Fighting Proud: A Gay History of the World Wars
Interviews
•
27m
At the end of World War Two the British public wanted to get back to ‘normal’. The gay men who had served their King and country found themselves subjected to a vigorous enforcement of the draconian law that would put them into prison if they were found guilty of indecency. But servicemen living in close proximity were made aware that men who chose to have sexual relationships with other men were not suffering from sexual perversion or a deadly disease, nor were they cowards or the stereotypical limp-wristed effeminates. ‘Fighting Proud’, a new book by Stephen Bourne, is about equality: being equally brave, scared, decisive, uniformed, wounded, and equally dead. War is the great leveler in which we are tested, tried and traumatised. No one ever emerges from war quite the same, whether it is battleground, air raid or that telegram with its irrevocable news. Fighting proud is heart-thumping and rousing; loving proud should be the same. In this episode, Stephen Bourne discusses the role of gay servicemen in the world wars, as well as the challenges of publishing gay history.
Up Next in Interviews
-
History Hit Live - Dan Snow and Dan J...
Dan is joined by fellow history presenter Dan Jones to talk about the Knights Templar and the crusades.
If you love Dan Jones, then join him at our book club. He is the History Hit Book Club's author for October/November 2022. The book club is a community of people who are passionate about histo...
-
Google Questions - Ancient Greece
Did the Ancient Greeks really invent the olympics? What did they wear? How did they party? What did Ancient Greek music sound like?
Host of 'The Ancients' podcast, Tristan Hughes, answers the most searched Google questions about Ancient Greece.
-
History Hit Live - How To Make Friend...
From grand castles & cathedrals to glowing sonnets and well chosen marriages, Dan is joined by Dr Eleanor Janega to find out how one might get ahead in Medieval Europe.
