大象传媒

Your love - forbidden.

Your way of life - against the law.

That was the chilling reality for countless gay people in the UK.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act of 1967 which partially decriminalised sex between men, Andrew Scott tells the remarkable story of how gay people and gay culture came to transform pop culture in the face of persistent oppression.

This first episode covers some of the pioneering queer entertainers such as Fred Barnes and Noel Coward, both of whom managed to incorporate coded references to their sexuality within their music and writing.

The Kinks biographer, Jon Savage, details how the band enjoyed challenging conventional ideas of 1960s masculinity, whilst Ex-Rolling Stones manager, Andrew Loog Oldham reveals his pride in teaching Mick Jagger to dare to be himself - incorporating a camp on-stage swagger which would go on to inspire a generation.

Broadcaster and Scissor Sister, Ana Matronic details the liberation that gripped the nation when disco hit in the 1970s. Spandau Ballet bass guitarist, Martin Kemp reminisces the post-punk attitude of the New Romantics in the 1980s, genres would eschew traditional masculinity, favouring a heavily made-up look and outrageous outfits that drew heavily on the aesthetics of gay culture.

Professor Matt Cook and Dr Rebecca Jennings give insight in to the unique challenges faced by gay men and women throughout, alongside activist Peter Tatchell who explains the acts which began the journey towards equal rights for queer people, as well as giving a first-hand account of London's first Gay Pride event in 1972.