A RELAXED 'in conversation' style evening with human rights activist Peter Tatchell ended with a standing ovation on Wednesday (February 19).

StoneCrabs Theatre’s Out On An Island project and Quay Arts played host to the speaker, who was interviewed by Jonathan Bacon, supported by a 70-strong audience.

In the first hour, he talked about his passion for human rights, which started when he was in his early teens in Australia.

He went on to form the campaign group OutRage! and was one of the organisers of the UK’s first ever Pride event in 1972, followed by years of campaigning across the world.

The talk was punctuated with a video clip of Peter’s protest against Robert Mugabe, when he was punched to the ground and knocked unconscious.

Peter explained the importance of standing up for your rights and how people could follow his example of writing letters to newspapers and members of Parliament if discrimination is witnessed.

He shared details of the numerous assaults and death threats he had received, travelling to confront world leaders and homophobes, often on his own.

During a break in the talk, there was music from Rosa Maccormack in Quay Arts Cafe while the audience was invited to submit questions.

Peter was asked people could make progress on the Island in terms of LGBTQ rights and equality. He talked about the strong community feel and compared it to the 'unfriendliness' of London.

He encouraged people to collaborate, working together to overcome divisions in society and explained the rise of fascism and the perils of complacency.

Out On An Island is a project focusing on 100 years of Isle of Wight LGBTQ oral histories.

Organisers are keen to hear from anyone who has an LGBTQ story with an Isle of Wight connection, or anyone keen to volunteer.

Contact Out On An Island by emailing hello@outonanisland.co.uk or follow the project on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.