Stephen Fry: Out There

Season

2013

8

Actor Stephen Fry has for two years seeking up some of the most homophobic persons in the world who spend most of their time fighting gays, and challenges their view upon their extreme homophobia.

Episode List

S1 • E1

Episode #1.1

Actor-comedian Stephen Fry testifies about his own coming out and how British society improved for gay people since they were decriminalized in the 1960s, recently even got a legally registered partnership comparable to marriage, yet prejudices persist. The situation is much worse in various countries, some of which he can't even risk to visit, such as Iran, were practicing gays are executed. Uganda is considering such a law, but despite widespread religious bigotry civil rights activists believe its exposure as illegal will backfire. Vigilance remains necessary, as even in the US, where gay rights arose, a counter movement for 'therapy' without scientific basis in the name of Bible puritanism causes lots of grief.

S1 • E2

Episode #1.2

This episode sees Stephen visit Brazil, home to the largest gay pride celebration in the world and a place that has some of the best legislation on the planet for gay equality. But it has come at a price. All of the advances have brought about a violent backlash against gay people; on average, one gay person is murdered every 36 hours in Brazil. Stephen sees how this is impacting on the lives of gay men and women there and also confronts the politician leading the fight against gay rights. Stephen also visits Russia, where gays are now worse off than they have been for a long time. Their rights are being constantly eroded by a conservative government, backed by the disapproval of the Russian Orthodox Church. Stephen then travels to India, where the old British laws that criminalised homosexuality have just been overturned. Modern India is now looking to Hindu traditions as it forges a more positive way forward for its gay citizens, including its once celebrated transgender community.