2. The Privacy of Four Walls

Criminally Queer: The Bolton 7 looks back at one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in recent British LGBTQ+ history, and examines how this scarcely-known legal case played a significant role in the fight for gay rights.

In January 1998 the seven men would take the stand and fight their case. What were the societal factors surrounding these events?

Hugh Sheehan speaks to: author and host of the podcast Bad Gays Huw Lemmey; LGBTQ+ and Black communities activist and commissioner of the London HIV prevention programme Marc Thompson; founder and former chair of Greater Manchester Lesbian and Gay Policing Initiative Ian Wilmott; gay activist, barrister, and Bolton 7 representative Terry Munyard; and author and queer scholar Jack Parlett.

Criminally Queer is a Reduced Listening Production for BBC Sounds Audio Lab.

Producer and Presenter: Hugh Sheehan Original Music and Sound Design: Hugh Sheehan Executive Producer: Anishka Sharma Mix Engineer: Arlie Addlington Artwork: Tom Cunningham Commissioning Editor: Khaliq Meer Archive material courtesy of Roger Bolton Productions.