Lord Chris Smith: Britain’s First Openly Gay MP, Section 28 & Fighting for Equality

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Queer Talker

Ben Cicchetti

21 episodes

1 week ago

Queer Talker is a podcast celebrating the stories and journeys of LGBTQ+ individuals from all walks of life, from business leaders to celebrities and influencers. Through open and authentic conversations, we explore themes of identity, authenticity, and the power of living boldly.

Personal Journals

Society & Culture

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All content for Queer Talker is the property of Ben Cicchetti and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Personal Journals

Society & Culture

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Lord Chris Smith: Britain’s First Openly Gay MP, Section 28 & Fighting for Equality

Queer Talker

50 minutes 59 seconds

1 week ago

Lord Chris Smith: Britain’s First Openly Gay MP, Section 28 & Fighting for Equality

In this episode of Queer Talker, host Ben Cicchetti sits down with Lord Chris Smith — Britain’s first openly gay male MP, the world’s first openly gay cabinet minister, and a pioneering voice for LGBTQ+ equality in politics.

Chris reflects on the moment in 1984 when he stood on stage in Rugby and came out publicly, becoming the first openly gay MP in British history, and the courage it took to do so in a hostile climate. He shares his perspective on Section 28, the chilling effect it had on young LGBTQ+ people, and the long fight to overturn it.

We also discuss his achievements as Secretary of State, from making national museums free for all to helping pass landmark LGBTQ+ legislation under Tony Blair’s government, as well as his later decision to speak publicly about living with HIV and the extraordinary phone call he received from Nelson Mandela afterwards.

From his student days in Edinburgh and Cambridge, to becoming Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Chris has consistently broken barriers and left a lasting legacy. His story is one of courage, resilience, and hope — a reminder of how far we’ve come and the work still to be done for true equality.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in LGBTQ+ history, politics, and the power of visibility.

Chapters

00:00 Queer Panic Rapid Fire Questions

03:21 Proud Moments in Politics

05:52 Understanding Childhood and Identity

09:38 Journey into Politics

11:00 Coming Out as the First Openly Gay MP

18:09 Reactions in Parliament

20:07 The Impact of Section 28

26:02 Becoming the First Openly Gay Cabinet Member

27:41 Legislative Changes for LGBTQ Rights

32:18 The Importance of Diversity in Leadership