Black and Gay, Back in the Day

To celebrate Black LGBTQIA+ communities throughout history and on this podcast, a fantastic panel met at The Standard Hotel in Kings Cross, London. Bringing together amazing contributors - Femi Otitoju, Jordan Onubogu, Fopé Ajanaku and Marc Thompson - allowed for a wider conversation on what Black and Gay, Back in the Day means to them with additional Q&A from a live audience.CONTENT WARNING: This podcast is about the experience of Black LGBTQIA+ communities with open discussion about racism, homophobia, transphobia and sexual discrimination.Black and Gay, Back in the Day is an Aunt Nell Production. This eye opening series highlights the importance of Black LGBTQIA+ history, amplifying the work of its founders Marc Thompson and Jason Okundaye, as we repaint the photographs through audio, helping to facilitate the mission of honouring and remembering Black queer life in Britain.  Host: Marc ThompsonPanel Chair: Abi McIntoshPanellists: Femi Otitoju, Jordan Onubogu, Fopé Ajanaku, Marc ThompsonProducers: Shivani Dave, Tash WalkerAssistant Producer: Abi McIntoshArtwork: Kemi OyoledeMusic: Amaroun Black and Gay, Back in the Day is an Aunt Nell Production, supported by the Audio Content Fund.

Digital creator and the director of BlaqUK (spelt with a q) Nic Farmer is inspired by a colour photograph of a man sitting on a red metal bench, his legs crossed and right arm resting across his body. He is holding a black tote bag with gold sequin detail. We know the man to be David McAlmott on his way to London Pride in 1992. It looks hot, similar to the day Nic went to UK Black Pride to talk to people about what it meant to be at such a huge gathering for the Black LGBTQ+ community. Together we go on a journey to celebrate Black culture and heritage in a space where Black Queer people are the majority.  CONTENT WARNING: This podcast is about the experience of Black LGBTQIA+ communities with open discussion about racism, homophobia, transphobia and sexual discrimination.Black and Gay, Back in the Day is an Aunt Nell Production. This eye opening series highlights the importance of Black LGBTQIA+ history, amplifying the work of its founders Marc Thompson and Jason Okundaye, as we repaint the photographs through audio, helping to facilitate the mission of honouring and remembering Black queer life in Britain.  Host: Marc ThompsonCo-host: Nic FarmerProducers: Shivani Dave, Tash WalkerAssistant Producer: Abi McIntoshArtwork: Kemi OyoledeMusic: Amaroun Thanks to UK Black PrideBlack and Gay, Back in the Day is an Aunt Nell Production, supported by the Audio Content Fund.

LGBTQ+ organiser and trans activist, Rico Jacob Chace is inspired by a colour photograph of two men who appear to be posting for the camera at a party. We know the men in the forefront to be Colin and Neville at the Big Up Christmas party in Brixton, 1996.⁣ This event was organised by the first fully funded organisation in the country to work specifically to address HIV prevention amongst Black gay and bisexual men and to support those living with HIV. Rico finds another man who was there at that party, Reverend Jide Macauley. Both Rico and Jide support Black LGBTQIA+ people in thier work today and highlight the importance of looking out for each other. CONTENT WARNING: This podcast is about the experience of Black LGBTQIA+ communities with open discussion about racism, homophobia, transphobia and sexual discrimination.Black and Gay, Back in the Day is an Aunt Nell Production. This eye opening series highlights the importance of Black LGBTQIA+ history, amplifying the work of its founders Marc Thompson and Jason Okundaye, as we repaint the photographs through audio, helping to facilitate the mission of honouring and remembering Black queer life in Britain.  Host: Marc ThompsonCo-host: Rico Jacob ChaceGuest: Reverend Jide Macaulay Producers: Shivani Dave, Tash WalkerAssistant Producer: Abi McIntoshArtwork: Kemi OyoledeMusic: Amaroun Black and Gay, Back in the Day is an Aunt Nell Production, supported by the Audio Content Fund.

Trans activist and lover of all things queer and erotic, Iesha Palmer switches things up this episode. They are looking at a photograph that was at the heart of a public campaign for HIV+ awareness in the early 2000s. A colour photo shows two Black men in a tight embrace, looking into each other’s eyes - their noses touching, as though they are about to kiss. Underneath the image reads the caption ‘We’re so much closer now - condoms are changing.com’. Medical advances mean HIV is no longer a death sentance and social attiudes are slowly shaking free of that stigma. Someone who has been there to see the progress made in the last 30 years is Marc Thompson! Together, Iesha and Marc discuss the importance of healthcare parity for Black LGBTQIA+ people.  CONTENT WARNING: This podcast is about the experience of Black LGBTQIA+ communities with open discussion about racism, homophobia, transphobia and sexual discrimination.Black and Gay, Back in the Day is an Aunt Nell Production. This eye opening series highlights the importance of Black LGBTQIA+ history, amplifying the work of its founders Marc Thompson and Jason Okundaye, as we repaint the photographs through audio, helping to facilitate the mission of honouring and remembering Black queer life in Britain.  Host: Marc ThompsonCo-host: Iesha PalmerProducers: Shivani Dave, Tash WalkerAssistant Producer: Abi McIntoshArtwork: Kemi OyoledeMusic: Amaroun Black and Gay, Back in the Day is an Aunt Nell Production, supported by the Audio Content Fund.

