Since its release in 1984, the song has been considered a gay anthem. However, the band's vocalist Jimmy Sommerville spoke out against the unauthorized use of “Smalltown Boy” by the LGB Alliance organization.
He writes UNN with reference to Jimmy Somerville OFFICIAL.
Describing the LGB Alliance as an “anti-transgender organization,” Bronski Beat vocalist Jimmy Sommerville said in a video posted on Instagramthat he “would never allow any of his work to be used by a group like that.
“How dare you? How fucking dare you?” So I just want you to know that I had nothing to do with it, I didn't know about it, but we're going to do something about it
He also added that he would do everything possible to get the track removed from the LGB Alliance video.
For reference
LGB Alliance - supports lesbians, gays and bisexuals. However, the LGB Alliance actively opposes the exclusion of transgender people; the organization also opposes gender identity education in schools, gender recognition reform, and gender-affirming medicine. In 2021, there was an attempt by the transgender charity Mermaids to get removed from the LGB Alliance's register of charities, which they claimed had an “anti-trans orientation”. This attempt was rejected.
Bronski Beat is a British synth-pop band formed in 1983 in London, England.
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Bronski Beat achieved success in the mid-1980s, especially with the 1984 single “Smalltown Boy” from their debut album The Age of Consent. “Smalltown Boy” was their only single to reach the US Billboard Hot 100. All the band members were openly gay. Despite the initial unity in the band's mission to bring queer politics to the world stage, vocalist Jimmy Somerville said goodbye to the band just a year after the huge success of “Smalltown Boy” due to a dispute over joining Madonna's “Like A Virgin” tour in the United States.
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