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AE: But if it turns out... I just think it's interesting, if it turns out that it is something that's genetic, then for those gay kids whose parents throw them out of the house because of their sexuality, those kids will be able to turn to their parents and say [exasperated] “Look, this came from you!” You know, “This isn't something I came up with.”
JB: I've been fortunate and lucky, my parents have been beside me and supported me, my family supports me and loves me. The horrific thing of being thrown out and shunned by your family...if your family has done that, then it is so important that you lead a productive and responsible life and [slowly and emphatically] prove them wrong in every single aspect.

So that one day you can go back with your proud life and say “This is who I am [emphatically] and you missed out on it.” Rather than, you know, saying “It's your fault I'm this way.” Because, you know what, that's when I say “it's not a fault”. 

AE: Well, yeah, not a fault, but--
JB: I know, I know what you're saying, but what someone will grab onto is saying “Oh, you know, it's your fault I turned out this way, this is what happened” It's not. We are normal. [Homosexuality] is normal.

AE: Yup. Well that's what's so great about shows like Doctor Who, that is a family show that just presents it in such a matter-of-fact way. And it's not a big deal - it's just there.
JB: I did a Doctor Who convention, and I was sitting at a table, and this young boy came up to me and his Dad was with him. I said “How would you like me to sign your picture?” and he said “However you want”, so I said “I always put ‘Love, John Barrowman' - then, you know, ‘Captain Jack', at the bottom.”

And he said--can I tell you something--he said “I don't care if Captain Jack likes boys and girls. I think he's a great action hero, and he's my hero.” And his Dad looked at me, and I looked up at his Dad, and I said, “You know what, you did a damn good job raising that kid.”

AE: Well it's such an amazing change in terms of representation in the media. I mean, I'm in my twenties, and just in the last ten years, compared to when I was in my teens, and there just - there really was just nothing. It just wasn't talked about, nothing on television, nothing in films, and I'm sure even more for you.
JB: Oh my God, I mean, complete, total changes for me, yes. It was...I mean, the only gay character I ever knew about on television was in Soap, Billy Crystal's character [Jodie Dallas]. And that was the first [gay character], it was shocking [to people].

AE: And didn't [Jodie] want to be a woman, or something? It was kind of unclear whether he was... I don't know, I mean I've only heard about that character.
JB: I can't remember, but all I remember is the neighbours up the street wouldn't allow... I mentioned the show in the company of their kids, who were the same age as me, probably about twelve, thirteen years old. I mentioned it, and their mother and father's faces dropped, and the kids said “We're not allowed to watch that show”.

And I said “Well, why?” and they said “Because it's not what the Catholic religion believes in.” And I'm thirteen, you know what I mean, and I'm thinking...

AE: It's so damaging! [to hear that kind of comment as a gay kid]
JB: It's so damaging. I went home and told my parents, and they were like, “Don't listen to them. You watch it, and you enjoy it”. And, you know, I was watching [cult British comedy series] Monty Python. Yes, [the Catholic neighbours] would let their kids watch Monty Python, where you see people getting their hands and heads cut off!

AE: Yeah. Yeah, it's so totally bizarre, that attitude in America that still... You know, in movies, any movie, people shooting each other, blasting each other's heads off with guns--
JB: No problem, but two men or two women kiss--don't watch it.  

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