Skip to content

Peter Tatchell on his life-long fight for gay rights

Boxer Mike Tyson, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and a former Archbishop of Canterbury - just a few of the people Peter Tatchell has protested against during a lifetime of campaigning for human rights.

As the activist turns 70, he tells BBC News about the fear he has felt as he faced violence and jail time for standing up to discrimination of all kinds.

Tatchell plans to keep campaigning well into his 90s, and says he hopes to live to see "an end to the residual elements of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in British society".

Reporting by Josh Parry, video by Lorna Acquah.

29 January 2022

Explore More

Two cast members on stage of the production

50 years of NI gay befriending helpline

Northern Ireland

The parade left Festival Park at midday and finished at Glasgow Green

Thousands join colourful Glasgow Pride parade

Paul Wilson at Edinburgh Castle

Arrested at Edinburgh Castle for being gay in the Army

Edinburgh, Fife & East

Two people make a loveheart symbol at a London Pride march

Pride in London: Five things you might not know

Newlyweds John, 39, and Les, 50, both in suits, sat atop Durham's riverside bull sculpture.

'It's the first gay wedding the church has accepted'

Man in parade holds sign saying Trans Rights Now

Pride returns to Edinburgh with colourful celebration

Edinburgh, Fife & East

Cwmbran Deaf Choir

Deaf choir to perform at Pride Cymru

Euvgenia and Michael Kozlov

Parents of ex-hostage tell BBC of his 'miracle' return

Image of two men in front of barbed wire

LGBTQ+ photo exhibition comes to Tate Modern

Migrant from Venezuela

Migrants react to Biden's new immigration plan

Mike Jackson

How the miners changed LGBTQ+ history

Grace Banu

Indian activist Grace Banu wants more rights for the transgender community

Apsara Reddy

Trans politician Apsara Reddy on LGBTQ representation in Indian politics

Priscilla The Party

Behind the scenes at London's most glittering show

Dr Hilary Cass, chair of the Cass Review

'Toxicity of gender debate' affecting treatment - Cass

Not Dead Yet class members

Inside one of London's LGBTQ-friendly fitness classes

Professor Audrey Gadzekpo

Ghana’s ‘dented its international image’

Reverend Dr Karl Rutlidge

'I feel I am the man that God made me to be'

Thetford Town Football Club manager Matt Morton, who came out as gay in 2019.

Footballer welcomes increase in openly gay players

John Sizzle of The Glory in east London

The impact of closing London's LGBTQ+ venues

A snowy tree in Llanuwchllyn, Gwynedd

Watch: Snowy scenes as cold snap hits UK

Several weather warnings have been issued as the first snow of the season hit parts of the UK.

A group of schoolchildren in purple jumpers singing Happy Birthday to King Charles

Children sing Happy Birthday to the King

The monarch smiled as the group of youngsters sang to him with their teachers during a visit for a food poverty project.

A composite image of June Spencer as a young and older woman

Watch: June Spencer recounts her lifetime on The Archers

The radio star, who played Peggy Woolley in The Archers, has died aged 105.

Antonio Banderas looking at a Blue Peter badge next to Olivia Colman who is excitedly putting her badge on. A sign in the background reads Paddington in Peru

Watch: Colman's Blue Peter badge delight baffles co-star

The Oscar-winning actress appeared overwhelmed with joy when presenter Shini Muthukrishnan awarded her the badge.

Prince William playing rugby with school children in Cape Town

Prince William plays rugby with children in Cape Town

The Prince of Wales is on a trip in South Africa promoting his Earthshot environmental prize.

a woman looking at an off-screen interviewer. Her gaze is direct and she is wearing a black top and plum-coloured lipstick

'Little girls were threatened in the most depraved way'

Catherine Kierans from the PPS explains how Alexander McCartney abused young girls online.

King Charles standing at a podium

King: 'It is vital that we understand our history'

King Charles says says "the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate" in a speech to Commonwealth leaders.

A still from the bodycam footage showing the moments before Chris Kaba was shot

Bodycam video shows moments before Chris Kaba shooting

Police release bodycam footage showing moments before Chris Kaba is shot.

Scorpion

'Our flatmate found a scorpion in her Shein parcel'

A university student had a shock when she found a live scorpion in a clothing parcel from fast fashion firm Shein.

Princess of Wales

Kate in Southport for surprise first public visit since chemo

The Princess of Wales arrives in Southport for her first official engagement since finishing cancer treatment.

Learner motorbike rider uses phone while overtaking

Watch: Dangerous driving caught on camera

More people are being prosecuted for dangerous driving thanks to a huge increase in footage submitted to police by the public.

King Charles dancing

'He's got the moves' - King tries Samoan dance

The King and Queen met guests representing the Commonwealth at a St James's Palace reception.

Prince William and David Beckham pose in front of a helicopter

'East End boy' Beckham helps with Prince William fundraiser

Beckham says he was "excited and proud" to help raise money for the London Air Ambulance service.

Prince Harry smiles at WellChild Awards

Prince Harry arrives in London for charity awards

Prince Harry poses for photographs as he visits London for the WellChild Awards ceremony.

Harrison in the water, the sun is shining on the water and there is a boat behind him

Teenager swims Bristol Channel before rugby game

Harrison, 15, swam "non-stop" for several hours, then played rugby the next morning.

Huw Edwards outside court

Watch: Silent Huw Edwards arrives at court

The former BBC News presenter has arrived at Westminster Magistrates’ Court filmed by TV cameras, photographers and watched by journalists.

Gary Lineker, Joe Hart and Danny Murphy sit in the Match of the Day studio, with a backdrop of the Royal Albert Hall

Match of the day or Last Night of the Proms? Well, it's both!

To mark the 60th anniversary of Match of the Day, the football pundits had a go at some Proms commentary.

King Charles grins as three rugby players wearing black New Zealand t-shirts give him hug

Watch: King surprised by 'very healing' hug with rugby players

King Charles laughed after accepting the surprise offer from a player on New Zealand's women's team.

Emily Maitlis

Emily Maitlis reflects on impact of Prince Andrew interview

The 2019 interview, widely viewed as a "car-crash", saw the prince talk candidly to Maitlis about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Dionne Barrett

'Absolutely sickening': Mum reacts to early release of son's killer

Dionne Barrett said it is 'absolutely sickening' that a man jailed for her son's manslaughter will be released.