Olly Alexander to Headline L.A. Pride After Battling Prejudice at Home: WATCH
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Pop superstar Olly Alexander, lead vocalist of British synth-pop band Years & Years, who is headlining Los Angeles Pride today, spoke out against the “No Outsiders” protests on the main stage at Birmingham Pride in the U.K. last weekend.
“There are primary schools where apparently it’s not acceptable to learn that we exist. Like that’s the issue. And all that means is that Pride is still a protest and its for us to remind ourselves to show all those kids who are being told that they can’t learn about the possibility of gay people existing,” Alexander said.
“The No Outsiders” project was created by Andrew Moffat MBE, an assistant head teacher at Parkfield Community School in Birmingham. Mr. Moffat created it to teach children about the Equality Act 2010 and British values. He also wanted pupils to recognize and celebrate difference and diversity.
Watch Alexander Perform at Birmingham Pride Below
It’s led to a massive outcry from residents, with demonstrators claiming that the teaching is “over-emphasising a gay ethos,” and criticizing the use of two books, one involving two male penguins who raise an egg, and the other a boy who wears a dress.
According to The Independent, “Headteacher Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson called the demonstrations, “toxic and nasty” and said she has received threats since they started.”
From the role LGBT politics plays in defining masculinity to the male mental-health crisis, the Years & Years frontman has given voice to people for whom silence can be an all-consuming —sometimes even fatal—burden.
L. A. Pride organizers said of their choice of Years & Years as a headliner, “Alexander has simultaneously emerged as one of the most culturally-important new voices and a once-in-a-generation frontman. His brave, unwavering and inspiring open-mindedness has helped a generation start important discussions around mental health and LGBT issues. Years & Years push boundaries by challenging notions of identity and sexuality in a way that is new to pop music, and totally their own.”
Alexander in an interview with British GQ last year, talked about his battles with depression, self-harm and homophobia and asks if more gay musicians should write openly about love.
“I’m surprised more people aren’t talking about male suicide.”
Watch the interview below.