Paul O'Grady bravely mocked 'bigoted' police in gloves to raid in AIDS crisis

29 March 2023 , 08:49

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Paul O'Grady bravely mocked 'bigoted' police in gloves to raid in AIDS crisis

Paul O'Grady has died at the age of 67 and his friend activist Peter Tatchell has revealed he will carry on Paul's work in his honour as he recalled a hilarious story about his pal from his days performing live in London pubs on Wednesday's Good Morning Britain.

The performer, presenter and campaigner was working with Peter to campaign to get an apology from the police for the decades of harassment and victimisation of LGBT+ people.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Peter told Susanna Reid and Martin Lewis about why LGBT+ activism was important to Paul.

Peter recalled a gig in 1987 where Paul was performing at the gay pub the Royal Vauxhall Tavern in London.

Paul O'Grady rose to fame in the 1990s with his drag queen persona Lily Savage

"Back in the 1980s and beyond, the police were targeting the LGBT+ community. It was pure homophobia, there'd been a partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967, but not a full decriminalisation in England, Wales until 2003.

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"So the police were using all these residue laws to really harass and victimise the community and Paul was there about to go on stage, and he told the tale that he was in his dressing room when these policemen burst in. And his first instinct that was that they were strippers and part of the show.

"When he went on stage, he saw the police manhandling the customers wearing rubber gloves, because this is the height of the AIDS pandemic and ignorant and bigoted police believe that if you touched a gay man, you would get HIV. So he shouted out to the coppers, 'Oh good, you're here, you can help with the washing up.'"

The campaigner explained the presenter was working with the Peter Thatchell foundation to launch a campaign in a couple of months time to call on the police to make an apology for the decades of harassment and victimisation of LGBT+ people.

Campaigner Peter Tatchell paid tribute to his friend Paul O'Grady (ITV)

Peter continued: "Tens of thousands, mostly gay and bisexual men were arrested under those ancient laws that were not fully repealed until 2003 and he wanted that apology, not just for himself, but for everybody, the unsung, unknown people who had been dragged to court sometimes jailed given huge fines. It was shocking and he was very angry."

The friend of the broadcaster confirmed he would continue on with the campaign in Paul's honour.

"We've got all the quotes, all the videos were done and ready to go so we will probably use those in some way with permission of Andre his husband. But, the campaign will go ahead and I think it's undoubtedly what Paul would have wanted."

Charlotte McIntyre