I am the Reverend Jide Macaulay. I’m a minister in the Church of England and I’m a proudly out-gay man. I’m very happy with both sides of who I am. But I’ve arrived at a crossroads. At 53 years old I’ve finally met the man I want to marry. But while it’s my legal right to marry my same-sex partner, the Church of England forbids it. So if I do want to get married, I will have to choose between the love of my church and the love of my life. It’s not just a dilemma for me. Too Gay for God? BBC 2019
Am I too gay for God? ibid.
The Church of England is Britain’s biggest Christian denomination: it considers gay sex to be sinful but not gay identity. ibid.
31st March 2001 Roydon, Essex, 05:48 a.m.: ‘A geezer’s drowned in the pool … There’s a party going on and someone’s just gone out and found him … fucking hell. You don’t expect it, do ya?’ Barrymore: The Body in the Pool, 999 call, Channel 4 2020
‘31 year old Stuart Lubbock was found floating in the swimming pool at Mr Barrymore’s home in Essex; he died soon after.’ ibid. TV news
‘Just another night that went terribly wrong.’ ibid. Barrymore
‘I don’t think we really had him down as being gay.’ ibid. ex-Sun reporter
At 2:47 a party starts at Michael Barrymore’s house: there are nine people present. At 5:08 emergency services are called. ibid. caption
The immediate assumption for everybody was that the victim was gay. Because who the hell would go home with Michael Barrymore and a group of young men? It certainly seemed to be a pretty nasty gay poolside party. ibid. reporter
‘There was no third party involved in the death … This was a case of immersion, as I call it, or drowning … I would describe the injuries to the anus as horrific.’ ibid. pathologist
‘This may not be drowning and you should be aware of that.’ ibid. pathologist #2 to rozzers
The Essex Police investigation into Stuart Lubbock’s death concludes with no criminal charges. A coroner’s inquest is held to determine the cause of death. ibid. captions
‘The entertainer Michael Barrymore has refused to answer questions about alleged drug taking at his home on the night a man was found dead in his swimming pool.’ ibid. BBC news
‘Stuart had been the victim of a serious sexual assault.’ ibid. pathologist
Do you ever want to see Michael Barrymore on television again. Yes 090 190 44 41 No 090 190 44 42. ibid. Richard & Judy Show phone-in
Essex Police launch an investigation into Michael Barrymore’s public claims that Stuart Lubbock’s anal injuries were inflicted at the hospital after his death. ibid. caption
‘Stuart was assaulted quite possibly in the Jacuzzi … To make it look like a drowning thrown in the swimming pool. I believe very much that Stuart Lubbock was raped and murdered that night. ibid.
In 1984 homosexuality was legalised in NSW. By 1986 AIDS had gripped the gay community. The fear of AIDS spread across Australia. The Sydney Murders: Deep Water, Sky Crime 2020
In the ’80s and ’90s there was clearly an epidemic of anti-gay and anti-lesbian violence. It was commonplace. ibid. Sue Thompson, former Gay & Lesbian consultant NSW police, captions
Despite David identifying two of his attackers, no-one was ever charged. ibid.
In 1990 three youths were found guilty of Richard Johnson’s murder and five of manslaughter. They became known as the Alexandria 8. ibid.
‘They told me the police car and the officers involved that night belonged to a troubleshooting squad.’ ibid. witness to attack
In November 2014 the NSW Minister for Police stated that no evidence has been found to implicate police in the assault. ibid. caption
Evidence went missing and did anybody care? ibid. victim’s relative
‘The deputy coroner has slammed New South Wales police for not properly investigating the deaths of three gay men in Sydney in the 1980s.’ ibid. TV news
In 2016 the NSW police announced they are reviewing 88 deaths to explore how many might be gay-hate cases. ibid. caption
Richard Gere is gay. I’m telling ya, it’s common knowledge that down The Feathers. The Royle Family s1e4: Dad’s Birthday, Dave
No I’m not … I don’t think it’s anyone’s business. Outed I & II: George Michael, TV interview, Channel 4 2023
On April 7th 1998 at aproximately 16.48 hrs Beverly Hills police officers arrested the singer known as George Michael … engaging in a lewd act. ibid. rozzers’ press conference
The man that I knew definitely did not have that confidence … It was starting to get dark. ibid. ex-boyfriend
When I was a kid my mother had this fear of me being gay. ibid. George
Zip Me Up Before You Go Go. ibid. The Sun front page
George’s Shame. ibid. The Mirror front page
News of the World have got pictures of George in the same park cruising a year before. It’s going to be front page news. ibid. II, manager
The world wanted to hear that interview and he was ready to do it. ibid. CNN interview
It’s 30-odd years but you re-run in your mind even now what happened. Outed III [short]: Harvey Procter MP
In the best interests of black and white alike to say enough is enough. ibid. Conservative Party conference
If they could establish I was a homosexual, that would make my position difficult … His age was 19. ibid.
Arrested: Spanking MP quizzed for six hours by cops. ibid. People front page
I’m Terry Dunning. I’m a retired social worker … Outed IV [short]: Terring Dunning
It was very difficult to come out because I had two children and a wife. ibid.
This dreadful person who is gay has aboned his wife and children and is now making decisions about children and families. ibid.
Someone who was recently diagnosed with HIV … saw a way of getting money. Outed V [short]: Andrew Hartle
A successful military medical officer … There was a ban on homosexuals serving in the military. ibid.