Interview with Alex and Gary (part 1)
- Reference Number: DW-94/1/3/3
- Date: 2013
- Level: Piece
- Extent: 1 item
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Description: Interview includes a BSL interpreter
1.18 ? coming out
2.16 ? straight friends visiting gay bars with him
3.10 ? acceptance and support from family
3.50 ? family are quite strong Catholics, but Gary himself wasn?t that strongly worried by the issues that the Catholic Church may have
4.40 ? dating, worry about communicating
5.20 ? They are dating, and they met at a gay pub in Wolverhampton 6 years ago called The Greyhound, details about their first date, how they first used phones to type messages to one and other, he thought he was French at first because of the way BSL works, sometimes the words get switched around
7.19 ? works in a school, that?s enough children for him, but his partner does have a daughter, so he?s like a step parent
8.15 ? in the 90s being criticised for the way he walked being gay, but then he faced similar criticism around signing so he was used to it, things were different in 2012, people don?t seem bothered anymore (understanding of trans here is quite outdated)
9.15 ? coming out in 2012 people are lucky, because it?s a ?more tolerant world?
10 ? Doesn?t really remember the AIDS crisis but does talk about attending a course about it
12.10- the scene used to be really good, but then lots of straight people started coming into gay pubs because they opened later, has to go to Birmingham now, or doesn?t really bother as it?s more expensive
13.48 ? moves to the interpreter, Alex
14.35 ? identifies as a gay man ?it hasn?t always been this way but it is now? didn?t feel like being gay way an option when he was younger, grew up in a tough area, was quite naïve
15 ? Was married and in love with a beautiful girl for 10 years ?a very happy relationship, even now we?re still really good friends? they have a daughter. Realised during the marriage that he was gay, initially he and his wife decided to keep it a secret because of the responsibility of having a daughter
16.30 ? this didn?t work, they did break up, but he was supported, which he hadn?t expected
17.35- growing up in the 70s/80s, remembering the negative messages around the AIDS crisis, a particular advert with a grave stone- did not want to be gay
18.30 ? coming out in his 30s being accepted, his mother being happy
19.42 ? ?Mum why did you never tell me this was okay to be gay before? And she said well it?s different when it?s your own child you know if it?s your own you will look after them and you will love them no matter what and it made me cry it was a very emotional time and I hugged my father probably for the first time in my life you know it was great and there was me expecting fireworks and smashing plates I was quite disappointed really but erm no it was a fantastic time?
20 ? Homophobic bullying, but not realising it was actually to do with his sexuality
- Access Status: Open
- Contact: Wolverhampton Archives, Wolverhampton Archives & Local Studies