Part of the job of being an older queer performer is creating narratives to inspire the younger queers.
We have a unique history. The first gay pride I attended in London was not a parade - it was a protest. We were frequently beaten, arrested and excluded from mainstream society. Our politicians were openly talking about putting people with AIDS in quarantine camps, and that was considered to be rational discourse. It was a dark time in a mean spirited country that seems quite alien now.
It's almost impossible to imagine that world today, but we continually need to be vigilant and share our stories within our communities to ensure it never happens again.
I wrote this song for my gorgeous friend Dino Huang, who is an artist currently living and working in Berlin, but I suppose the message is relevant to many young gay men. Don't be afraid of kindness or tenderness because it's easy to become bitter and isolated.
The images for this video were captured at Curtain Up studios in Bangkok by Kuhn Kurazee.
This song is available on my debut solo album, check out my website www.tommypoppers.com
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