Paul O’Grady faced down Tory austerity, homophobia and shame – he was a true hero

‘Paul O’Grady may have been embraced as a national treasure, but the British public knew exactly who they were embracing.’ Photograph: David Gadd/Allstar

Paul O’Grady may have been a national treasure but before anything he was a gay hero. As a gay storyteller myself, I found him hugely inspiring.

I first saw O’Grady perform as his drag alter ego Lily Savage in the 1990s. I was gobsmacked yet galvanised by his bawdy, often sexually explicit humour. I also remember feeling encouraged that so many straight people in the audience were roaring with laughter.