Tom Robinson Band - Glad To Be Gay (Manchester 1977)

[@brianallancobb]

In 1977, you had big balls to sing this, bigger than mine. I'm not gay but a world safe for gays is a world safe for me.

[@johnsweeney1964]

I'm not gay but my son and daughter are both gay and they can now live their lives without fear because this man had the balls to sing the song

[@pateris]

You and me mate. That goes for anyone who won't let you be whoever you bloody want to be…

[@skippytheaustralian9438]

I think , you're right. Thank You.

[@torstenheling3830]

What a moving beautiful song. Unfortunately long forgotten.

[@markastoforoff7838]

I want to give you a thumbs up but I'm gay so to give you a thumbs up would be a lie but I thank you for your comment.

[@FreshScone]

Performing this in public in '77 is the true essence of punk. I respect the fuck out of this man.!!

[@johnbarry1965]

Totally agree!!!!

[@DandyLion662a]

Very courageous and principled song to perform in those days. And a great song and performance it is.

[@fray008]

the mascara snake -me to mate

[@pateris]

True, since punk was "be whoever you bloody want to be". Tom Robinson was punkier than Punky Mac Punkface in a Punkathon on Punk street…

[@eddyvideostar]

Fresh: Careful with the language.

[@Facialhar]

this was the first queer positive song that I ever heard.. Thank you TRB for giving me a reason to keep going. Love to you Tom Robinson for making me realize that there was some hope, You helped many people. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!!!!!

[@AngloAm]

My 12th grade teacher, gay, gave me, gay, the album. It rescued me from a great deal of self-loathing in 1980.

[@tobortine]

I was a teenager when this was released, I don't think Tom Robinson has ever had the recognition he deserves for the bravery he showed releasing this song. Back in the 70s it was dangerous to be gay, everything he describes happened. Institutionalised hatred of gay people by the police, social injustice, bigotry, open hatred.

[@misterhappy8682]

😂

[@DasTubemeister]

I’m not gay, but I love this song, and Toms attitude.

[@maxinemuldoon2065]

Tom stood up for the right for people to love who ever they like. Good on him! was a time when the world needed a brave and true person.

[@harrrbo]

Can't believe I hadn't heard this 'til now . Amazing , so tense with zero fear , brilliant .

[@salisburydruid]

Easy to have no fear now. It wasn't easy then.

[@simonedgbaston]

🎶 I was 13 at the time & came out 7 years later 🎵

[@misterhappy8682]

Now too late as the thing about gooming and such came true

[@kassimkhan5524]

Yes I'm a proud gay man. Will we ever be accepted

[@heidismith2824]

Wow, I remember this song at the time, I trivialised it, but listening to the words now it makes you realise how ground breaking Tom was

[@simonoreilly3090]

A powerful song from a brave man. Calling out the bigotry of the 1970s like that is no mean feat. Respect to TRB for one of the best protest songs ever performed. It's a shame that it was even necessary.

[@iizkaa]

I’ve heard this in school because we were learning about protest songs- I can’t believe I’ve only heard this now. I love this song, I really do.

[@johnstokes992]

Tom Robinson telling us that anything is possible. Love this...

[@steverohosky3846]

I saw TRB at the late much lamented Bottom Line in NYC, in '77. What a performance! Tom was a natural, so charismatic. When they performed this song, everyone in the place sang along, straight as well as gay. "Glad to be Gay" is an anthem for the ages.

[@WilliamZeebub]

ok, it started with Stonewall in the sixties... but Tom took it to the world

[@klausrain111]

WilliamZeebub It's just a really cool sounding song for lots of people, like myself. Duh. It was a major crowd pleaser when I was lucky enough to see them in Chicago in 78 or so. 2-4-6-8 Motorway is my fave. MOW-Tah-way! I guess that's like a highway over there. 2-4-6-8 Highway! Nah, doesn't work too well.

[@battybatramone]

It's sad how relevant this song still is now.. As a trans person I think it speaks for the lgbta community not specifically just gay people. A completely new generation can identify with it, when I first heard it it blew my mind how powerful a statement it is!

