Alan Carr on ‘awful’ Chechnya abuse of gay men: ‘Why do we never learn from history?’
By Ross Semple
Alan, who is hosting this year’s British
Describing the situation in Chechnya, , as “awful, awful, awful”, Alan told The Independent: “If someone had told me that I would live in a generation that had ‘concentration camps’ then I would have spat my tea out and said ‘bollocks,’ but yes if the reports are true this is worrying. Really worrying.
“Why do we never learn from history?”
He also said he was “surprised it hasn’t been bigger news” and urged Prime Minister Theresa May to “show some of those ‘strong stable leadership’ skills she keeps telling us about and confront” Russian President Vladimir Putin about the situation.
I’ve almost been radicalised by it. The injustice, the human stories, the unfairness and the casual homophobia has filled me with such anger and I’ve become so passionate about it that I want to do more.
A 20-year-old Alan wouldn’t have given a flying toss. I don’t know though whether the whole idea of ‘concentration camps’ might be the thing that fires up this generation – the whole concept is so outrageously evil it might spark at least an interest in gay rights.
There are some good people out there, a lot of progressive people who want to make a positive change. And let’s not forget Disney introducing an out gay character in Beauty and the Beast this is a huge step.
To be honest, yes, it was a bit weird, but do you know what I don’t want to start knocking someone’s faith; he seems like a good guy and his previous LGBT record is good. It’s just, I suppose he has to find the right balance between the spiritual and the political.