Political protests are in the public eye more than ever. Perhaps it is because social media means we no longer have to rely on the filters of traditional media outlets to see the protests covered, if at all, or perhaps it is because so many of us have been in lockdowns during such massive events such as the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, we all have the time and space to pay more attention than ever before. Whatever the case, there has been a shift for many people about how to regard civil disobedience, and for many that has meant letting go of the myth that both sides are of equal value (or that both sides are as bad as each other) and also having the realisation that when it comes to changing society in the name of equality and human rights, politely asking for change is ineffective and inappropriate.
One man who has long known this is the Australian-born, British human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell who may not be a household name, but whose work since the late 1960s has no doubt had a positive impact on the lives of many people. And as the title of this documentary feature about his life and his work suggests, he was often despised, not just because he advocated for causes that were often unpopular at the time, but because he often used tactics that even his fellow supporters did not always approve of. As this documentary reveals, being liked was not a priority for Tatchell. Read the full article.