[@danbam3411]

It's a gay anthem. Not trans.

[@battybatramone]

+Daniel Medina we face similar issues of bigotry, from you for example, trans people can be gay. lots of songs are written with one meaning intended but are interpreted in different ways. Also, shut up.

[@danbam3411]

Shut up because it's true? Yeah okay, pal haha. Dumbass

[@svenjansen2134]

Daniel Medina No. The other guy's right. You stink. Everything is open for interpretation. Asshat.

[@danbam3411]

+Sami Jansen aw someone forgot to take their Viagra today lol good for you, dumbshit.

[@aslongasitlasts]

That song can make me cry, as a pansexual punk fan! I've listened to it today and yesterday so many times.

[@ikcalv]

andreas obuaculla I eat hummus and I’m still gay please help

[@daved2352]

Unfortunately this song has become much more prescient recently with all the anti queer rhetoric going around online right now.

[@wayno5655]

Great anthem. I listened in my room real quietly when I was a Uni student in New Zealand.

[@GreenerHill]

Must've taken a lot of guts in '77! Well done, Tom.

[@africanus56]

Gad, this takes me back.... Why this song hasn't become an anthem is a complete mystery to me

[@HBBikerX]

One of the most important songs in my life. Thank you so much tom

[@shellydrew100]

i was 17 when I 1st heard this as a biker , along with my skin-head mates , punks , mods , we all loved it and could relate to it , cheers Tom

[@arnoldsvitins2838]

"Glad to be gay" was inspired by the series of police raids on gay pubs in London, specifically a raid on the Coleherne Arms in Old Brompton Road, Earl's Court that Robinson was caught up in (1976). In the 1970s it became a notorious leather bar, with blacked-out windows, attracting an international crowd including Freddie Mercury, Kenny Everett, Mike Procter, Anthony Perkins, Rupert Everett, Ian McKellen and Derek Jarman. Sing if you're glad to be gay Sing if you're happy that way (Hey!) Sing if you're glad to be gay Sing if you're happy that way

[@Dermacrosis]

It wasn't known as Cloneherne for nothing. Though this version was aimed more at Manchester. I will say one thing for GMP in the 20 years since this was released and when I hit thee scene they have advanced by leaps and bounds. Merseyside police where still a tad behind the times back then.

[@SluttChops]

Tu esi latvietis?

[@mj.l]

@@Dermacrosis all cops are still bastards

[@salisburydruid]

A very brave man to sing out loud like that in 1977. Well done ! A hero of modern times, not many had the courage to do what he did in those days.

[@rock-steadi-cam5058]

In the late 1970s, I traveled from DC to NY to see this band... pretty sure it's the only time I left town to see a concert! You wouldn't know it from this clip, but the band was the most energetic I had ever seen. I also remember climbing over seats to get closer ;) --Gary

[@hiroshitanaka4942]

i am japanese and not a gay but i feel the same and love this song .

[@pateris]

It took mucho courage to sing this in 1977. The fact that the punk embraced M. Robinson shows that they knew what punk was about in the beginning (be whoever you want to be and screw the squares if they don't like it.) PS As the saying goes, I maybe be straight but I don't hate…

[@ethanr432]

if it wasn't for people like Tom we wouldn't have the rights we have today.

[@Max12mld]

Brilliant performance! Tom you stood up for what you believed in, good on ya Times have changed for the better!

[@andysmith8890]

Had stones as big as the Town Hall the Geezer 👍

[@icaruskaramazov2523]

R.I.p. all who died at Pulse. We still have a ways to go. Not gay strictly speaking but still.

[@NorthernFella]

Interviewed him today for a TV production I set up with some friends he is an awesome bloke.

[@skippytheaustralian9438]

That's what I wanted to hear. "THIS"

[@DandyLion662a]

Best version of a great song. Sorry to see that 7.5 years after it's posted, it only has 55 K views. Bieber gets that before breakfast.

[@BrideofPFunk]

Still happening...

