Channel 4 Documentary - Batty Man

Channel 4 Documentary - Batty Man

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Did you see the documentary Batty Man? What did you think of the programme? Did it answer some of your questions? Did you learn anything new? The makers of the documentary would love to have your feedback. Please leave your comments by clicking on the link below.

Batty Man is an observational documentary featuring Stephen K. Amos who explores the changing face of gays within black communities. Amos embarks on a journey through the UK and Jamaica to confront his community into accepting that shame, violence and murder will not make black LGBT people disappear.

Batty Man aired on:
Feb 27th 10.30am
Repeated Mar 1st 9.30am
visit www.channel4.com for more information.

If you missed the documentary, you will still get the chance to see it again. UKBlackOut in association with the producers of the documentary will be arranging a special screening at a later date. If you are interested in seeing the documentary please send us your email address and we will advise you as soon as we have a date.

Comments

Administrator

|Registered92.5.27.xxx |08-10-2008 18:53:37

I know many people have been asking how they can get copies of this documentary.

Check out the following link and all you have to do is download the software (4oD) onto your PC (takes seconds) and type in 'Batty Man' and presto you'll be watching the show - in FULL!

http://www.channel4.com/4od/index.html

Jono	\|Registered119.11.10.xxx \|28-07-2008 00:51:45

Hi there, I've have heard a lot about this documentary but I'm in Australia and not sure how to get my hands on it. Does anyone know how I would? Can I buy it? Download it? I'm currently researching a documentary on a similar subject. Thankyou!

Chipper

|Registered86.161.62.xxx |01-08-2008 16:55:23

Hey Jono,

Check out the following link and all you have to do is download the software (4oD) onto your PC (takes seconds) and type in 'Batty Man' and presto you'll be watching the show - in FULL!

http://www.channel4.com/4od/index.html

PS. Good Luck with your project.

gee	\|Registered89.104.50.xxx \|25-12-2007 09:40:24

good programe

patrick

|Registered82.44.44.xxx |17-12-2007 16:17:00

I am perries boyfriend, I just wanted to add how proud I was (and still am) when he took part in this documentary and furthermore, when it was finally aired on T.V. If you know P then you will know that only someone like him could have such an impact on everyone who knows him!.....he truly is an amaizing guy. Im glad he got the responses he did from friends, family and strangers, it\'s good to see he has impacted other people lives.

Well done P.

love ya big ed!

1nce again im proud of ya mate. xx

Andrew

|Registered213.123.248.xxx |23-11-2007 12:08:15

People of African descent are the most tolerant, people on the planet.

We endured slavery and do not hate whites for that holocaust.

We have never had a homosexual culture, unlike Europe (Greece, Romans, same sex marriage etc).

That's just our way - culture.

The Irish Gay Guy

|Registered87.74.26.xxx |21-03-2007 05:29:05

Well done to Stephen for making the programme, and all the guys who appeared on the show, specially Perrie, Olisa and the man in Jamaica.
I come from a minority white ethnic background where, growing up, I faced similar things (admittedly not to the point of being shot dead), and in this day and age of supposed enlightenment and personal liberty it kills me to see that other folk are still experiencing the same thing, that folk are engaging in victimisation against them for reasons which have no foundation.
I recorded the programme and am going to be loaning my video out to folk to see the programme just in case Channel 4 doesn't repeat it a few times.

phoenix rising

|Registered62.30.182.xxx |15-03-2007 11:18:24

I FEEL VERY SHAMEFUL FOR YOU,LISA MAJOR,that you feel like this.it's even more relative that stephan should go to jamaica and highlight whether, illegal or not, homosexuality exists there and always will regardless of primitive attitudes towards it. As of you're clearly homophobic view that you believe homosexuality is wrong ,based on your own limited reproductive theories. there are plenty of lesbian/gay parents and gay people are as capable of procreation through other methods rather than intercourse.what of your view on infertile straight couples ? according to you ,their purpose is also obselete as they are not productive in your eyes.

lisa major

|Registered81.155.185.xxx |14-03-2007 17:35:58

I watched the programme Batty Man, and i was shocked to see the gay man go to Jamaica of all places to justify gay people as it is illegal 2 b gay in jamaica. I am not homophobic but i do think it is kind of wrong as we have been put on this earth to reproduce the human race!!thanks for taking time to read this. :roll

