Tony Fisher

Inside Out

In 2019 life is still easier for those that are straight than those that are gay.

In my eyes - this is a tragedy that it is up to our generation to change for the benefit of all of those – gay and straight -in the future.

I imagine that almost everyone that has come out has been subjected to some form of homophobia. Even the word ‘gay’ is used as an insult to belittle people - irrelevant of their sexuality.

I want to do my bit to help change this. Homophobia, like racism or sexism, is often a result of a lack of education. So, let’s educate people!

In this my new podcast – Inside Out - I will invite my gay and lesbian guests to share their experiences with us. How have their lives changed since coming out, what advice they would they give to others who might be struggling with their sexuality and most importantly what actions do they believe need to be taken in order for the next generation to never experience the injustice of homophobia.

You might ask why I – a middle class, straight, white man – who has rarely been subjected to discrimination or abuse of any kind should be a suitable host for such a podcast. And in many ways, you might be right. And yet, I have no doubt that there are probably numerous other podcasts or programmes when one member of the LBGTQ community interviews another about their shared experiences. But I see it this way. As a straight man, I am the exact demographic of the type of person who isdiscriminatory towards gays and lesbians. I am, therefore, the exact category of person that needs educating. That needs to be involved in these types of conversations. So allow me to ask the naïve questions you may have thought of but not felt too embarrassed to bring up.

By the format of the podcast being a straight man interviewing a gay guest, I hope we can reach the broadest audience possible whilst avoiding the risk of being a podcast exclusively about homosexuality for the benefit of homosexuals. This is an all inclusive podcast, relevant to everyone.

Homophobia cannot end if it is only those who identify as gay that take offence at discriminatory behaviour. It is up to us all to defend and support the integrity and rights of a community that has been mistreated for so long by so many.