[@oveu8587]

I am not gay but this is true performance! I have always like TRB. I respect all, and gay rights are important!!

[@aslongasitlasts]

One of the most moving songs I know

[@endora60]

Great angry song. Seems we've become so complacent nowadays--we need to be angry like Robinson was angry back then so we can continue the fight for equality.

[@beverleychampion3020]

very well said

[@EekDaFreek]

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang brought me here! Deep huh? I'll explain if asked...

[@Dean_Cohen2y5]

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang brought you here? Sounds interesting.

[@alisonshaw7165]

Makes me think of the homeless and the way they are sometimes treated

[@sholem_bond]

"Fun" fact: LGBTQ+ people are at an increased risk of poverty and homelessness, so it works

[@hiroshitanaka4942]

i heard this great song from mtv but i didn't understand it meaning cos i'm japanese. now days it is still shining >

[@SoulStylistJukeBox]

Fantastic!

[@klausrain111]

Saw this fantastic band in 77 or 8 in Chicago, before the show, guy next to me asked if I was gonna sing along with this song. "Nope." Love all their songs.

[@djdoolittle1315]

Brill🙃 I love you tomo

[@ozzie-sk9dh]

When music had balls and passion

[@kassimkhan5524]

Seriously though he really has balls

[@andymoore9977]

In 1977 I was an 18 year old heterosexual boy. Now in 2024 I am a 65 year old heterosexual man. TRB helped me to understand the importance of toleration and empathy all those years ago. Sadly 'in your face' modern wokism just confuses and scares me.

[@Ash-vd9ko]

‘The buggers are legal now what more are they after’

[@torstenheling3830]

Excellent

[@WilliamZeebub]

Tom.. you began the gay rights fight with that song.. I love u

[@ziggyflinthawk]

Great little groove. Very important song. Check out Lucid Rivers

[@philboakes1960]

Brilliant performance, listen to him do the song Martin. Oh he's now married to a women and has 2 children.

[@emmaduncan2991]

40 plus years later, still full of venom.

[@gmc5618]

Asexual, but I believe this song can be applied to be the ultimate LGBTQA anthem

[@andreasobuaculla9511]

all this labeling lgbtqp fuck it all we are peoplewhy do we have to label,bestlabel for the labellers bacon letuce and tomatos

[@gmc5618]

andreas obuaculla bc its okay to be proud of who you are?

[@sholem_bond]

:)

[@gingerfellah5665]

Many young people say to me “you were a teenager back then….cool” but they forget about homophobia and thatcher.

[@mojomike]

He was so hot back then. whew. sizzlin.

[@lucadantiga5316]

L'approccio è molto punk, difficile definirla una "Pink song", sembra scritta da Ian Dury

[@micknordstrom2591]

Music Hall punk rock.

[@モクモク-f6h]

中学生の時NHKで観たやつだ。

[@jaggass]

why does it sound similar to james bond theme tune at the beginning?

[@neilpower60]

Same progression

[@billsager5634]

This song essentially ruined their career, at least here in the US. 2-4-6-8 Motorway was a GREAT song, and received solid airplay. But with this song... Tom Robinson disappeared from the airwaves. Shame. They were a very talented band.

[@lonnystarr]

what a great song... as good as any graham parker (who was equally pithy) or kinks tune. why did this guy not get far enough? (rhetorical)

[@MRROCKET23]

+Lonny Starr Because TRB went right down after 1978, their 2nd LP was crap for the most part, after the NF's failure in the 1979 Election the whole Anti Nazi League/Rock Against Racism thing which had been part of TRB's stance died down, Robinson had a nervous breakdown and the group split. TR then formed Sector 27 who were nowhere near as popular as TRB.

[@sholem_bond]

You know why.

[@anthonygreen9545]

A very strident song,reflecting the bigotry of people in the past, and some today,although equality has advanced a lot over the last 41 years !!

[@edwardtjbrown1979]

Sadly, when Tom came out as being bisexual -- through his marriage to a woman -- some in the gay community accused him of being a sellout.