Community organiser, Jewel Foster, is uncovers a Black and lesbian collective from the 80’s by starting with a black and white picture of a woman angled from below. It is slightly out of focus but the woman who is wearing flared trousers with a white belt and polo t-shirt draws you in. Her right arm is bent with her hips popping to the left, as she leans on sound system speakers that pile high up to the ceiling. The woman who we know to be Yvonne Taylor is looking directly at you, and wearing  glasses that reflect the flash of the camera. Yvonne was one of the founding members Sistermatic, a lesbian-run sound system. Together Jewel and Yvonne reflect on how having Black LGBTQIA+ community is a priority.  CONTENT WARNING: This podcast is about the experience of Black LGBTQIA+ communities with open discussion about racism, homophobia, transphobia and sexual discrimination.Black and Gay, Back in the Day is an Aunt Nell Production. This eye opening series highlights the importance of Black LGBTQIA+ history, amplifying the work of its founders Marc Thompson and Jason Okundaye, as we repaint the photographs through audio, helping to facilitate the mission of honouring and remembering Black queer life in Britain.  Host: Marc ThompsonCo-host: Jewel FosterGuest: Yvonne TaylorProducers: Shivani Dave, Tash WalkerAssistant Producer: Abi McIntoshArtwork: Kemi OyoledeMusic: Amaroun Black and Gay, Back in the Day is an Aunt Nell Production, supported by the Audio Content Fund.

DJ and producer Chantelle Ayanna is inspired by a colour photograph of two women in a DJ booth surrounded by vinyl and joy. She discovers that the image comes from the opening night of ‘Precious Brown’. A club night for Black queer women at the Candy Bar in London, Soho in the 90’s. The last couple of decades, however, has seen spaces for LGBTQIA+ people disappear. Together, the three reflect on the importance of Black LGBTQIA+ club nights, parties and music. CONTENT WARNING: This podcast is about the experience of Black LGBTQIA+ communities with open discussion about racism, homophobia, transphobia and sexual discrimination.Black and Gay, Back in the Day is an Aunt Nell Production. This eye opening series highlights the importance of Black LGBTQIA+ history, amplifying the work of its founders Marc Thompson and Jason Okundaye, as we repaint the photographs through audio, helping to facilitate the mission of honouring and remembering Black queer life in Britain.  Host: Marc ThompsonCo-host: Chantelle AyannaGuest: Ain Bailey and Marylin ClarkeProducers: Shivani Dave, Tash WalkerAssistant Producer: Abi McIntoshArtwork: Kemi OyoledeMusic: Amaroun Black and Gay, Back in the Day is an Aunt Nell Production, supported by the Audio Content Fund.

Jordan Onubogu, a musician whose artist name is Xona, looks at a black and white image of two men, one embracing the other from behind. This intimate moment was captured by Rotimi Fani-Kayode and shows the tenderness between two poets Essex Hemphill and Dennis Carney in Brixton, 1987. Xona tracks down Dennis to unpack why this image is so important. Together they reflect on the revolutionary nature of Black LGBTQIA+ relationships. CONTENT WARNING: This podcast is about the experience of Black LGBTQIA+ communities with open discussion about racism, homophobia, transphobia and sexual discrimination.Black and Gay, Back in the Day is an Aunt Nell Production. This eye opening series highlights the importance of Black LGBTQIA+ history, amplifying the work of its founders Marc Thompson and Jason Okundaye, as we repaint the photographs through audio, helping to facilitate the mission of honouring and remembering Black queer life in Britain.  Host: Marc ThompsonCo-host: XonaGuest: Dennis CarneyProducers: Shivani Dave, Tash WalkerAssistant Producer: Abi McIntoshArtwork: Kemi OyoledeMusic: Amaroun Black and Gay, Back in the Day is an Aunt Nell Production, supported by the Audio Content Fund.

Model and asexual activist, Yasmin Benoit,  begins her journey uncovering Black LGBTQIA+ history with a black and white photo of a newspaper clipping showing the winner of Mr Gay Briton 1986. The image is of a muscular man wearing nothing but a white jockstrap as a crowd of mostly white men stare at him in awe. Representation of Black LGBTQIA+ people has a rocky history. To unpack some of this Yasmin tracks down the man from the photograph, Roy Brown. Together they reflect on the visibility and vulnerability of Black LGBTQIA+ being in the public eye from the 70’s to today. CONTENT WARNING: This podcast is about the experience of Black LGBTQIA+ communities with open discussion about racism, homophobia, transphobia and sexual discrimination.Black and Gay, Back in the Day is an Aunt Nell Production. This eye opening series highlights the importance of Black LGBTQIA+ history, amplifying the work of its founders Marc Thompson and Jason Okundaye, as we repaint the photographs through audio, helping to facilitate the mission of honouring and remembering Black queer life in Britain.  Host: Marc ThompsonCo-host: Yasmin BenoitGuest: Roy BrownProducers: Shivani Dave, Tash WalkerAssistant Producer: Abi McIntoshArtwork: Kemi OyoledeMusic: Amaroun Black and Gay, Back in the Day is an Aunt Nell Production, supported by the Audio Content Fund.