My acceptance speech at the Stonewall awards...
Last night I was named 'Journalist of the Year' at the Stonewall awards at the Victoria and Albert Museum alongside Joan Bakewell. This was my acceptance speech:
The only gay award I've ever been nominated for before was 'Worst Dressed Gay Man In Britain', and I was beaten by David Furnish, so I am really chuffed by this. And I'm especially honoured to be named at the same time as Joan Bakewell. Watching her argue against religious bigots and defending gay people on the television was a really important part of my childhood. Long before gay people met in prestigious venues like this, long before we had gay cabinet ministers, long before it was trendy to be in favour of equality, Joan Bakewell was on our side, and it's a privilege to stand by her side today.
I'd like to thank the founders of Stonewall - I know a lot of them are here tonight - because I was a child during the horrible Section 28 rows realizing I was gay, and it was so important for me to see that there were gay people fighting back, and saying that it isn't us who have the problem - it's the people who want to treat us as lesser human beings. It is because of the amazing work led by Stonewall that we are now close to legal equality in Britain. it's because of your struggle that people of my generation can take these freedoms forgranted.
And I know Stonewall will be at the forefront of the battles that still need to be won. It's up to all of us to now change the culture of many of Britain's institutions - especially our schools. As Stonewall's research showed, in this country today, 42 percent of gay kids are beaten up, and 17 percent are told they'll be killed. That's a disgrace in a civilised society - and it can be changed.
And we also need to turn outwards towards the world. I have reported from places, like Iraq and Congo and the Gaza Strip, where gay people don't meet in the most prestigious museum in the country, surrounded by powerful people. They meet in underground carparks, and every moment they are terrified they will be captured and killed. We need to show solidarity with the gay people who are running for their lives tonight - and support the refugees who make it to our shore.
I'm so honoured to get an award from Stonewall because Stonewall's vision is so important. It says that we can be a country - and a world - where gay people are safe, and treated the same as everybody else. I think we can get there together.
