Growing up illegally gay - Four life stories | 'I am...' short film

What was it like growing up being illegally gay? Before 1967, homosexuality was illegal in the United Kingdom. Through the decades, thousands of gay men were prosecuted for consensual homosexual acts.

This film tells the incredible stories of four elderly gay men who lived through this time. We hear about their double lives, heartbreaks, being arrested, coming out, losing friends to suicide and what they would say to their younger selves.

As a gay man in my mid-20s, I wanted to explore what life was like before my time. How my older gay brothers and sisters struggled to exist in a world that saw them as disgusting deviants and perverts. I believe their persecution and injustices should be remembered and respected. It was these people who paved the way for us to be out, open and free today.

This short film premiered at Buffer Festival, Toronto 2017 to mark 50 years since the partial decriminalisation of homosexual acts in the UK.

Made with a support of Opening Doors London - http://openingdoorslondon.org.uk/

Assistant Producer - Padraig Prendergast:   / prendergast  

Director of Photography/Edited by - Mandy Celine: https://instagram.com/mandyceline?igs...

Camera Operators:

Chris Fox:   / thisisfoxx  

Alex J. Brinnand:   / ajbrinnand  

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FAO: Riyadh Khalaf, United Agents, 12-26 Lexington Street, London W1F 0LE

Music from Epidemic Sound