A new play is being shown in Birmingham which tackles the health care inequality faced by lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Britain.
Polly Wright’s play, Straight Talking, has been commissioned as part of Birmingham’s SHOUT festival, a month long festival aimed at the gay community.
Straight Talking looks at why gay people are less likely to consult their GPs and considers the impact of this on their health.
Director and writer Polly Wright says: “This piece was originally commissioned for the training of health professionals. It has been revised and adapted for the stage to get these issues out in the open, to stir up public debate.”
The play is based on research which shows that many gay people fear stigmatisation and discrimination if they talk honestly about their sexuality to health professionals.
Research has also shown that only 44% of lesbians and 27.5% of gay men are out to their GP. The play looks at the effect this can have on gay people’s health, particularly mental health.
The play runs on 26- 27 November at the Crescent Theatre in Birmingham. Admission £6.00, for more information go to: getreadytoshout.org