Describing the group as “anti-trans”, the Glaswegian-born singer said: “It has come to my attention that the LGB Alliance is using Smalltown Boy in a film called Generational Gay.
“LGB Alliance is anti-trans. I would never allow anything of mine to be used by such a group.
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“We will do everything we can as soon as possible to have Smalltown Boy removed from this film. How dare you? How f*****g dare you?”
Released in May 1984, “Smalltown Boy” reached number three in the UK chart and became the biggest hit for Bronski Beat, the synth-pop group formed of Somerville, Steve Bronski and Larry Steinbachek.
The track became and remains a queer anthem, and in 2022 was named one of the greatest dance songs of all time by Rolling Stone.
It tells the story of a young gay man forced to leave his hometown due to prejudice and discrimination, reflecting Somerville’s own decision to leave Glasgow for London aged 17.
Critics of LGB Alliance say the group are against the rights of trans people.
The group are advocates of sex-based rights and oppose proposed legislation in the Scottish Parliament to change the process of legal recognition of gender to be “based only on self-identification rather than biological sex”.
