Original subtitles

And this device measures the amount of blood in your vaginal cavity.

I'm sorry, what?!

Can I ask a question? Sure.

Can you read my mind through my vagina?

No.

It's going in...now.

Jesus.

Can you guys see that it's in?

I can see your signal.

Oh, my God, my signal?

The BLEEP is happening?

Good question.

Just how did I end up in a sex lab in the Netherlands

with a probe up my vagina?

I can see your vaginal pulse, yes.

Great! I love that for us.

Well, I'm on a very personal journey into my own sexuality.

You may or may not know,

I've had relationships with both men and women.

But, I still struggle with being open, really open about

just how much I love women.

Growing up with a lot of shame and thinking,

"This isn't normal, this isn't human" -

but it's, like, it is.

Will exploring the science of sexuality help me accept who I am?

Oh, my God what's it doing?!

The moment there was something sexual,

you had this automatic genital arousal response.

My full, glorious queer self?

Can meeting other queer people from across the globe teach me

how to be out, loud and proud?

I think we need to be proud every day.

Put your hand together for The Darvish!

CHEERING

Stunning!

Well, I'm a homosexual.

Very gay, over-the-top.

Extremely flamboyant.

Hold on to your seats,

buckle in,

it's going to be a bumpy, wild ride, folks.

Loving the crowd's vibe today. Loving you guys!

CHEERING

OFF CAMERA: Are you ready to go talk about being ga-a-ay?

Eey. Go gay.

Queer is here.

Cara Dele-queer.

Serious, serious.

I always have, kind of, believed in the no-labels thing,

but again, have spent a lot of time then saying,

"I'm bisexual, I'm pansexual".

I am queer.

I'm 100%, can tell you that I'm queer.

I just don't know what else I can say other than that.

Even though I've been queer,

I haven't really been able to live a queer life.

You know, the internalised shame or the, kind of,

homophobia's slightly there still.

When you are in this job or when you are famous, or something,

it stunts a lot of things.

I never really was in the community.

Like yes, I, kind, of came out, but then, afterwards,

I never went to Pride.

I never went to these parties.

I never met all of these people and, like, I didn't really

develop my queerness.

So, I think I'm just coming to it all very late.

Does that make sense? Cool.

Ahem.

Well, no time like the present.

I'm diving straight in at the deep end, headfirst.

I don't know where I expected this journey to begin,

but it wasn't slap-bang in the middle of the desert.

Palm Springs. What do I know about Palm Springs?

It's hot. It's a desert.

This is a place where old people go to die.

Joking! That was a joke.

It's hot. It's so hot.

No wonder...what? Why do people come here?

It's so hot!

Well, apparently if you're LGBTQ+, this is the place for us.

Once a desert hang-out for the 1960s Hollywood Rat Pack,

Palm Springs is now one of the most progressive towns in America -

and the first to have an all-LGBTQ+ council.

So, it's a good place to dip my toe in the water -

at the uniquely massive mother of all lady-loving events.

I'm checking in, please.

Yeah, of course, and what's the last name? Delevingne.

D-E-L-E-V-I-N-G-N-E... it's hard to spell.

Yes, it's true -

I still never have been to Pride, or anything like that.

I think I went the wrong way.

Here it comes - my very first proper, big lesbian day out.

Bloody Nora.

So...do you come here often?

So scared...scared.

I'm a Cancer, and I like long walks on the beach.

So do I. With you.

OK, deep breath.

Don't really know what to expect.

Go round, go round.

Abort, abort, abort mission.

How intense can it be?

This is the Dinah Shore weekend -

the biggest lesbian pool party in the world!

15,000 women, trans, and nonbinary folk out here in the desert

unleashing their true sexual selves at a rare place

that all can feel safe and free.

You're coming in, and you just see an ocean of women and titties,

and glitter, and pasties.

A lot of dancing, a lot of twerking, a lot of making out,

a lot of happy times.

Different body types, different ethnicities,

I just love it.

It's like Disneyland for lesbians.

It's clear I won't survive unless I find friends ASAP.

Hi!

Luckily, I got me some neighbours - Kimber and - Lily to hold my hand.

All right, "Dinah" on three. One, two, three...

