It was an adaptation of an 1880 political cartoon by Thomas Nast. On 2 June, Twitter users tweeted an illustration. Much of this can be linked to a couple of tweets. However, its use jumped exponentially in June. Especially so in the San Francisco area.Ī search of Google Trends reveals that the term has been getting sporadic searches dating back to February 2011. I have not been able to track down where the Be Gay, Do Crime slogan originated, but a quick search reveals its use has grown exponentially over the last couple of months. It was ostensibly to promote the release of his new single, but what caught my attention was the fact he was standing in front of a graffitied wall bearing the same message: Be Gay, Do Crime. My curiosity deepened the next day when former Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears posted a photo to his Instagram. Leeds Pride, 5 August 2018 (Photo: David Hudson) It lodged in my mind because I didn’t understand its meaning. One person’s placard stood out as they walked past. Covering the event for Gay Star News, I shot video of part of the parade. I attended Leeds Pride last weekend in the north of England.
