29 March 2023 , 08:22
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Activist Peter Tatchell paid tribute to his friend Paul O'Grady, who died at the age of 67 on Tuesday, on Good Morning Britain as he reflected on the performer's LGBT+ campaigning.
Peter explained how he wants to continue Paul's campaign to get an apology from the police for the decades of harassment and victimisation of LGBT+ people.
Speaking about his dear friend, he said: "He was such a kind person, anybody in trouble, anybody had a need, if Paul was around he'd try and do his best to help. And, my heart goes out to Paul's husband, Andre and everyone who knew and loved him.
"He was a great, wonderful person, so kind and compassionate and he was a great entertainer, a great comedian. But he was also a much admired campaigner for animal rights and for LGBT+ equality."
Campaigner Peter Tatchell paid tribute to his friend Paul O'Grady (ITV)"In 1987, he was doing a gig at the gay pub in London the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, when the police did one of their routine raids."
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Host Martin Lewis questioned why the raid had taken place as Peter explained: "Back in the 1980s and beyond, the police were targeting the LGBT+ community. It was pure homophobia, there'd been a partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967, but not a full decriminalisation in England, Wales until 2003.
"So the police were using all these residue laws to really harass and victimise the community and Paul was there about to go on stage, and he told the tale that he was in his dressing room when these policemen burst in.
"And his first instinct that was that they were strippers and part of the show."
Paul O'Grady died "unexpectedly but peacefully" on Tuesday evening (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)"When he went on stage, he saw the police manhandling the customers wearing rubber gloves, because this is the height of the AIDS pandemic and ignorant and bigoted police believe that if you touched a gay man, you would get HIV," he continued.
"So he shouted out to the coppers, 'Oh good, you're here, you can help with the washing up.'"
The campaigned explained he planned to continue his activism work to get an apology from the police in honour of his late friend.
Paul's husband confirmed in a statement that the performer died "unexpectedly but peacefully" on Tuesday evening.