Cyril Nri

|Registered83.105.39.xxx |09-03-2007 11:45:10

Thank you to Stephen K Amos and the production team for adding another set of voices to the many that say it's alright to be one's self. Thank you, as others have said for pointing out that ignorance and hate are just that and have no place being justified behind some kind of spurious religious smoke screen. We need more programs like this and they need to be shown at an hour when most people will be watching. I was particularly struck by the clear link that was shown between the views of some of the black youth and the peddling of murder music lyrics. It seems strange that 200 years after the abolition of slavery, black people should be seen justifying killing of people for simply being themselves. Perhaps some of us just can't get away from believing bigoted rubbish.

We don't need to keep reinventing the wheel however and as Dennis Carney points out (above) there are plenty of examples of us black gays and lesbians that are in the public eye and are out. We come in all shapes and sizes and don't fit the camp stereotypes that the ignorant would have us be. As the programme illuminated it would be nice if more in the public eye stood up and were counted, however plenty of everyday people are out there and need to be celebrated (where safe to do so). Lets tell the happy endings as well and not just the tales of woe.

On the subject of safety my one criticsm of the programme was what seemed to be a lack of duty of care around the revealing the identity of the one man willing to come forward in the Jamaica section of the documentary. Whilst I salute his bravery I fear it may have been a very dangerous thing for this young man to have done. As they say in boxing "don't lead with the chin". I wondered why the filmakers didn't consider pixelating his image. I came away worrying about his future safety and wondered whether the programme makers weren't irresponsible in this respect.

rebecca

|Registered80.47.76.xxx |09-03-2007 10:07:45

Big up Stephen. He did a good job making the link between music religion and politics explicit in homophobia in out community. this documentary encouraged me to stetch political muscle and campaign for equal rights.

scott

|Registered80.176.150.xxx |08-03-2007 11:53:05

Have recently come out to my mother and family members. This program was able to show my mother how it was for me to tell her it was hard at first but i must say that i could not have asked for more understand and support from her after i told her. my mother was even more supportive after watching the program i would like to personally that steven for doing the program. I would have liked it to have been screened later so that it would have had a wilder viewing. A large number of my friends now know that i am gay and the reaction has been great. I just wish i would have done this sooner. Proud to be what i am and who i am. We are all human what the hell if i love a man and not a woman. peace

Dennis L Carney

|Registered89.168.2.xxx |08-03-2007 06:10:43

I am pleased that the programme makers of \'Batty Man\' explored some of the challegnges that many Black gay men face in the UK. I thought the documentary makers cleverly and explicityly made the link between homophobic Dance Hall lyrics and the violence and murder perpetrated against Black lesbians & gay men in Jamaica. The programe also maade it clear that \"murder music\" is having a negative impact on young peoples attitudes towards Black lesbians and gay men, seriously undermining the common assertion that \"homophobic dancehall lyrics do not encourage to hatred and violence against gay people\".

The programe supports my firm belief that it is time that we all stand together against hatred in the Black music industry and the religious institutions we support and worship in, because if we dont we are forcing many Black lesbians and gay men to live in fear, often feeling isloated and hopeless.

I was disspointed that the documentary did not highlight the many positive voices within the Black community that have publicly challenged homophobia, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Professor Stuart Hall, Bill Morris, Coretta Scott King, Lee Jasper, Mel B and Beverly Knight to name just a few. The programe also failed to acknowledge the valuable contributions that many \"out\" Black lesbians and gay men have made in the Black community here in the UK eg Jackie Kay, Rikki Beadle-Blair, Cyril Nri, David McAlmot, Lord Waheed Ali, Issac Julien, Topher Campbell, Inge Blackman, Dorethea Smartt, Justin Fashanu, Valerie Mason John, Bruce Oldfield OBE, Labi Siffre, Linda Bellos, Jaye Davidson, Rotimi Fanykayode, Ajamu and Robert Taylor to name more than a few.

I think it is important to mention that next month the Black LGBT community awards will be held in London, organised by the Black Gay Men\'s Advisory Group, despite pervasive homophobic attitudes that exists within african and caribbean commuinities and wider society. In August 2006 the first ever annual Black LGBT pride festival took place in the UK, joining the worldwide federation of Black Gay & Lesbian prides.

