“Gay people, homosexuals, conducted their lives as secretly as possible,” Sir Ian McKellen recounts in a powerful new short film. “There was nobody who was out. Nobody.”
The four-minute film was directed by filmmaker Joe Stephenson for Tate Britain’s new Queer British Art exhibit. The exhibit provides an intimate glimpse into the lives of six different LGBTQ individuals.
In his part, McKellen offers a sad reflection on his lonely childhood growing up in Britain, and talks about why he is so vocal about LGBTQ issues today, despite the flack he often receives from conservatives and other bigots.
Actor Scott Chambers supplies the visuals for McKellen’s somber narrative.
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“Part of the reason I proselytize, talk about being gay, is because I don’t want today’s children not to enjoy their sexuality,” McKellen says. “Be aware of it, think about it, puzzle about it, discuss it, have it out in the open, because of course it’s central to what you are.”
Check out the haunting video below.
1EqualityUSA
I could listen to this man for hours. Thanks for speaking out on this subject.
girldownunder
What’s truly sad is that str8 people would rather pretend & force hetero-normative lies onto others, (knowing that they are NOT hetero), just to make themselves feel better. They prefer LGTBI live a lie & be miserable mainly because they, themselves, have issues with their own sexuality. The bigot/hypocrites who shout the loudest are usually the ones caught with their pants around their ankles cruising gay venues. It’s their self-loathing which is what fuels their inner (& outer) rage.
Thank you, Sir Ian, for being a vocal proponent of our human rights.
Nosso Crankee
Beautifully stated. Thank you.
Bob LaBlah
Sir Ian also came of age during the era in Britain where gay men were castrated chemically. Thats what happened to Alan Turing, never mind that he was the one who broke the Nazi enigma code that helped sink German subs during WW2. Oh no, that didnt matter. His (Turing) sexuality was a menace to society and had to be dealt with no matter what. Damn that Nazi leaning royal family for making no attempt to intervene, and they sure as hell did know his helped is why their asses were able to stay in power and freeload off of the commoners. Only in Britain folks.