Any hope I had of staying under the radar goes way out the window...

..as I'm hauled up on stage to judge a twerking contest.

How is this my job?

Nice crowd. Loving the crowd's vibe today, loving the vibe!

Loving you all!

CROWD CHEERS

This place is wild - and loud -

so you're going to have to read the next bit.

Honestly, I feel accepted as myself.

Perhaps for the very first time.

What just happened?

What didn't happen?

I don't know. I think, I guess I...I don't know.

I'm out and I'm proud, you know, to a certain extent,

but in my own life, I didn't really find the community,

and I didn't really speak, like,

experience these sort of things, you know?

I, kind of, did it in a public eye, which again, allowed myself to be,

you know, pointed fingers at, or feel more of the hate than,

I guess, the love, I suppose. So, it's a lot.

There's so much love in there, you know?

Oh, God, this is the journey, this is the discovery of...

I don't know. Yeah.

Like, I feel this is - it gives me like, I'm feeling things.

I don't usually do that.

It's Kimber's first time at the festival, too.

I wish that I could go back to myself back when I was younger,

and just, kind of, figuring out my sexuality.

And I wish I could show myself what my life is today.

I grew up in Tennessee in a very conservative family,

very religious, and being gay was just, like,

absolutely not acceptable.

Here I am, erm, all these years later, and I have an unbelievable

queer community around me.

It's just so important to not feel alone.

And I feel like a lot of queer people feel alone in that.

And you're not going to feel alone here.

Where we live, it's a little - there's not very many places.

OFF CAMERA: Like, do you walk down the street holding hands?

Er, probably not.

It's amazing for me, especially, like, I didn't come out until,

like, later in life so... I'm an old, I'm an old per...

Old lesbian.

So, yeah, for me, like, it's, erm...

It just feels, like, very less, I don't know, stressful.

Like, I don't feel like I need to hold back.

I'm just - I'm pretty much me everywhere,

But here, it's just a little extra, like, just total...

It's emotional.

SHE SNIFFLES

Yeah.

So.

She's having a good time. That's all that matters.

Sorry.

It's incredible to be free just for a few hours.

It feels like a weight has been lifted.

Yes?

Thank you!

THEY CHEER

Whoo! Yeah!

I now have gay friends.

OFF CAMERA: What have you learned? So, wait, I'm confused.

Gig, pass me back, that I need it.

OK, so what have I learned about myself?

I love being queer.

I just didn't realise until now how reassuring it is to be

in this safe space with people who share the same feelings as me.

But I still have a lot to learn.

Bears have a flag? I love that!

There are loads of queer identities to explore.

Isn't she chic, darling?

With all these different types of sexual orientation,

even the LGBTQ+ community can get confused.

So, you don't know the difference between your As, Bis, and pans?

Don't worry, I'll call a doctor.

Dr Ronx is an ER medic, queer activist, and educator.

They'll help me straighten it all out.

Well not straight-straight... look, you know what I mean.

I love your trainers, babe.

I want the quickfire highlights of a very complex subject -

sexual orientation!

OK, let's go, let's go, let's go.

Lesbian.

A lesbian is a woman who is attracted to another woman.

Gay.

Basically, men who sleep with,

or who are romantically attracted to other men.

Also can be extended to women who are attracted to women.

Bisexual.

I guess traditionally, bisexual people fancy men and women.

Pansexual.

People who are attracted to other people,

regardless of their gender identity.

Asexual.

People who are not sexually attracted to other individuals.

Queer!

For me, it's anybody who is not heterosexual.

I think it has to be that simple.

OK, so we've got to grips with just a few of the bazillion

sexual identities out there.

But for me, there's one big question hanging over it all.

Was I born this way?

What is it that shapes our sexual orientation?

Is it nature or nurture?

Gerulf Rieger has studied this subject for years.

Think about it like this.

The majority of us are straight.

We need our sexual orientation to create babies

and continue to thrive as a species.

So, the idea that the social environment has such profound

influences on something so important to us just doesn't make any sense.

Gerulf thinks our sexual orientation is innate and set

before we're even born.

Hello, hello, hello. How is everybody doing today?

He believes there's no one factor that decides our sexual orientation.

