John Barrowman

Last Sunday morning I was watching BBC1 tele as you do because Andrew Marr's slot is always informative and entertaining. I look forward to Carol Thatcher reviewing the papers cause she is an absolute scream, blunt and to the point. Bit like her mother really.

After Andrew Marr at 10.00 is a discussion programme centred round religion "The Big Question" chaired by Nicky Campbell and last week there was an audience of well respected people with strong religious views debating moral and religious issues. Among those present were the ever waffling Lord Carey ex Archbishop of Canterbury, Ann Widdecombe MP with her splendid 60's style "flick Ups" hair do, Libby Purves, Professor Richard Dawkins and John Barrowman.

John Barrowman impressed me greatly for his honest and candid response to him being gay. He said, in so many words, that he does not accept under any circumstances that because he is gay he is an evil and wicked person because he is not. He said he was a good person and did good things for people through his carreer and in his private life.

He looked at the audience of so called dignatories and bigots and said, "you may at your services have parents who have gay and lesbian children, imagine how they feel when you tell them that their children are evil and despicable.

Nicky Campbell also questioned John on his latest album titled "John Barrowman Another Side" and was asked how he chose the songs. One of those songs is the Cyndie Lauper Classic "Time After Time" and John told a little story about a friend in America who had plucked up courage to tell his parents that he was Gay, which is never easy as your heart tells you rightly or wrongly that rejection is a distinct possibility. Not only this but at the same time he also had to tell them he was HIV positive. He told them and was not rejected, but a couple days later a parcel was delivered to his home with a letter from his dad which basically said, I was never very good at putting into words how I feel but the enclosed CD of Cyndi Lauper's song "Time After Time" says it all, so play it. The words in the song ....if you're lost you can look--and you will find me time after time if you fall I will catch you--I'll be waiting time after time .

John said, this was the measure of unrequited love of a parent for their child.

The foregoing is not verbatim but is certainly the gist.

I hope every bigoted, pious, holier than though backside on those seats in the audience was uncomfortably squirming. Good on you John !

Go and buy Johns latest album, it's full of very nice songs sung by a very nice person.