Tom Robinson sings "Glad to be Gay" to Theresa May

[@hazelb7218]

Shame some of those people there did not seem to know the words to the original version!! I'm glad Tom is still out there and still angry....when he sung this song back in the punk days it was such a brave thing for him to do...people don't realise....i think most of us punks got it...being picked on for being different etc ...the lyrics to the original version are superb and still relevant today (i'm straight by the way) but i thank him for standing up when not many people did xx

[@fray008]

100% agree(, im straight too) and was into TRB back in the day, im still into punk now and this is still relevant now

[@ReverendHowl]

Been singing along with this for 40 years, still get this/that confused....

[@OfficialJoeyTrash]

The guys a legend. As a punk myself, and also a straight guy. I agree with the previous comment hole heartedly, it was such a brave thing to do when it was very much a taboo subject ( still is quite sadly, even in parts of the UK) and was frowned upon. Well done Tom! You showed the Yuppy Scum!! No pun intended 😉

[@paulbecher9159]

I am a heterosexual male but am watching this again and feeling once again moved by the passion and truth communicated in this song which I first heard/saw at a screening of The Secret Policeman's Ball in my local cinema in 1981. Tom Robinson is a talented and courageous artist whose legacy, in popular terms, is very understated. His live performances are unfailingly full of life-affirming dialogue and humour, and more people need to go and see him!

[@twitchygiraffe4636]

If you don't remember the time he first released this as a single (which i don't!) can you imagine the hate and shit he must have had to put up with just because he dared to defend homosexuality at that time! It must have been horrendous! Put it this way i was born the year he wrote it and when i was a kid in the 80's despite it being the campest decade ever (even amongst straights) it was still perfectly acceptable to knock people just because their gay! Thank god it's not as bad now although as stephen has pointed out below there are still people who will always have a problem with homosexuals and no matter what happens will ALWAYS find a reason to knock them! Good on ya tom, your more of a man than most of us will ever be!!!!

[@LynGibbdeSwarteMostRev]

I was at the gay pride march in 1979 and he sang it at our concert in Hyde Park - we walked from Temple to there - there is a programme BBC made but it does not show him singing that song!!!!! I think they banned it! It is on KZbin search Gay Pride 1979 Tom is seen speaking...

[@simonedgbaston]

⭐ I was a youngster of 13 in 77 when this was released got bullied in Coventry everywhere came out at 20 I'm Bi my younger Brother was 27 when he came out as Gay he stayed in as my eldest Brother/Dad attacked me badly& Mum freaked as a Catholic . I'm now safe in Birmingham for 30 years 😂 Memories 🌙

[@tinfoilhat-hater6125]

as a straight man i ADORE my LGBTQ family, I stand with you all to be recognised as equals

[@amarok5048]

thank you tom and friends, love this song since you first sang it... oh btw... I'm straight x

[@ThomasLeavitt]

I found "Power In The Darkness" at a used record store in 1990, and have been a Tom Robinson fan ever since... was even privileged once to see him perform at a house party in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is a legend, for so many reasons. Love that he's still out there fighting the good fight.

[@BoudicaJ]

Much respect, Tom. Never been a fan of the music, but always admired you. Now I admire you even more. ( SO punk as well.) Only as I reached *matureness* did I even begin to understand what a brave move this was. Shouldn't have had to be brave to be merely who you are but you had to,and you did. I say *thank you* from my own personal POV, also. This song helps people. Thank you xx

[@LeoDragon34]

Kudos Tom. You’re legendary for what you did for gay rights in the 70’s, and no-one can hold a candle to you, even now, with those brilliant updated lyrics.

[@dickturpin2035]

'No man can force me to stoop low enough to hate him.' Anon. Spread the love!

[@paubec11]

Tom Robinson, forever an inspiration!

[@alistairville9303]

My goodness - Tom Robinson moved me to action in 1983 - not to mention awareness a few years earlier - but, wow! Who knew May was so rotten?

[@johnbarry1965]

The bravest man from the Punk era!!!!

[@jackdaniel8628]

1978 was the Punk Era? ...Pink Era, thanks for the idea, auto-correct.