Just a big biological cocktail that shapes a spectrum of sexualities.

First up, it's partly down to your genes.

If you look at identical twins,

which are genetically literally identical, if one is gay,

the chance that the other one is gay is much, much higher.

If one twin is gay, there's a 24% chance their identical

sibling will be, too.

But in nonidentical twin pairs, if one is gay, there's just

a 15% chance their sibling will share their sexuality.

Conclusion - genes play a part, but they're not everything.

In fact, the latest research on half a million people showed that

genes only account for up to 25% of the whole

"what makes us gay" business?

So, what's next, Gerulf?

Well, he believes it's also hormones we're exposed to in the womb.

One in particular.

So, we do think that testosterone has a huge impact on

our sexual orientation.

But if you take newly-born rats and you inject them with testosterone,

if they're female, then you can almost perfectly turn them around

in their behaviour, including the fact that this female now wants

to mate with other females.

So, it's definitely a girl.

Perfect.

Lastly, he thinks antibodies play a part.

Females who've had boy babies before are programmed to produce

these fighty immune system proteins against you men.

When the mother is pregnant for the first time with a son,

she actually gets exposed to male typical proteins,

which is something that her own body isn't used to.

These antibodies stay in the mother's system.

And if she's pregnant again with a second son, erm,

those antibodies are waiting.

There's a certain chance that they attack tissue around his brain,

and could therefore disrupt the regular development

of his sexual orientation.

That could be why the more older brothers you have,

the more likely you are to be gay.

So, look, this is all very interesting,

but what does it add up to?

When it comes to the question of how innate is somebody's

sexual orientation, my educated guess is probably 100%.

It's something that really comes from within the person.

What exactly are the ingredients?

That's the million-dollar question.

You can pack that judginess away, thank you very much.

Sexuality isn't a choice.

For me, it's hugely reassuring to hear, to be honest.

I was born this way.

What way? Well, kind of all the ways.

Oh!

Sexuality is definitely a spectrum,

and I feel like mine waivers.

But also, I'm probably definitely more on the side of women.

But I don't - I like having sex with men, I just don't date them.

I might, though, you never know.

But again, I think it's a beautiful, unwavering,

wavering, beautiful...

..moo.

It feels like, over the last few years,

there's been a new kind of openness and acceptance of this spectrum

by young people.

And I really wish I could've been a part of it.

Today, only 54% of UK Gen Z'ers identify

as exclusively heterosexual.

Welcome!

But the big change seems to be amongst women.

In 2011, 77% of US university-age women were

exclusively attracted to men.

Yet, by 2019, that fell to 65%.

But, guys, your numbers have stayed constant -

with 85% of you totally straight... apparently.

It seems like, particularly for women,

working out your sexual identity isn't always straightforward.

And that might be because, when it comes to who we find sexy,

our bodies and minds aren't always on the same page.

Dr Marieke Dewitte is an expert on sexual arousal.

Are you Flemish? Yeah, I'm Flemish.

I'm Flemish! A fellow Flem. Yeah.

And I've signed up to her sex lab to dig deeper into what turns us on.

By watching porn!

All in the name of science, mind you.

The watching porn part is going to be the really hard part, I think.

Yeah, probably. Yeah, who wouldn't be excited by watching

a whole lot of porn today?

Come in, and welcome to our sex lab.

So, what we'll do is we are going to present several video clips.

Do you know what I just thought about?

My parents watching this.

OK, well, maybe you should've thought about that before.

Try to ignore it.

The main thing is actually what you need to do is just sit,

relax, and try not to touch yourself and sit still.

Try not to... Try not to. I can contain myself.

Not touch yourself, and just watch.

Yeah? OK, perfect.

Have fun, Cara. I will.

Yeah, definitely. I will try.

SHE CHUCKLES

Fuck.

I'm sorry, this is what?

And it goes where?!

Basically, when you get sexually aroused, more blood

is being pumped into your vagina.

And therefore, the colour of your vaginal wall changes.

And this device measures the amount of blood in your vaginal cavity.

Can I ask a question? Sure.

Can you read my mind through my vagina?

No.

It's going in...now.

Great.

Jesus.

