Scarlett Mansfield Interviewed on Suffolk Radio Interview About LGBTQ+ Fertility Rights

Apologises for the faulty audio at the start, please bear with it as the problem is resolved within a minute. In this interview by Jon Wright, Scarlett Mansfield discusses a new LGBTQ+ Ipswich Book Club for those in their 20s and early 30s, questions whether we’re living in a post-queer world, and looks at the difficulties of expressing public affection in a same-sex relationship. Scarlett also offers her opinion on whether cis-gender heterosexuals should play LGBTQ+ actors and write LGBTQ+ characters in books. 

This interviewed took place at 6:23 pm on BBC Radio Suffolk, Tuesday 12th January 2021.

Scarlett Mansfield Interviewed about LGBTQ+ Book Club on BBC Radio Suffolk

After years of struggle, in March 1972, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) successfully passed Congress. It stated ‘equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex’.

Ten years later, despite initial success in gaining ratification from 35 out of the necessary 38 states, and a three-year extension, the ERA fell short of the required threshold to make it appear in the constitution today. The reasons behind its failure reflect many of the issues similar proposals face today. In order to pass such an amendment, or even similar remotely controversial acts (such as gay rights), examining these factors can provide us a clearer insight on how to improve the chances of success.

This recording is based on the presentation Scarlett Mansfield gave at the International Conference of Undergraduate Research in December 2015.