Ian McKellen on coming out and being knighted

Actor Ian McKellen, who came out in 1988, sat down for an interview with CNN International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour to discuss that event, his activism and being named for a knighthood by anti-LGBT British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

McKellen discusses his activism and particularly the importance of coming out. He says he came out at 49, partially in reaction to Britain’s notorious ‘Clause 28, which was enacted in May 1988. It stated that a local authority "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship".

The clause was repealed in 2000.

Related:
Actor Ian McKellen says coming out made everything better
Ian McKellen most proud of his LGBT+ activism

He comments that his film career really took off after he came out. He has starred in such blockbusters as The Lord of the Rings movies as Gandalf and several X-Men films and is a frequent character in TV series.

McKellen closed the interview with Amanpour by noting that virtually the last act of Prime Minister Thatcher’s time in office was to offer him a knighthood. She resigned the same day.

Copyright The Gayly – July 27, 2018 @ 2:15 p.m. CDT.