Rosie Jones: ‘Pride Events Are Not Always Built For All Queer People’

On the subject of celebrating Satisfaction, stand-up star Rosie Jones takes the identical strategy as she does along with her comedy – and does issues her personal manner.

Previously few years, Rosie’s star has continued to rise because of appearances on exhibits like The Final Leg, 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Query Time, which noticed her making headlines after a powerful speech urging the government to “stop ignoring disabled people”.

In addition to her comedy profession, Rosie has additionally written for exhibits like Netflix’s Intercourse Schooling, and hosts her personal podcast, Daddy Look At Me, with fellow comedian Helen Bauer.

As a part of our Over The Rainbow interview collection, we spoke to Rosie about why Sandi Toksvig is her final queer icon, and the significance of accessibility on the subject of Pride…

What’s your favorite Satisfaction reminiscence?

I, as a 31-year-old homosexual lady, have by no means been to Satisfaction. And that’s for a number of causes. Primary, I didn’t come out till I used to be 27 and earlier than that, I felt like I’d be a fraud if I went. I knew I used to be homosexual, however I used to be so terrified that if I went, everybody else would comprehend it, too. After which, after I got here out, I had a number of years of going “oh I ought to, I ought to go to Satisfaction”, however being bodily disabled, I hate crowds, particularly when persons are arseholes.

And so my favorite Satisfaction second was in 2019. It was 50 years of Stonewall., and I awoke and thought to myself, “I have to go to Satisfaction, I have to go to Soho, I have to be within the crowds, come on, what’s your downside?”. However I simply felt so anxious. After which I used to be like, “wait a minute, Satisfaction is for celebrating and campaigning about LGBT rights and celebrating being proud to be homosexual… however, I’m proud to be homosexual each single day. I don’t have to put on a rainbow bikini and get off with 10 girls in Soho to show how homosexual I’m”.

So, as an alternative, I went to Shoreditch and I discovered a tattoo store and an excellent trans tattoo artist. And it’s so small, however now I’ve obtained the rainbow colors tattoos in dots on my arm, and I fucking find it irresistible. And now each time I take a look at my arm, I’m happy with who I’m, and proud to be homosexual. I’m so glad I obtained it on Satisfaction, however really it’s greater than a day for me, it’s a tattoo, it’s for all times.

So I’m sorry I don’t have a reminiscence of attending Satisfaction, however for me, as a bodily disabled particular person, I really feel like I want to spotlight the truth that typically the Satisfaction parades usually are not constructed for all queer individuals.

Who’s your LGBTQ hero?

I’m a comic however I might say in the beginning that I’m a author. I like writing a lot, and I actually really feel like my hero is Russell T Davies, as a result of all the things he fucking does is completely superb.

While you assume again to Queer As Folks, nothing had ever been on telly like that, it was simply unapologetically displaying the queer group, and it’s good.

And even now, even in 2021, once you assume “oh nothing’s off the desk, all the things’s been completed”, It’s A Sin got here alongside. I didn’t realise how privileged I used to be in that I used to be a baby through the AIDS disaster, I missed Part 28, however watching It’s A Sin actually opened my eyes, and it was a narrative that wanted to be advised.

What’s your go-to Satisfaction anthem?

Nicely, that is one in every of my favorite songs. For ages I used to be a little bit of a moron and I didn’t even make the Satisfaction connection, however my favorite anthem is True Colours by Cyndi Lauper.

I at all times knew it was about attending to know the actual particular person, however positively relistening to it as an out lesbian, it actually speaks to me, in that you simply simply have to embrace your self and in case you are true to your self, someone will love you. And likewise, it’s greater than that, it’s about self-love. And it’s only a stunning track. I find it irresistible.

What’s your favorite LGBTQ movie?

It’s obtained to be Pride. Like It’s A Sin, it simply highlighted what it was prefer to be homosexual within the 80s, and I at all times consider that stunning scene with Bill Nighy simply buttering bread and popping out as an older man, an older man from a tiny Welsh city.

And really we have to recognise how fortunate we’re having the ability to come out, as a result of for some individuals, it’s terrifying. 

What was an LGBTQ TV present or TV second that made you’re feeling represented?

This TV second might be the second that I made a decision to come back out. And it’s from Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Buffy handed me by [at the time] however individuals at all times mentioned, “oh my god, watch it, you’ll find it irresistible”.

There’s a personality in it known as Willow, and she or he comes out as homosexual, however how they do it’s so pure and so stunning. She had a boyfriend for a lot of collection, after which she meets a woman. And he or she doesn’t actually perceive her emotions, however she is aware of they like hanging out collectively, and at last they get collectively – this can be a spoiler alert – however one thing devastating occurs, and a principal character dies. And whereas they’re grieving, Willow has a kiss with Tara, her girlfriend. And it’s such a caring, loving kiss, between two individuals grieving.

And really the context of all that, is that it was one of many first lesbian kisses on American TV ever, so it was a large, large second. However, it wasn’t sexualised, it wasn’t “oooh, two fairly women are getting off”, it was two individuals grieving, giving one another love and luxury. And simply understanding how massive that second was in TV historical past, after which understanding how underplayed it was, it’s stunning. And it made me go, “why am I nonetheless ashamed of popping out?”. And I did! 

Who could be your final queer icon?

I feel as a result of I’m a comic, I have to go for Sandi Toksvig. At first, she’s hilarious and good, and so, so intelligent. And I met her just lately and she or he’s simply so giving and I feel she’s at all times been proud to be homosexual and highlighted homosexual points, and I like how political she is.

But in addition, away from her sexuality, she’s only a good comic and presenter, and I simply take a look at her and I feel, “at some point I wish to be you”. She’s a complete queer icon.

What’s your message for younger LGBTQ individuals this Satisfaction month?

Keep protected. And simply be you. Don’t really feel such as you’ve obtained to do one thing simply because it’s “Satisfaction”. You may rejoice Satisfaction nevertheless you need. And wherever you need.

I spent a few years within the closet, as a result of I didn’t really feel homosexual sufficient. And that’s bullshit. Even, the notion of being “homosexual sufficient”… as a result of I’m homosexual! I’m me, and I’m unapologetic, so simply be your self, and fuck everybody else.