AS we countdown to Ilkley’s inaugural PRIDE on Saturday, July 2, Sara Jane Perovic finds out why coming out as gay in the 1980s was so terrifying

AWARD-winning actor and drag artist, Mark Wood, 57, is looking forward to performing at Ilkley’s first-ever PRIDE.

But he explains why coming out as gay in 1980s Ilkley was a terrifying experience.

He has awful memories of homophobic slurs, derogative use of language and even homophobic attacks.

Mark said: “I felt very threatened in Ilkley.

“I grew up with the belief that being gay is wrong and I blame Section 28 for creating such prejudice towards the gay community. People believed the Government’s messaging. It was terrifying.”

In 1983, a story book, Jenny lives with Eric and Martin, was written to help children understand different types of family relationships.

But Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher commented: “Children are being taught they have an inalienable right to be gay so they are all being cheated of a sound start.”

Section 28 followed and was a controversial law that prohibited councils and schools from promoting homosexuality.

Mark said: “On TV gay men were stereotyped such as John Inman in ‘Are you Being Served’ and I remember friends ridiculing a barman at The Crescent pub and calling him a puff.

“Any admission of being gay and you were incorrectly linked to being a paedophile.”

Mark said his extended and close family held similar beliefs so he felt it almost impossible to openly admit being gay.

“It made me realise I couldn’t ever be gay,” he said.

Baroness Knight, who was largely responsible for introducing the law, later apologised in case the law had hurt anyone and said her intention had been the well-being of children.

PRIDE organiser David Shaw also did not feel comfortable to come out as gay in Ilkley until he was 51.

David said: “I felt it was impossible to come out.”

Mark added: “I also delayed coming out because of the AIDS pandemic in the 80s.

“I believed the rumours to be true. For example, that you could catch AIDS from kissing or from toilet seats. It made me afraid to be who I am.”

Feeling threatened, in his early 20s, Mark decided to move away from Ilkley to Bradford.

He said: “It makes me angry that I had to move away. You end up being behind your peers because your focus is to find you and who you really are.”

Find out next week from Ilkley’s Conservative MP, Robbie Moore, how attitudes towards homosexuality have changed.