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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
James Holt

'I had to leave town to be openly gay - we need more shows like I Kissed a Boy'

A gay activist who felt he 'had to be closeted' growing up in a market town was involved in the audition process for BBC's hit new show I Kissed A Boy - and has spoken out about why the dating programme is 'so important for breaking down barriers and LGBTQ+ representation'.

Calum 'McFabulous', also known as Calum McDermott, was teased and called names in school before making the move to Manchester aged 18. His childhood years in the Derbyshire market town of Chesterfield saw him forced in the closet.

The 26-year-old, who has also worked at Manchester-based LGBTQ+ station Gaydio, says that although he was not eventually cast to be on the show, which is the first of its kind in the UK, it is 'absolutely amazing to see mainstream representation of the LGBT community'.

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