[@sholem_bond]

Biphobia in the gay community? I am shock, shock I say!

[@Backoffboogaloo]

Oddly sometimes people in the LGBTQ+ community can be some of the least understanding and more bigoted individuals. But then LGBTQ+ people are just humans and no human is ever perfect.

[@wheavers]

​@@Backoffboogaloowell said

[@thekarmafarmaalandouce3144]

The angst n passion...sometimes wonder if were meant to all be GAY hetros

[@sholem_bond]

"Molesters of children, corrupters of youth... It's there in the paper, must be the truth" [Still] relevant in 2022... See: "groomer" accusations/"ok groomer"

[@Sawrattan]

He was singing about this barely 40 years ago... not long at all for gay rights.

[@anthonygreen9545]

This sharp,angry-sounding song is making a point of how oppressive society was towards gay, lesbian and bisexual people in the 1960’s and earlier. It used to be thought of as the Gay National Anthem.41 years later there has been more openness and acceptance,even to the point of gay marriage,after civil partnerships, and gradually decreasing the age of consent for gay sex equalising with that of straight people.Regretfully,homophobia is rife within branches of religions,although God caused a minority of people to be BORN gay,lesbian or bisexual. It is NOT a choice of lifestyle!!God loves everyone, and Jesus died and rose again to show His Father’s love to the world.Jesus NEVER said anything about or condemned homosexuality.Bigoted,fundamentalist people overlook this.Fair enough,fewer people seem to believe in Christianity now, and those who do not (whether heterosexual homosexual,bisexual or lesbian) are not saved by the blood of Christ,and will be condemned to eternity in hell.Many people want a complete acceptance of homosexuality for men and women;just as it is highly significant for people to turn to Christ “For God so loved the world,that He gave His only begotten Son,that whosoever believers in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (St.John Ch 3 v 16).May God’s blessing be upon all people of homosexuals,lesbians,bisexuals,people who are having difficulty coming to terms with their sexual orientation and straight people,who,hopefully will become more accepting of gay people in their daily lives.Anthony R.Green

[@MRROCKET23]

Notice him wearing flares around 2.23, what absolute prat, at the time that was about as cool as high noon in the Sahara desert.

[@arianrhodhyde7482]

MRROCKET23 why do you care

[@MRROCKET23]

It's not such a matter of concern on my part as just an observation, he never was a particularly image concious person.

[@themorbidhunger]

@Laurie: I would say that we need to be passionate and determined so that we can better fight for our equality. Not *angry*. It makes sense that he was angry when he wrote this because he had been observing people being mistreated in horrible ways... it makes perfect sense for all of us to be angry when we are put in this position of oppression and abuse. But here's the thing--the other side is so angry just because we exist and because we challenge them. "Fight Fire with Fire"? Maybe... But their kind of fire looks awfully ugly to me--it's the kind that, like Tom sings about, makes people kick in the teeth of the innocent and put those innocents in the hospital. I say let our fire be one that is powerful and gives warmth and functions to be a light and hope in this world. If we show ourselves as strong in *that* way, then I think we will get a lot better results as many uneducated straights and cispeople learn that GLBTQ does not mean 'against them', but 'for everyone's rights'. And I will just say now that I do sing "Glad to be gay, I'm happy that way." *Life* is not always happy, it has bumps along the road that can be quite painful and even devastating. But we can choose to rise above and live with joy and peace anyway. How I cope when people are getting me down, mistreating me, trampling on my rights? Well, you may not believe this from a gay man, but it's true: I lean on my Savior Jesus the Christ and He sees me right through. If you say that I can't be gay and Christian, or gay and anything else, then you are doing the same thing that the majority who doesn't recognize GLBTQ rights does... Let's not try to categorize and label each other, but do just what we say and embrace the beauty of our differences. I wish all of you the best; this fight is a hard one and we all need to support each other. I believe that in the long run we will overcome the opposition... the question we need to ask ourselves with every step is, "What kind of person am I being as I state my rights and demand positive reactions and actions from others?" By being people who treat others well while we stand up for ourselves--regardless of how we choose to believe so that we embody that goodness--we make the process so less painful for everyone. I hope you're all doing well, and I encourage you to not give up even if your personal situation looks hopeless. It *does* get better. Here's the key: We *make* it get better. :)

[@simonedgbaston]

🎶 Still unsafe from Homopobia usually perpetrated by self hate 🎵

[@sholem_bond]

No, usually it's perpetrated by cisheterosexism in our institutions. Cool victim-blaming tho I guess?

