Russell T Davies Warns of ‘New Threats’ to LGBTQ+ Community
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 26: Russell T Davies during the BFI Preview of "Nolly" at BFI Southbank on January 26, 2023 in London, England. Photo Credit: Eamonn M. McCormack
by Chris Tremblay Jul 9
4 MIN READ
Award-winning screenwriter and television producer Russell T Davies has delivered a stark warning regarding the current state of LGBTQ+ rights, asserting that the community is facing a wave of “new threats” . Speaking at the Attitude Pride Awards ceremony held in early July 2026, Davies balanced his concerns with a message of resilience, noting that while the community continues to face mounting challenges, it also continues to “keep finding new joys” .
Davies, who is widely credited with transforming queer representation on television through works such as Queer as Folk and It’s a Sin, emphasized his lifelong commitment to these narratives. “My life is this community and I love writing about it, talking about it, thinking about it,” Davies told the Press Association during the event . He indicated that the evolving nature of the LGBTQ+ experience provides a constant source of inspiration, stating, “I always find new things to say about it, new things to learn about it” .
The ceremony also served as a platform for Davies to tease his next creative endeavor. Despite having recently launched the high-profile Channel 4 drama Tip Toe, Davies revealed that he is already deeply immersed in the writing process for a new series . Although the details of the plot and title remain under wraps, he admitted the project is in its early stages. “I’m already planning a new one. I don’t know if it works yet, because I haven’t finished writing it, but yeah, there’s always a lot to say,” he remarked .
This announcement follows the critical success of Tip Toe a five-part thriller that explores the corrosive nature of modern political discourse. Davies noted that his drive to tell queer stories remains undiminished by the passing of time, suggesting that if he could write such material “forever,” he would .
The “new threats” Davies alluded to are rooted in a sociopolitical climate that he describes as increasingly hostile toward transgender people and the broader LGBTQ+ community . In interviews leading up to the awards, Davies has pointed to the rise of far-right political movements in the United Kingdom, specifically naming Reform UK as a significant danger to established rights . He has characterized the party’s ascent as a “grave threat” to society and LGBTQ+ rights in particular .
Davies has also expressed alarm over the influence of American politics on British culture. He previously stated that the LGBTQ+ community should be “rising up in fear, outrage, and determination” due to the actions of the American President, whom he accused of working to render queer people “invisible” . These global tensions served as the primary catalyst for Tip Toe, which debuted on Channel 4 in May 2026 .
The series, starring Alan Cumming and David Morrissey, depicts two neighbors in Manchester whose relationship deteriorates into deadly enmity as their opinions become radicalized by modern media and political rhetoric . Davies described the show as a “reaction to where politics is heading,” noting that “queer discourse” has become dangerous in a way he never expected to witness again in his lifetime .
Davies has been vocal about the visceral nature of the threats facing the community in 2026, describing an “aggression in the air” that transcends digital platforms and manifests in physical spaces . He shared personal anecdotes of receiving verbal harassment from passing cars and mentioned that he knows educators who have felt compelled to sanitize their online presence to avoid targeting by extremist groups .
Despite the potential for backlash, Davies has remained defiant against critics who label his work—and his recent tenure as showrunner for Doctor Who—as “woke” . In an interview with Deadline, he embraced the term, stating that Tip Toe is “woke on a colossal scale” and arguing that in the current climate, “simply being gay in 2026 is inherently political” . He has dismissed online complaints about diversity, characterizing inclusion as a simple “open door” rather than a forced agenda .
Drawing a parallel between the current era and the 1980s, Davies suggested that the dangers emerging today are in some ways more severe than those faced during the AIDS crisis . While he previously hoped for a future of universal acceptance, he now believes that the “backsliding” of rights requires a return to the activist spirit of the past .
He urged younger generations of LGBTQ+ people to be prepared for a struggle, even if they have not lived through the historical battles for equality . “As a gay man in 2026, I increasingly feel that the conversation surrounding queer issues has turned so hostile and perilous in ways I never imagined would resurface,” Davies stated during a keynote speech earlier this year .
