PAUL O’GRADY / LILY SAVAGE

Paul O’Grady is a comedian, television presenter, actor, writer, radio host and producer from Birkenhead in England. He achieved notability in the London gay scene during the 1980s with his drag queen persona Lily Savage, with which he went mainstream in the 1990s.

Lily was the resident drag act at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern in London throughout the eighties. She gained a lot of popularity and influence within the LGBTQ+ community at that time and used her platform to advocate for gay rights. She spoke out against the treatment of Britain's LGBTQ+ community by the mainstream media, government and police, particularly during the HIV/AIDS crisis that hit the community during that decade. On a number of occasions, police raided pubs that she was working at; she was quoted in the “Capital Gay” newspaper as calling on LGBTQ+ people to riot against their mistreatment.

In April 1988, Paul took part in a 30,000 strong march against Section 28; a policy introduced by Margaret Thatcher’s government forbidding any local authority to “intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality".

Regularly doing charity fundraisers for HIV/AIDS research, many of Paul’s friends died as a result of AIDS-related complications. In 2015, he said: "I’ve lost about everybody I know," and talked about having to pretend to some of their families that they were dying of cancer as he nursed them. "People my age will never get over the horrors."

During the nineties, Lily grew to national fame as she presented The Big Breakfast, Blankety Blank and Lily Savage Live. She also made high profile appearances on Parkinson and Des O’Connor. For many people in the UK, Lily was the first drag queen they laid eyes on.

Her quick tongue, sharp wit and northern charm brought a familiarity to the British public, and many believe Lily signaled the beginning of widespread acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community in the UK. Paul retired Lily in 2004, saying she had joined a nunnery in France.

Paul has always been outspoken on his beliefs. Although he has been vocal in his disappointment of the Royal Family, he applauded Princess Diana for her work with people living with HIV and AIDS.

Paul O’Grady and Lily Savage are Certified Proud Icons because they brought the LGBTQ+ community to the British mainstream in a way which encouraged acceptance and equality.

For more on Paul and Lily, see below: