What began as a small project funded by a Kickstarter campaign, to document the threats and violent hostility against a human rights activist, was eventually picked up by David Furnish and Elton John who have produced an interesting documentary on the life of socialist gay activist Peter Tatchell, a man who is possibly not all that well known these days but who seemed to be forever in the news in the 80s and 90s. In a not particularly creative format Sir Ian McKellen narrates the story and interviews Tatchell about his life and activism while news footage of the events help bring memories back for the viewer old enough to recall the events or show the younger audience the struggle for gay rights in an all too recent past. Nevertheless, it is an absorbing story and a compelling review of the gay rights movement in the 70s, 80s and 90s.
Given his propensity for direct action there is much of Tatchell’s activism that has been left out. There is, for instance, no mention of the ambush on Tony Blair’s motorcade in protest against the Iraq war or the attempt to get an arrest warrant for Henry Kissinger for the bombing in Cambodia (see Tatchell story in The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/jun/01/hating-peter-tatchell-documentary-netflix-lgbt-rights ) yet there is a small segment showing a foul-mouthed homophobic rant by Mike Tyson against Tatchell which seems shoehorned in. What is shown, however, is a broad range of direct action covering gay rights, AIDS awareness, human rights and social justice in the UK and abroad.
I don’t remember hating Tatchell at the time. I had the impression that he was slightly smug and overly confrontational but thought he was fighting (rightly) for causes he strongly believed in. Dr George Carey, former Archbishop of Canterbury, recalls him as a ‘bullying’ man for his direct action as part of Outrage which targeted homosexual bishops who had a hypocritical public stance against homosexuality although he later concedes that Tatchell was driven by a desire for social justice. Tom Robinson and Stephen Fry also provide insights and memories which help illuminate the the theatricality of Tatchell’s direct action and his drive for social justice and human rights.
Tatchell comes across as completely committed to his activism but a narrative twist shows a vulnerable side to him. Threats and physical violence have taken a toll and hidden well beneath the seemingly self confident and assured exterior is a core of self doubt and uncertainty that is not visible in the heat of action. There are also touching scenes with family, especially his fundamentalist Christian mother.
Watching the documentary I came to admire Tatchell more than I remember when he was always in the news and can only wish for more committed direct action activists like him. We sorely need them. Thatcher, on the other hand, I hated then and still hate now. My anger at her, not least for her policy known as Section 28 which forbade the ‘promotion of homosexuality in schools, has not waned over the years. They say we get more conservative as we get older but having watched the Netflix documentary on Peter Tatchell I can only conclude I have moved all the way left in my old age.
Significantly Different 