CJ De Barra writes about queer migration, the power of being seen and the importance of preserving our stories
IMAGE BY BFI
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the groundbreaking documentary series, Six Of Hearts, which premiered on a very new Channel 4 in 1986. The channel was so new that it had only begun broadcasting in November 1982 when it went live with an episode of Countdown at 4:45 pm. From the start, Channel 4 was keen to feature programming for diverse audiences, which led to the creation of its first queer programming. The series has been preserved by the British Film Institute (BFI) and is available to rent through their website. To celebrate the anniversary, a new exhibition, 86:26, will screen the episodes, More Than A Journey and A Boy Called Mary at Backlit Gallery in Nottingham on August 27, with a view to sharing the series with a new audience.
As an Irish lesbian who left rural west Cork for the bright lights of Nottingham in the 2010s, More Than A Journey resonates with me. Queer migration is seldom discussed, let alone filmed in a way that lays bare what it is to move countries. But that’s exactly what director Caroline Mylon explores in this episode.
We follow protagonist Paola Johannides as she guides us through her departure from Sudan for the Midlands, and later her work as a rep in Crete. It’s here she muses on the double standards that allow men to be open about sleeping with other men while women are expected to remain silent. I found myself cheering her on as she boldly silences her homophobic boss with impressive directness.
We have to remember – this is a series screened just two years before Section 28 was introduced amid rampant homophobia. It’s also a time when coming out publicly as a lesbian could easily cost you your job. Positive representation during this time was not just thin on the ground but almost non-existent. That infamous Brookside kiss is still eight years away, and homosexuality is still illegal in Ireland – my home.
The series, created by Paul Oremland, who worked with Caroline Mylon, is not just about capturing queer life but a time capsule of the 1980s. This is a glorious snapshot into the fashion choices, backcombed barnets, and questionable music choices. If you are a fan of the eighties era of excess, then this is a must-watch. It’s not the only lesbian life captured by the series, as Caroline also produced Waiting For The Green Light that features a lesbian comedian who triumphs over misogyny, homophobia and a grim family history in this inspiring documentary.
Most importantly, as we face a rollback on our rights, series like this show us that there is queer joy to be had and remind us to live as authentically as possible.
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