Can you guys see that it's in?

I can see your signal. Oh, my God, my signal?!

The fuck is happening? I can see your vaginal pulse, yes.

Great! I love that for us.

OK, try not to think about my parents.

Or about the camera 12 inches from my face.

My frankly ridiculous task is to watch different kinds of porn.

While Marieke's monitor records how aroused my genitals are,

I rate my subjective arousal, what I'm thinking,

on a sliding scale from completely ice-cold to smoking hot.

OK, fire it up!

First, two guys shagging each other.

I can feel my breath shortening, or whatever crap.

We can see that there is at least something happening.

The peaks are closer to each other.

Then, lesbian sex.

Yeah, OK.

My body feels, like, that shivery feeling again.

Great.

Weird. This is strange.

Just had a real big influx of horniness, and then,

a real big influx of shame.

How bad is that still? Why?

Now there seem to be a little bit more peaks.

Straight sex.

He's not very good at this.

SHE LAUGHS

There's men masturbating.

I'm less horny than I thought I was.

Oh, Lord. Her body is reacting here to the gay porn.

You can see the peaks going up.

Women masturbating.

This seems uncomfortable.

It's those fake nails, bro!

You are going to say something different, aren't you, vagina?

And then, a surprise little bonus clip of some hairy monkey sex.

OK, this is properly weird now.

Oh, my God, what's it doing?!

It's called oral sex.

This is wild. Literally.

An hour later, that's it, I'm done.

I don't even know how to feel any more.

So, there she is. How was it?

Do I look traumatised? Not at all.

Did you find it traumatising?

No. Maybe.

But what the F does this all mean when it comes to sexual arousal?

What did we learn? What did you see?

So, the moment there was something sexual,

you had this automatic genital arousal response.

You've learned this is sexual, so you react.

So, it sounds like my genitals find everything -

human and animal - sexy.

But is this to be expected?

Your response actually matched with what we saw in previous research -

that the genital arousal response of women is rather nonspecific.

It kind of shows that for women, it's sexual activity that matters.

It says nothing about your sexual orientation or sexual identity.

Cos also, matters of the genitals are not matters of the heart.

So sometimes, women who do not, kind of, identify as being lesbian,

they get turned on by the woman, and it's like,

"Oh, oh, my God, is this" - they get confused.

Women get aroused by different stimuli.

So, it's not some secret lust for monkeys,

but a primal evolutionary response.

Surprisingly, women's genitals react to a wide range of sexual

activity that has little to do with their sexual orientation.

But our minds? Well, that's a completely different story.

Your subjective sexual arousal clearly differ depending on

the type of porn you were watching.

And what we saw in your pattern, it seems that especially the lesbian

porn in specific really turned you on, in terms of subjective arousal.

Does it match your sexual orientation? For sure.

Do you feel more attracted to women?

And so, generally, I think women are my preferred gender, I suppose.

How you feel, the mental component -

we see that in women, it's a bit more specific,

that what really turns you on is, kind of, a little bit more tied

to what you also prefer.

My mind is much more in sync with my own sexual orientation -

but men only react physically to the stuff that turns them on mentally.

So, men actually only respond to stimuli that match

their sexual orientation.

For men, when they don't like it, they don't get an erection.

So then, nothing is possible any more.

So, in a nutshell, both our bodies and minds feed into this thing

we call sexual orientation.

And Marieke's experiment may show why women appear more

sexually fluid than men.

Crucially, none of it's a choice - and for me, that's a relief.

I think it's also asking yourself, or thinking whatever you're doing,

however you're feeling is not natural. Exactly.

Always what I would think, growing up with a lot of shame,

is thinking, "This isn't normal, this isn't human" -

but it's like, it is.

Yeah, I mean at this point...

Yeah, that's what it always comes back to.

The shame.

The pressure from society and the world around me.

Shame doesn't change your innate sexual orientation,

but it sure does affect how you feel about your sexual identity

when you're not straight.

In the UK, male same-sex relationships were decriminalised

55 years ago.

But laws banning talking about gay love in schools -

the infamous Section 28 - were only lifted when I was 11.

Growing up, the messaging was loud and clear.

