Gay Britannia; BBC announces major new season

[doversoul1]

The BBC today announces Gay Britannia, a season of programming marking the 50th anniversary of The Sexual Offences Act 1967, which partially decriminalised homosexual acts that took place in private between two men over the age of 21.
[…]
On Radio 3, the drama Victim will trace the bravery behind the 1961 film of the same name, which was the first English language film to use the word ‘homosexual’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/gaybritannia

There seems to be no related music programmes which is probably not so surprising.

[french frank]

There seems to be no related music programmes which is probably not so surprising.

It is quite surprising, isn't it? Radio 3's only contribution seems to be the drama Victim, but the pan-BBC season mentions: 'What Gay Did For Art (BBC Two) celebrates the contribution lesbian and gay people have made to popular culture, the visual arts, literature, theatre and film.' No music mentioned there, though I dare say one could go back much earlier than B Britten & P Pears to discover something musical but I did a word check on the press release for 'music' and it did show … nothing …

[zola]

It is quite surprising, isn't it? Radio 3's only contribution seems to be the drama Victim

Not music but Radio 3 also contributes heavily this week and next in Free Thinking and The Essay.

[Barbirollians]

Perhaps more shocking is the complete lack of programmes on BBC1 where it seems the only allowed LGBT representation is in soaps and Graham Norton .

[Conchis]

It is quite surprising, isn't it? Radio 3's only contribution seems to be the drama Victim, but the pan-BBC season mentions: 'What Gay Did For Art (BBC Two) celebrates the contribution lesbian and gay people have made to popular culture, the visual arts, literature, theatre and film.' No music mentioned there, though I dare say one could go back much earlier than B Britten & P Pears to discover something musical but I did a word check on the press release for 'music' and it did show … nothing …

Programmes on Tchaikovsky, perhaps?

The irony being: Tchaikovsky would almost certainly have been opposed to legalisation of homosexuality and would be a big Putin cheerleader if he was alive today.

[vinteuil]

Programmes on Tchaikovsky, perhaps?
.

... or Rosenmüller.

But the theme is Gay Britannia - so I don't think these foreigners wd cut the moutarde ...


.

[pastoralguy]

Programmes on Tchaikovsky, perhaps?

The irony being: Tchaikovsky would almost certainly have been opposed to legalisation of homosexuality and would be a big Putin cheerleader if he was alive today.

If Tchaikovsky were alive today, he'd be in Hollywood making shed loads of cash!

[teamsaint]

I guess if you decide to run a season like this, you lay yourself open to attack , whatever you do.

I'm not sure what it is Barbi would have expected to see on BBC1 , given the usual programming ?

[Barbirollians]

I suppose my point is that it seems rather to be being kept away from the masses which is odd given the great changes in society in recent years . Perhaps the drama about Peter Wildeblood could for example be on BBC 1

[makropulos]

... or Rosenmüller.

But the theme is Gay Britannia - so I don't think these foreigners wd cut the moutarde ...


.

Quite so, but there is no shortage of British composers who would. I think that's a missed opportunity.

[jayne lee wilson]

Programmes on Tchaikovsky, perhaps?

The irony being: Tchaikovsky would almost certainly have been opposed to legalisation of homosexuality and would be a big Putin cheerleader if he was alive today.

That's a sad comment on a great artist who spent most of his life in agonised denial.
No, I rather think his story would have been closer to George Michael's.... whose tunes are known, loved and sung all over the world, just like....
Tchaikovsky.

[Conchis]

That's a sad comment on a great artist who spent most of his life in agonised denial.
No, I rather think his story would have been closer to George Michael's.... whose tunes are known, loved and sung all over the world, just like....
Tchaikovsky.

Politically, Tchaikovsky was a total Tsarist reactionary.

[Pianorak]

I suppose my point is that it seems rather to be being kept away from the masses which is odd given the great changes in society in recent years . Perhaps the drama about Peter Wildeblood could for example be on BBC 1

Radio 4: Book at Bedtime

Peter Wildeblood: Against the Law
Tom Driberg: Ruling Passions
John Lahr: Prick up your Ears

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Perhaps more shocking is the complete lack of programmes on BBC1 where it seems the only allowed LGBT representation is in soaps and Graham Norton .

And, of course, Dr Who.

I'm not sure what it is Barbi would have expected to see on BBC1 , given the usual programming ?

Which is a pertinent comment on BBC1 content - "soaps and Graham Norton" seems to be it during the week (although it is, of course, Wimbledon week). A Pointless Gay Celebrities - or an edition of Pitch Battle ending in a multi-chorus arrangement of I am what I am doesn't seem quite in the spirit of the Season. This isn't a criticism of Barbi, but of BBC1, although it could be argued that, by featuring gay characters in soaps, the channel has long "celebrated" the achievements and results of the 1967 partial decriminalization of people's expression of their sexual orientation.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

But the theme is Gay Britannia - so I don't think these foreigners wd cut the moutarde ...

I thought that this - and the fact that Peter Illyich wasn't around in 1967 - would be a disqualifying factor, too (believing that the season was a celebration of fifty years since the partial decriminalization of individuals' sexual expression, rather than simply "about famous homosexuals"). But then I noticed programmes elsewhere on Sappho, and on Artworks that have special significance to present day LGBTQ celebrities.

There are some programmes which look fascinating in store - of course much more could have been done/offered, but then the Beeb would get mounds of complaints from those members of society who haven't yet come to terms with their wet dreams. Auntie is still offering much, much more than its "Commercial" competitors can dare.