UK’s BBC is one of the many British institutions that are putting on special cultural events to mark the 50th Anniversary of the de-criminalization of homosexuality in the country. They have launched a rather stunning TV series called Queer Britain presented by YouTuber and journalist Riyadh Khalaf which plans to get under the skin of queer culture and shines a light on the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community.
26 year old Khalaf, who has a Middle Eastern and Irish heritage, and is one of Ireland’s leading activists for LGBT rights, uses his own personal experiences to explore issues affecting many 16-35 year-old LGBTQ+ people across the UK. He is articulate, quick-witted, very funny and totally charming to boot. Also the fact that he is very handsome too does not exactly hurt. During the series, Riyadh will be meeting those sleeping rough as a consequence of their sexuality and those who are shunned by the LGBTQ+ community, and goes behind the scenes with performers from the highly successful club night Sink The Pink.
This illuminating look at contemporary Britain would normally only be accessible to viewers in the UK, but for once the BBC are posting the series on YouTube too for global viewing. Episode one (or 6) is called Does God Hate Queers? and for this Khalaf meets a dis-fellowed Jehovah’s Witness, a Muslim woman seeking a marriage of convenience and trans-masculine Christian, Elijah, as he is renamed in church.