I couldn't talk to anyone about it,

and I definitely had a lot of, like, internalised homophobia and shame.

I thought that I was, like, abnormal.

Everyone else was right and I was wrong,

cos I wasn't like everyone else.

I thought about ending my life, like, I had multiple times.

And, like, I'm so glad I didn't because if I can help any other kid,

then that means the world to me.

That means the world to that little queer kid...

..that I was - or am.

I know I shouldn't feel shame.

But I truly believe there are souls all over the world like me,

battling internalised homophobia,

feeling lost and alienated.

I want to meet people who can help me move on

and accept myself for who I am.

Come on, take me somewhere fucking cool and sort me out, people!

Here's what I love about Tokyo.

A busy modern city - and yet, bang in the middle of it,

ancient traditional scenes like this.

This land of contrast is the only country in the G7

that doesn't officially recognise same-sex unions.

And when tradition and religion is deeply embedded in your family life,

growing up gay can be a scary thing.

And this is the ceremony hall.

Kodo Nishimura grew up right here, in this Buddhist temple.

It's like a wedding is ceremony. I know, look!

I feel like we could be married.

We have shared beliefs.

Even as a child, Kodo felt different from all the other kids.

I noticed that I shouldn't talk about my interest in boys publicly,

because most of the time, homosexual people were portrayed

as villains or creepy in animes for children.

I was constantly feeling like there was a huge black cloud

above my head.

Kodo feared that his religion would never accept him.

So, I was really rebellious and...

Yeah, I really didn't want to be associated with Buddhism.

He needed to find community in a place that understood who he was.

Moving to the US was such a liberation for me.

I kept seeing LGBTQ Pride parades or TV shows,

and male clerks selling make-up,

and I saw somebody who are like me,

struggling with similar situations, thriving.

So, to see these representation really helped me

to reset my normal.

But as time went on,

Kodo felt the pull of the old family tradition of Buddhism.

I had questions, like, what happens if I die?

Or why do we have to be good people?

Right. I felt that, well, I don't like Buddhism,

but I should face what it's like and see how I can evolve.

In 2013, he returned to train as a monk, apprehensive about

whether he'd ever fit in.

What I discovered was surprising.

When I was talking to a master about my sexuality,

he said that Buddhism is very embracive.

It says, "The mercy of Buddha is just like the moonlight".

We can prioritise our uniquenesses and shine in our own colour.

I felt that I was really protected.

And because I got this teaching, I felt that it is my responsibility

to spread this message of equality in Buddhism

to people in the world.

The sense of community he was searching for

had been in Japan all along.

Here we go. Oh, my gosh!

Wonderful style of shirt.

Oh, my God, I'm obsessed!

I think the courage to speak up is actually cooler than

pretending to be perfect. Yes. I completely agree with you.

So, yeah, so I will... High five to that.

So now, I'm going to transform and...

Transform away. I will leave you.

I will love you and leave you. OK, cool.

Today, Kodo is a celebrity in his homeland,

using his skills as an author, activist, and make-up artist

to spread the message of harmony.

I think what I find so inspiring about him

is that just by being visible,

he's changing society around him.

Yes, gorgina!

Oh, my God, you look amazing. Thank you.

What would you like for the future, and for the future of Japan?

If I can inspire leaders of the world, also religious leaders

to lift the laws against LGBTQ people, that would be wonderful.

Because we have to be safe to be us.

And we're not going anywhere.

What an incredibly strong, but also wise person he is.

No matter how much the traditional side has probably stopped him

from wanting to be the certain way,

his heart and his light have shone through.

I've just learned a lot from him.

Being happy in yourself, within yourself gives you the resources

to be able to help other people.

And that's what is most important in the world.

Thank you.

Kodo got his happy ever-after returning home to a warm welcome.

It's the coming-out story everyone dreams of.

And I guess me, too.

But the truth is, so many people don't get to go home. Ever.

I want to meet those brave people who've travelled

across the world to live an out, queer, proud life.

Where's a force of nature when you need one?

BUBBLE GUM POPS

Sound check.

My name is The Darvish,

and I am a Syrian performance artist,

a event organiser, community changer,

and an LGBTQIA+ rights advocate.

