Queer as Folk star Johnny Sibilly recalls dancing in front of homophobic protesters at Pride

Words: Brian Leonard; pictures: Leigh Keily

Queer as Folk‘s Johnny Sibilly says it was a “freeing moment” when he vogued in front of some anti_LGBTQ protestors during Pride.

The actor, 34, who stars in the rebooted Queer as Folk talks to Attitude about his Pride experiences for My Pride, sponsored by United Airlines. 

Touching on his role as Noah in the rebooted QAF Johnny says it is “the most divine privilege” to be a part of the show “especially playing openly queer characters.”

He remembers attending L.A. Pride with co-star Devin Way (Brodie in QAF) once, which he does so fondly.

Smiling, he says: “I could see the faces that he [Devin] was making and how he was like a little bit nervous, but so excited. And I remember there was one point we were sitting inside the restaurant waiting for our car to drive up, and I was just sitting in the booth and I was like, ‘Oh, yeah, it’ll be here in a second.'”

Devin, however, was excitedly sat against the window watching other cars go by, the contrast between him and Devin made Johnny feel “a little bit of an old jaded queen,” but it also reminded him “how special it is for people to see themselves in that way.”

Later he recalls walking in a Pride parade with the LGBT youth suicide prevention charity, The Trevor Project with his then-boyfriend and being able to kiss openly in public without fear.

The same year he also attended a Pride in Portland with his boyfriend who was teaching a workout class where they encountered “two or three protestors”

“I was just on such a high, I was like, they’re not, you know, we had a lot of allies with us. So they didn’t know what to do. They didn’t know if they needed to protect us or do something. And I remember just being like, they’re not going to ruin our time.

“And I just started dancing in front of them while they were condemning us all to hell. And I was, you know, doing the little twirls and the voguing and yeah, it was such a freeing moment to not be afraid of dissent,” says Johnny.

The actor also shares his favourite Pride get-up (short shorts or ‘Daisy Dukes’) as well as that his journey to Pride “has been a long winding one” and is “ever-evolving”. 

He adds, “I don’t think it ever will stop because I feel like when you stop learning, you stop growing.”

In addition to Johnny, ‘Biblical’ singer Calum Scott, Cabaret actor Fra Fee, TV presenter, Gok Wan, and RuPaul’s Drag Race icons Peppermint, Trixie, and Katya will also be sharing their memories and lessons of Pride.

My Pride, sponsored by United Airlines, is part of Attitude Pride at Home, which runs from 9-19 June on attitude.co.uk, youtube.com/attitudemag, and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@attitudemag).

Attitude Pride at Home is to benefit the Attitude Magazine Foundation for LGBT causes. 

To donate £3 please text ATHOME3 to 70480 or click here.