Black and Gay, Back in the Day

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.