And, erm, I consider myself a force of nature.

Hello. Hello, my love.

My man, indeed! Hi, my love,

Oh, my goodness. My man! Hello there. Hi. How are you?

I realised when I'm queer probably in the age of 14.

Up and straight, then you drop it.

One and two.

And then, the journey started of me immediately realising that

this is a taboo in the country that I am in right now.

And that it is dangerous for me to, you know, own it.

So, yeah, started, er, living more carefully and cautiously

but gracefully.

LAUGHTER

Yeah, use the hand, OK!

She's getting it! OK.

Same-sex relationships in Syria are punishable by three years in prison.

But when Isis overtook parts of Syria,

this situation became even more desperate for LGBTQ+ people.

And The Darvish had to make a choice.

The war got really serious.

Persecutions and executions, and stuff like that.

That's where it really hit us.

We cannot be visible at all.

The decision of me leaving Syria, that was the hardest thing.

Choosing my life.

And...

Yeah.

One second.

For The Darvish, their imagination became their refuge.

I focused on imagining how my life would be.

You can be you...

..free.

The Darvish has now been safe in Berlin for six years.

The minute I arrived here, I was able to let go of everything.

Yeah. Start the journey of self-discoveration,

and what a journey.

Your mum, she understood, though, you leaving? Or not?

Well, she didn't want to.

She didn't want to understand.

It was very hard for her, for me to leave, but I think I made

my point very clear that if I stay, there's no future for me.

Yeah. You know?

It got too dark, right?

I don't like it. Oh, no.

I thought you meant life.

THEY LAUGH

The Darvish was supported by their community

when they arrived in Germany,

and now they're giving back.

Tonight, they'll be performing with their collective called

Queens Against Borders, working for trans and queer refugees.

Hello, hello, hello, hello!

CHEERING

Woohoo! Oh, OK!

Thank you so much, everyone, for being here with us

tonight in this fundraiser.

We're very, very glad that you're here.

Whoo, whoo, whoo!

Yes!

Whoo!

Finding and building a community anywhere in the world,

whatever community it is, is super vital.

The community that I have built brought to me everything

that I could ever imagine, which is me being me.

Please put your hands together, for the gorgeous, the stunning,

the beautiful, the one and only The Darvish!

CHEERING

ETHEREAL MUSIC PLAYS

THROBBING DANCE MUSIC

CHEERING CONTINUES

I choose my dance and my passion, my performances to say something.

I am trying my best to have the visibility here in order later

to mobilise it there in Syria.

I'm beginning to understand what I've been missing by not being

more active like The Darvish.

By expressing their true selves, they manage to shed the shame.

Look, my struggle's nothing compared to The Darvish.

But they have given me so much to think about.

I don't really go to gay bars. I mean, I'm a shit gay person.

Also because I think that comes from a deep line of, like,

not really wanting to be gay that much.

With every story, there's been...

It's been plagued with some, sort of, element of heartbreak,

but then, some massive amount of joy, you know?

And that's the magic of queer people.

All over the world, there are communities of LGBTQ+ people

creating islands of hope.

And perhaps none more so than in South Africa.

In 1996, the new constitution was the first in the world

to outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

And the country was fifth in the world to legalise same-sex marriage

in a continent where no other country has.

No wonder South Africa is a haven for LGBTQ+ refugees.

In Johannesburg a support group at the, well,

perhaps surprising location of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church

brings them together.

My name is Victor Motlasa.

I was born in Lesotho, I'm 24 years old.

I stopped going to church because I was facing a lot of discrimination,

a lot of hate.

You, as a flamboyant gay man, in coming into South Africa,

was there a change?

Coming to South Africa, I think it was a blessing

because you got to be yourself.

You got to express yourself the way you want.

I couldn't even wear a crop top in Lesotho, or like, why,

why would I do that, or a short?

Because I have to - they have an ideal man that you have to be,

you have to dress like this.

You have to walk like this person.

You have to go play soccer, or you have to go look after the cows.

THEY LAUGH

Imagine, imagine!

Every morning, every morning, I will have to be here.

I will have to go...

I find a group, like, as a family because I think they provide

a safe space where you can literally talk about your problem.

