The Pop Corporation

Anyone who knows anything about Jimmy Sommerville knows that he’s The People’s Champ. Always on the right side of history, and just so happens to be the writer of one of the most vital and important songs in pop history – ‘Smalltown Boy’.

The song has found itself in a sticky place by people acting in bad faith – the LGB Alliance. The group, for all intents and purposes, are ‘anti Trans’ and of course, Jimmy Sommerville isn’t having any of it. See, the group want to use ‘Smalltown Boy’ in a film. The group have said they are using the track in something called ‘Generation Gay’, and whatever the documentary is about, their actions thus far have been very vocal in their opposition of gender identity education in schools, the exclusion of Trans people, and the opposition of gender affirming healthcare.

‘Smalltown Boy’, even if written partly from Sommerville’s experiences as a gay man in ’80s Britain, has become an anthem for all disenfranchised LGBTQIA+ people. The song itself details being outed and ostracised, and of course, Sommerville recognised all forms of phobic attitudes and wants the song to give a voice to those who feel they don’t have it.

With that, Jimmy has hit out at the LGB Alliance.

In a video, Somerville said: “It has come to my attention that the LGB Alliance is using ‘Small Town Boy’ in a film called Generation Gay. LGB Alliance is anti-trans. I would never allow anything of mine to be used by such a group. So we will do everything we can as soon as possible to have ‘Smalltown Boy’ removed from this film.”

“How dare you? How fucking dare you? So I just want to let you know that there’s nothing to do with me, didn’t know about it, but we will do something about it.”

Bronski Beat released their own documentary last month to mark the 40th anniversary of their single ‘Why?’, from their masterpiece album ‘Age Of Consent’. Do yourself a favour and watch this instead.

You might have to hit the link to age verify it, but well worth it.