However, his appearance at the Attitude Pride Awards concluded on a note of defiant optimism. He called upon artists and community members to continue creating and organizing, even if they must do so as "rebels in basements" once again . As he continues to write his next series, Davies maintains that the expansion of the community and the discovery of new joys remain the ultimate counter-narrative to the rising tide of hostility .
Teasing the Next Project
The ceremony also served as a platform for Davies to tease his next creative endeavor. Despite having recently launched the high-profile Channel 4 drama Tip Toe, Davies revealed that he is already deeply immersed in the writing process for a new series . Although the details of the plot and title remain under wraps, he admitted the project is in its early stages. “I’m already planning a new one. I don’t know if it works yet, because I haven’t finished writing it, but yeah, there’s always a lot to say,” he remarked .
This announcement follows the critical success of Tip Toe a five-part thriller that explores the corrosive nature of modern political discourse. Davies noted that his drive to tell queer stories remains undiminished by the passing of time, suggesting that if he could write such material “forever,” he would .
The Political Landscape and ‘Tip Toe’
The “new threats” Davies alluded to are rooted in a sociopolitical climate that he describes as increasingly hostile toward transgender people and the broader LGBTQ+ community . In interviews leading up to the awards, Davies has pointed to the rise of far-right political movements in the United Kingdom, specifically naming Reform UK as a significant danger to established rights . He has characterized the party’s ascent as a “grave threat” to society and LGBTQ+ rights in particular .
Davies has also expressed alarm over the influence of American politics on British culture. He previously stated that the LGBTQ+ community should be “rising up in fear, outrage, and determination” due to the actions of the American President, whom he accused of working to render queer people “invisible” . These global tensions served as the primary catalyst for Tip Toe, which debuted on Channel 4 in May 2026 .
The series, starring Alan Cumming and David Morrissey, depicts two neighbors in Manchester whose relationship deteriorates into deadly enmity as their opinions become radicalized by modern media and political rhetoric . Davies described the show as a “reaction to where politics is heading,” noting that “queer discourse” has become dangerous in a way he never expected to witness again in his lifetime .
Hostility and the ‘Woke’ Debate
Davies has been vocal about the visceral nature of the threats facing the community in 2026, describing an “aggression in the air” that transcends digital platforms and manifests in physical spaces . He shared personal anecdotes of receiving verbal harassment from passing cars and mentioned that he knows educators who have felt compelled to sanitize their online presence to avoid targeting by extremist groups .
Despite the potential for backlash, Davies has remained defiant against critics who label his work—and his recent tenure as showrunner for Doctor Who—as “woke” . In an interview with Deadline, he embraced the term, stating that Tip Toe is “woke on a colossal scale” and arguing that in the current climate, “simply being gay in 2026 is inherently political” . He has dismissed online complaints about diversity, characterizing inclusion as a simple “open door” rather than a forced agenda .
Historical Perspective and Future Resilience
Drawing a parallel between the current era and the 1980s, Davies suggested that the dangers emerging today are in some ways more severe than those faced during the AIDS crisis . While he previously hoped for a future of universal acceptance, he now believes that the “backsliding” of rights requires a return to the activist spirit of the past .
He urged younger generations of LGBTQ+ people to be prepared for a struggle, even if they have not lived through the historical battles for equality . “As a gay man in 2026, I increasingly feel that the conversation surrounding queer issues has turned so hostile and perilous in ways I never imagined would resurface,” Davies stated during a keynote speech earlier this year .
However, his appearance at the Attitude Pride Awards concluded on a note of defiant optimism. He called upon artists and community members to continue creating and organizing, even if they must do so as "rebels in basements" once again . As he continues to write his next series, Davies maintains that the expansion of the community and the discovery of new joys remain the ultimate counter-narrative to the rising tide of hostility .
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