Queer As Old Folk

Before the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967, gay men in England and Wales often faced stark choices about their lives and sexuality. Queer as Old Folk explores the present-day lives and relationships of several gay men who came of age when homosexuality was still illegal, and who are now growing old disgracefully.

58-year-old Clive entered a fundamentalist Christian marriage to subdue his homosexual urges. He’s still married, although he came out 18 months ago. He’s now a sexual teenager – using Gaydar, cruising saunas and having sex with numerous young men a week. Right now he has six boyfriends on the go, but he still lives with his wife.

73-year-old Alan came out in his teens, long before homosexuality was legal. But his mum said it was okay as long as he was in love, and didn't kiss them. So he’s stayed in a monogamous relationship with Jimmy for the last 45 years – and hasn't kissed him. Now the law has changed, he’s planning to marry Jimmy in six weeks’ time.

All of these men made choices about their sex lives and sexual identities pre-legalisation, and 40 years later, they’re still living with the consequences of these choices, and sometimes exploring whether they did indeed make the right decisions after all.

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