[@cathalmacsiurdain7762]

Don't believe all that shite about the Sex Pistols. That was just fashion. They were loved by the tabloids. John Lydon never made a statement that couldn't be printed in The Telegraph or Mail. This song and songs by bands like the Clash and Ruts actually made a difference. There were many more but the Sex Pistols, despite their support in the NME by radicals such as Burchill and Parson, didn't despite them acquiring substantial funds. Please.

[@steffihoffs1211]

Seeing the anti trans comments I’m just 🙈 bc that’s not trb at all

[@suziecreamchease2995]

i am just about to post this in comments section on one Tommy Robinson's KZbin videos - to remind him how liberal he used to be..

[@pencilpauli9442]

Sadly becoming all too relevant again. Came here to get away from a rancid disingenuous online fascistic bigot. Really hoped things would have improved by 2022

[@luluhead8433]

Happily married to a woman with two kids..........

[@gingerfellah5665]

So?

[@rainers.2080]

This guy went from being glad to be gay to being married with kids. It's usually the other way around.

[@rock-steadi-cam5058]

I'm not sure he was actually "glad." Don't you hear the bitter sarcasm in the tone and lyrics?

[@sholem_bond]

It's called being bi

[@princessstrawberry4623]

He's bi, also gay people are able to be in relationships outside of their own gender

[@atlasking6110]

He wasn't even gay. It's true.

[@yahmom626]

+Atlas King He was more likely a bisexual to be frank

[@MRROCKET23]

+Atlas King How do you know that, he was always going on about being a bender, he was working on Gay switchboard for a time, although he got out of it shortly after TRB folded as I recall.

[@donach9]

He is bisexual

[@DandyLion662a]

I've seen in concert where he talks about it. He identified as gay in those days but sometime in the mid-to-late 80s or early 90s he broadened his horizons and identified as bi.

[@arianrhodhyde7482]

DandyLion662a that feel when you're a restrictive lesbian... no but seriously being bi isn't more enlightened than being gay, that's not how it works

[@eikka99]

Bollocks.

[@MRROCKET23]

I bet he wasn't so cool about singing a follow up "Glad To Catch Aids"', when that originated from the gay community.

[@DandyLion662a]

But you're cool, given the anonymity of the internet, in making an astoundingly stupid comment. At least in your alt-reality world, Trump will comfort you until those dismal fact intervene.

[@MRROCKET23]

How do mean when you say trump will comfort me ? I am in no way supportive of him nor do I have much in the way of interest in US politics. That comment was more tongue in cheek than anything else, no seriously as I understand it the Aids virus was developed by government scientists to inhibit sexual practice and cut down population numbers and was introduced via the gay community so they'd take the blame for it.

[@DandyLion662a]

Your first assertion that AIDS originated in the gay community was false, as is your "correction" that it was a conspiracy of "government scientists". What are these alt-fact sites who feed you this kind of BS? Does it even bother you to be ignorant and duped?

[@malcolmhartley5031]

Actually you are wrong, he did update the lyrics, and still does, to include all manner of things that affect LGBTQ people, including the AIDS crisis.

[@sholem_bond]

It didn't, but its association with the gay community and homophobia did contribute to its stigmatization and probably set back the public health research conducted and sponsored on it significantly, which affected everyone in society, including cishet people. Fun fact, btw: because of the gay community's prioritization of prophylactic access and safe sex education, compared to the straight community's, HIV is now spreading at a higher rate among you guys than it is among us.