[@jeffmead2935]

a lion mate

[@howardjdownes]

I can't commend the "updated version" highly enough. The strength and venomous delivery with which Tom sings another then-contemporaneous set of lyrics at the Secret Policeman's Ball in 78 (I think) always moved me deeply, and couldn't understand how some conceived of this as somehow a "celebratory anthem". The tragicomic humour of the second version sung here do constitute such a song and Treason May's parliamentary record ought be much more widely known. Little wonder this Tory minority government is propped-up courtesy of just 10 DUP MPs what does it work out at when the billion pound pay-off is calculated? £10 million per MP if a billion is one hundred million or £100 million at one thousand million? 😯

[@maxinemuldoon2065]

When I was at school mid 80s I remember a rumour about a lad got around and he was held up while he was booted in the stomach so many times. I didn’t like the lad for another reason but it wasn’t nice to see and I wouldn’t have wished it on him. I’m glad we have moved on and everyone is equal and treated with rights.

[@howardjdownes]

Loved the later, updated version Tom. Versatile, flexible, human, hooray 😄

[@johedges5946]

This is fucking GORGEOUS - where is the heart button ffs???

[@HBBikerX]

Thank you so much, Tom!

[@raspel31]

In truth Hazel the lyrics pretty much changed in every version Tom sang though the core and refrain never did. Who cares-it is a bloody marvelous anthem.

[@andysmith8890]

Very brave Man back in the 1970s for singing this

[@wayno5655]

Good on you Tom - all power to you

[@kendothebarstad]

Bit of boost. Tom a homosexual and proud. I'm not but some of the best friends I have ever met 💗

[@pumbaaj]

The gal in the rainbow flag needs to let Mr. Robinson sing his song. She should put down her phone she is using to read the lyrics, and grab a cup of coffee. This is a gay pioneer and legend. Let him sing his song.

[@aslongasitlasts]

You're just jealous, I want a teddybear on my cap too!

[@danielladdingford2295]

pumbaaj the gal and the people there were urged to sing along by Tom himself to get the message across, didnt matter if she could sing or not, im straight but i fully agree with the LGBT movement, homophobia is dated, gutless and should be left in the past, end of

[@Sammie_Sorrelly]

What a ridiculous thing to say - sounds like you didn't listen to one word in the damn song. It's a call for everyone to sing along in solidarity, pride, defiance - it was 40 years ago and it is now. Doesn't matter if they're totally tone fucking deaf - sing if you're glad to be gay.

[@MrBobbygraham]

i bought his cd in 1987 its said tun over to get more songs

[@matthewrandell5055]

Ha!

[@scarfhs1]

He was going to sing this to Liz Truss as well but there just wasn't time.

[@maltesetony9030]

He's straight now. My, how times do change.

[@RYx222]

no he isn't

[@xXxLunamitzaxXx]

CJ we see you and there is no need to be quiet. You be you xxx

[@rebeccaforrest2315]

Thanks Tom :)

[@leedsboy64]

Tom Robinson hero

[@skippytheaustralian9438]

Ist's this way!

[@outtathyme5679]

Tom needs to come to the white house on Jan 21

[@christurksma]

are you you the tom robinson who lives Miada Vale London? Remambering from 35 years ago?

[@jeffmead2935]

why the fook do everyday folk go round voting conservative ?

[@aslongasitlasts]

I want to use the crying react from Facebook.

[@superamanda]

Tory’s look for badger though...

[@jcs3339]

Full appreciation!! am not gay, though

[@METRO_youth]

Heaven forbid anyone should think you were! 🙄

[@Sparkina]

Sing, Thomasino!!!!!!

[@pharcyde4943]

brilliant!

[@TheDebbiedoodles]

Siiiinnng if you’re glad to beeee Gayyyy wooooooooo

[@maakeklein4073]

I am gay but not in a homosexual way. Great song tho.Great chords and lyrics. Should have sung Theresa May at the end as it rhymes with Gay.

[@LakeConstan]

I wish I still had this vinyl album. The small person draped in the rainbow flag is off-key constantly and doesn't know the lyrics. I wish she had not ruined this performance.

[@willyvlyminck201]

❤️

[@guyroebuck8510]

Had no idea she was so bad...

[@OfficialJoeyTrash]

Should have changed it to 'sing if you hate threasa may

[@404no57]

lmao most ham-fisted and uninspired lyrics I've ever heard 😅

[@abcbcde9985]

Ermm, what was the point in this demo? A year on it looks rather sad.

[@stick1903]

you're a twat xxx

[@matthewrandell5055]

It was protesting Theresa May on account of her homophobic voting pattern, I believe