I want to take this opportunity to personally congratulate Stephen Amos for his obvious, passion, courage and committment to raising some difficult and painful truths for us all to witness. He reminds me that the love and support that I continue to recieve from all my friends, family and wider Black lesbian and gay community since I came out over 20 years ago, empowers me to live my life as a openly Black gay man with pride, joy and with my head held up high.

For more information about the Black LGBT Community awards check out www.blgbt.com/

Starry

|Registered89.242.91.xxx |07-03-2007 08:09:46

nullI saw Stephen\'s interview on Richard & Judy, then went on to see his doco. I am so glad he did this programme, but it needs to be shown on tv in the evening when people come home from school & work. I taped it to show my gf, she like me was deeply saddened by the negative attitudes of the black community. But we agree that the worse thing that black parents could do is to shun their gay children & cast them out into a world which may prove to be life-threathening. Well-done Stephen, we need more programmes like this.

perrie dixon

|Registered81.151.197.xxx |03-03-2007 11:39:48

well its perrie here who was in the documentary the one with the scar on his face and the missing tooth i am so happy that i took part in the documentary i am glad that i was able to show different light on being black and gay everyone see,s that subject as a taboo meeting steven whilst doing the documentary i found him to be a very open person and i felt that i did not mind opening up.

i hope that i did help to change peoples views on black men being gay its not all camp attack and fairys and pink t-shirts but there is also some real black men out there who are also gay. me coming out was a challenge and was a big step for me my parents and some of my family new but 95% of my friends did not know and the support i have recieved from them was far beyond wat i expected it was the best thing when i started to recieve messages form all my straight friends form rool deep and around london giving there support and praise they all asked "why didnt u say before" well i was scared pf losing them as friends" i was wrong they have opened up there arms to me and deisregared my sexuality and been the true friends that i did nit realise i had another thing that guy that kissed me on my check was not my bf that was my best friend at a photo shoot we have known each other foe five years and met at uni he was the first person i told i was gay and it was the best experience of my life.

this part of the message goes out to all the people who have not come out dont be afraid do as u please and dont be scared of persucation its not as bad as u think its wat u are and something u cannot hide yeah i hated it when i fiorst realised i was gay but i got used to the fact that this wat i am and is just part of my life .

any one who has a probelm and needs to talk to someone about being gay just email me or just want to get in contact with me

perriedixon@hotmail.co.uk

Anna Farlow

|Registered80.43.60.xxx |03-03-2007 02:59:48

Thank you Stephen Amos for this excellent thought-provoking programme.

I was aware of the homophobic content of some songs which had resulted in a couple of DJs being barred from performing in this country but had no idea of the apparent widespread homophobia in some black British communities.

Could Channel 4 be prevailed upon to repeat this programme during the evening, possibly with an audience discussion afterwards? It is certainly an issue which needs to be aired.

phoenix rising

|Registered62.30.182.xxx |28-02-2007 15:43:00

it was very sad to see such primitive attitudes in some of londons youth.ironic ,that they would disown a gay brother and say black gay people brought shame to their race, considering these young black londoners were highly illiterate and i believe them to be the real embarrassment to the black race. i find it incredulous that so many black people in uk are obsessed with homosexuality (perhaps its their own latent leanings) when there are real issues harming our communities such as gun crime, drugs, inequality. they would be best to tackle these issues with their energy.

Joy	\|Registered80.176.118.xxx \|28-02-2007 04:17:50

I would of loved to have watched this programme why could it not be repeated in the evening to accomodate those that work? :cry

Charlotte

|Registered86.144.2.xxx |27-02-2007 13:53:11

My Mum and I watched the programme Batty Man today. It shone the light on an area we knew very little about. Some people questioned said how un-Christian it is to be gay but in the same sentence referred to gay people being murdered. Religious or not, that's not a moral thing to say at all.
I am very pleased Stephen K Amos had the courage to do the documentary, for whatever his personal reasons and hope he has helped many young (or old), black (or white) gay people be comfortable with their feelings. It is nothing to be ashamed of. It should not matter who individuals are attracted to so long as they are happy. The sooner everyone realises this the better.

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