Today, an estimated 634,000 identify as LGBTQ+ in South Africa.

In communities like these, to quote The Darvish,

people can be themselves - free.

And you kiss and kiss, and kiss up until...

Kiss another boy. Kiss another boys, have fun.

If we get, like, spaces where we can enjoy as the queer community,

like, we get to feel that love within ourselves.

Spaces like this are definitely important because, I don't know,

I just feel so much more me.

Well, I'm a homosexual, very gay, over-the-top,

extremely flamboyant.

We want to get married and just settle down,

and just live a beautiful life.

And have fur babies, cos I don't want, like, actual ones.

Every one of these people has been brave enough to put themselves

out there, despite all the challenged they've faced.

So, what about me?

I may have been open about being into women,

but boy, have I missed out on a bigger picture.

A life-affirming queer community.

It's all been a very interesting journey of meeting wonderful people,

you know, plagued with quite horrible circumstances sometimes.

It's just made me really want to be louder about what I believe in.

Moshi, moshi!

But what do I do, really?

How can I stand up and fight for my community,

and live that true proud, out life?

Well, there's one small thing I can do.

I can show up.

It's time to stop hiding and do what I said at the start

that I've never done before.

Yes, at last, I'm going to go to freaking Pride!

I want that outfit! You look amazing!

Darling, look at those model faces.

The fame, the fame!

Do you mind if I interview you?

I would love to interview you, as well! I can do that. OK, good.

I've never been to Pride before, so this is my first Pride.

I've been out for a while.

But, yeah, happy Pride. Happy Pride!

Tell me about your experience as drag queens.

Like, how old you were when you discovered...?

But we're still only 15. Yeah, exactly, me too!

I'm 12. Me too. I'm 12. No, you aren't.

When did you come out? 26-7.

Don't ask me how old I am.

THEY LAUGH

I wouldn't ask a lady that question!

The last ten years, I think, changing a lot.

It's changing a lot.

But now, marriage, family, kids - it's on the table.

It's all possible. Yeah, it's possible.

The first Pride was held in New York in 1970.

But Tokyo didn't see a parade until 1994.

And just like in New York, it began as a political protest.

Until the late 2000s, some marchers disguised themselves

with masks and shades.

But this year, there were 66,000 people,

and the only masks were...

Well, you know why.

Thank you. Happy Pride! Happy Pride.

It's emotional for me a little bit, cos I think when you're queer and

you spend so much time being quiet and being silenced,

Pride allows a space for people to come and feel safe

showing who they really are, being able to be loud.

Oh, my God!

Here, the weather might be gloomy - but there are rainbows galore.

And I've just seen a familiar face.

Hello again! Hi.

Oh, my God! Hi, sorry.

How are you? Hi, how are you?

Oh... This is amazing, yeah!

Yesterday, I saw two men holding hands for the first time in my life,

in Shibuya, and I was like... Oh, my gosh!

Anybody who sees them would be like, "Oh, this is..."

This is normal, it's not weird.

What Pride has taught me is in so many places in the world,

you can find a queer community.

And many of us have been on similar journeys.

There's strength in numbers,

but individuals can make a difference.

I've met them, and they've inspired me to say goodbye

to that shame once and for all.

I feel so much more comfortable, and I feel very proud.

I mean it, not just because it was Pride.

It's not like it's changed me.

It's not like it's, erm, made me someone else,

or I've discovered new elements of myself.

It's just me being able to be myself in these situations.

It's just been a real revelation.

I just want to keep being in this Planet Sex-mode.

Meeting people from around the world, connecting, listening

to people's stories, trying to imagine their situation,

trying to understand and, through that, understand more about myself,

and hopefully ignite or inspire others

to have similar conversations.

I've just never done anything so personal.

It just makes me realise what's important, and how much

more active I want to be, in terms of trying to make

some sort of small difference.

Any difference is still better than nothing.

OK, now what? I'm sad!

Is it over? Is it over?

It's never over. Pride is never over.

Coming out.

It was just a really beautiful experience,

and I'm so grateful for it.

Oh, don't, I'm going to get fucking emotional. I hate emotions!

What do you want? Just say "cut"!

Just...

SHE LAUGHS