Global Courant
A number of the UK’s most prominent LGBTQ+ actors, musicians, politicians and sportspeople have spoken about their experiences with gender identity and sexuality to British Vogue.
In celebration of Pride month, which runs from June 1 to June 30 in the UK, the magazine interviewed everyone from the first gay couple to marry in the UK in 2014 to the oldest person to undergo a gender reassignment, aged 81 -year-old – as well as famous faces including Janelle Monáe, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma D’Arcy and Rina Sawayama on their journeys of self-discovery and acceptance.
In an exclusive interview with Vogue, 82-year-old Miriam Margolyes, who is perhaps best known for her role as Professor Pomona Sprout in the Harry Potter film series, reflected on the challenges she faced coming out as lesbian. in 1966, a time when homosexuality was still illegal in the UK.
“I’ve never had any shame about being gay or anything really. I knew it wasn’t a crime because it was me. I couldn’t be a criminal,” she said.
Her Jewish parents, according to the interview, reportedly forced Margolyes to swear on the Torah that she would stop having sex with women.
However, the actress, who posed nude for the magazine, said she remained proud of her identity and community. “I think gay people are very lucky because we are not conventional. This gives us an advantage. We are good artists, we are good musicians. And I like being gay.”
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