the children from sad, sordid sex lessons'. The Education Secretary at the time said '[this] ‌ grossly offensive homosexual propaganda' was put into libraries by 'leftwing authorities'. Section 28 was made law in 1988 and not repealed until 2003. The law had devastating consequences for LGBT+ community and prevented, amongst others, libraries from stocking literature of films that had gay or lesbian content. It prevented people truly accepting themselves and having the education they needed. 25
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Channel 4
Brookside
1994
In 1994 Brookside aired the first pre watershed female same sex kiss. The kiss was between Beth Jordache (Anna Friel) and Margaret Clemence (Nicola Stephenson). When storyline was suggested, Anna Friel made it imperative that her character, Beth, being gay wasn't a reaction from her past sexual abuse from her father, but her genuine feelings. Beth was also one of the show's biggest characters, helping draw the huge ratings it was receiving, helping make the kiss monumental. Many people regard this kiss as the first female same sex kiss, when it was in 'Girl', twenty years prior. This kiss went to be broadcast uncensored at the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.
First female gay kiss pre-watershed
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ITV
1998
First permanent trans character
In 1998, Coronation Street introduced us to Hayley Cropper (Julie Hesmondhalgh), the first trans character on a British Soap Opera. Hayley Cropper went to become a beloved character of the show and became a firm favourite amongst fans. At the time there were Trans rights groups who were frustrated that the character wasn't played by a trans actor, but Hesmondhalgh worked with 'press for change', the trans rights organization, to empathetically play the character. Speaking in 2020, Hesmondhalgh said she hope she wouldn't be offered the role now as a cis woman.
Coronation Street
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Brookside kiss broadcast at the Olympic Games 30
2012
Olympics Opening Ceremony BBC 31
When the Brookside kiss was shown at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, it became the first same sex kiss to be broadcast, un censored, in 76 countries. These are countries where homosexuality was and still is criminalised, some by even by the death penalty. Since 2012, 12 countries have decriminalised same sex relationships. As of 2020, in 71 countries it's still illegal to be gay.
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Afghanistan Algeria Angola Antigua and Barbuda Bangladesh Barbados Belize Botswana Brunei Burundi Cameroon Comoros Dominica Egypt Eritrea Ethiopia Gambia Ghana Grenada Guinea Guyana India Indonesia Iran Jamaica Malaysia Maldives Myanmar Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Liberia Libya Lebanon Lesotho Malawi Mauritania Mauritius Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nauru Nigeria Northern Cyprus Oman Pakistan Palestine Palau Papua New Guinea Qatar Samoa São Tomé and Príncipe Saudi Arabia Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Solomon Islands Somalia South Sudan Sudan Sri Lanka St Kitts and Nevis St Lucia St Vincent and the Grenadines Syria Swaziland Tanzania Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uganda United Arab Emirates Uz33 bekistan Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe
Sally St Claire is one of the first trans characters to be played by a trans actor. In 2015 Hollyoaks introduced Annie Wallace as Sally St Claire. Annie Wallace advised Coronation Street on the role of Hayley Cropper when she was a research assistant there. She also went on to become the first trans actress to be nominated for a BAFTA award.
Kyle Slater, also one of the first trans characters to be played by a trans actor. Kyle, played by Riley Carter Millington, was announced at around the same time Annie Wallace's character was. Kyle's Arrival in the show was nominated for a media moment of the year.
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Trans character played by a trans actor
2015
Hollyoaks/ Eastenders Channel 4/BBC
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2018
In 2018, Liv Flaherty (Isobel Steele), came out as asexual on Emmerdale. Liv was on a friend with her friend, when she revealed she was asexual, meaning she still has romantic feelings for people but isn't sexually attracted to them. This gave great exposure to the asexual community who get little representation
Emmerdale ITV 36
First asexual character
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Songs of praise broadcast their first gay wedding
BBC
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In 2019 Songs of Praise showed their first gay wedding on the programme. This showing could have been seen as controversial as the Church of England currently bans same sex marriage. The marriage was of Jamie Wallace and Ian McDowall at the Rutherglen United Reformed Church in Glasgow being one of the only denominations to allow same sex marriage. In 2016 individual congregations were able to vote on whether their church would allow same sex marriage.
2019
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Throughout time there have been LGBTQ+ folk, but only in more recent years have we actually been accepted and seen a representation of ourselves. It is important to know the history of the community and what has happened. Oftentimes this representation comes from the media and sometimes television. This publication shows some of the major LBGTQ+ television, so you too can see how far we've come.
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