Phillip Schofield has revealed that a friend was fired via email for coming out as gay.
The presenter, 60, shared the shocking story on This Morning while talking to Gok Wan about Pride in London this weekend.
Phil came out as gay in 2020 during an emotional interview with Holly Willoughby on This morning.
Appearing on the ITV daytime show today to speak about Pride, Gok said: "For me, why it's so personal, because there are countries around the world where me just being me right now, I legally could be killed - just for me being who I am right now. And I quite like who I am - I'm happy with who I am! And the idea that someone could take my life just because of somebody I fall in love with or who I choose to share my body with... they could kill me.
"So Pride is so important because not only in those countries where it's the worst cases, there are other countries where it is simply illegal - you can go to prison or get lashes and things like that.
"So when we stand as a community in London on Saturday and we are with our allies and we're with our community, we are supporting all those people around the world that can look at that with hope because we are privileged. It really is important."
Holly pointed out: "50 years ago they stood and got abuse from people - 50 years ago is not long ago and the representation has got better but there is still a long way to go!"
Gesturing towards himself and Phil, Gok added: "A couple of days ago, our friend - I won't say his name - was walking home from work and [said], 'Someone called me a really derogatory name for a gay person and spat at me.' Now he is a similar age to me, he runs a business, he is just your normal, average male. So stuff still happens."
Phil agreed, saying: "I just mentioned earlier on that I had a phone call from someone that I know who said that their friend has just decided to come out - later in life - and has been fired, but openly in an email. 'You can't work for me because you're gay.'"
Gok said: "That blows my mind! So it isn't just a party on Saturday, we're standing for equality."
*This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV
