Comedian John Bishop says he's 'massively proud' of his gay son during emotional speech as he accepts British LGBT award
- John Bishop gave an emotional speech about his gay son last night
- The comedian was named Ally of the Year at the NatWest British LGBT Awards
- He moved the audience with his touching words at the London Marriott Hotel
John Bishop gave an emotional speech about his gay son last night while accepting a NatWest British LGBT Award.
The comedian was named Ally of the Year and moved the audience with his touching words at the London Marriott Hotel in Grosvenor Square.
He attended the event with his wife Melanie and sons Joe, Luke and Daniel, and was surprised when hosts Mel B and Duncan James handed him the award.
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![John Bishop gave an emotional speech about his gay son last night while accepting a NatWest British LGBT Award](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/12/20/4C1B6F8500000578-5721869-image-m-17_1526153167301.jpg)
John Bishop gave an emotional speech about his gay son last night while accepting a NatWest British LGBT Award
![He attended the event with his wife Melanie and sons Joe, Luke and Daniel, and was surprised when hosts Mel B and Duncan James handed him the award](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/12/20/4C1E685300000578-5721869-image-a-33_1526153371800.jpg)
![He attended the event with his wife Melanie and sons Joe, Luke and Daniel, and was surprised when hosts Mel B and Duncan James handed him the award](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/12/20/4C1E8DD000000578-5721869-image-a-32_1526153371721.jpg)
He attended the event with his wife Melanie and sons Joe, Luke and Daniel, and was surprised when hosts Mel B and Duncan James handed him the award
The 51-year-old wasn't all business however and made sure to add some light moments into his acceptance speech.
He said: ‘I was so pleased to be nominated. I brought my whole family, my wife and my three sons who I love and I am massively proud of.
‘Like all parents we have problems with them. One of my sons has a tattoo on his ankle that was meant to be Africa but looks like Australia, one of my sons mumbles and one of my sons is a gay man.
‘I’ll be honest, there’s been loads of nights when me and my wife have sat up and worried and worried and worried.
‘What are we going to do if he doesn’t stop mumbling?’
The funnyman also called for same-sex marriage to be legalised in Northern Ireland - where he’d recently visited to speak with the Rainbow Trust who put together the biggest gay pride in Ireland - during his powerful speech.
‘The first time they did it just fifty brave souls got together and when they walked down the road they were faced with people stood there with placards.
‘They had placards shouting at these people “You’re going to hell”, “Being gay is a sin”, “You’re an abomination”.
![John Bishop pictured during his emotional speech - the funnyman also called for same-sex marriage to be legalised in Northern Ireland](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/12/20/4C25996E00000578-5721869-image-a-37_1526154204448.jpg)
John Bishop pictured during his emotional speech - the funnyman also called for same-sex marriage to be legalised in Northern Ireland
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/12/21/4C1F5C9100000578-5721869-image-a-42_1526156520819.jpg)
![The comedian was named Ally of the Year and moved the audience with his touching words at the London Marriott Hotel in Grosvenor Square](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/12/21/4C1F712600000578-5721869-The_comedian_was_named_Ally_of_the_Year_and_moved_the_audience_w-m-41_1526156502723.jpg)
The comedian was named Ally of the Year and moved the audience with his touching words at the London Marriott Hotel in Grosvenor Square
![The 51-year-old wasn't all business however and made sure to add some light moments into his acceptance speech](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/12/21/4C25FE9D00000578-5721869-image-a-38_1526156422054.jpg)
The 51-year-old wasn't all business however and made sure to add some light moments into his acceptance speech
![He said: ¿I was so pleased to be nominated. I brought my whole family, my wife and my three sons who I love and I am massively proud of'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/12/20/4C1E8B7200000578-5721869-image-m-36_1526153400610.jpg)
He said: ‘I was so pleased to be nominated. I brought my whole family, my wife and my three sons who I love and I am massively proud of'
‘Back then there was more protests than marches. Now they dwarf the protestors. The gay pride in Belfast has 60,000 people turn up.’
When he asked why the marchers allowed the protesters to attend, he was told that a space is left every year for them so that people can walk past holding their heads high.
The comedian received a standing ovation from the 600-strong audience after his touching words and Mel B said: 'Thank you John Bishop. Brilliant speech'.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Sue Perkins and Sandi Tokvig were also among the winners at the event.
Marjorie Strachan, Head of Inclusion at British LGBT Award sponsors NatWest, said: ‘The NatWest British LGBT Awards have again proven to be a brilliant showcase of the people and organisations that use their platform to promote LGBT+ visibility in Britain,’ report the Mirror.
‘People in the public eye, community leaders, businesses and charities that have been recognised because of their efforts to advance the rights of LGBT+ communities should feel incredibly proud’
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