MovieChat Forums > Graham Chapman Discussion > I had no idea he was gay.

I had no idea he was gay.

posted 2 years ago by samoanjoes (58554)
7 replies | jump to latest

I don't blame him for hiding it for so long considering it was illegal in his country just a few years earlier.

[–] Quasimodo (16388) 2 years ago

He didn't really hide it.

[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

As a semi-serious Python fan, I've known for decades, I think since the 1980s. Ten seconds of research has told me that he actually came out in public in the early 1970s, but I didn't find out at the time because of childhood.

He was actually quite the pioneer for gay rights and coming out, but since he never "read" as gay, I suppose lots of fans never noticed. They had to read up on behind the scenes stuff to find out, because he never played gay in any of the Python works.

[–] samoanjoes (58554) 2 years ago

I found out because I was on his Wikipedia page. I wasn't alive in the 70s but I'm sure it was a big deal.

[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

You'd think it was a very big deal at the time, but you'd probably have to ask British fans older than 65 to find out!

Sorry, I'm almost old enough, but the wrong nationality.

[–] hyperjet (751) 2 years ago

It was assumed then that most British celebs were gay. It didn't MATTER, People just wanted to be entertained. Graham was wonderful at it.

[–] samoanjoes (58554) 2 years ago

He's great but I always felt he was never as popular as Cleese and Idle.

[–] hyperjet (751) 2 years ago

He took a bit of a back seat but he was a great lead in their two big movies. He will always have that.