“I congratulate the people of Ireland,” Stephen exclaimed to an adoring audience and rapturous applause, adding with a chuckle, “I am so happy they have decided to respect the sanctity of marriage.” It is clear that Stephen himself is happy in married life. He beamed, “it is absurd how much I am enjoying it,” particularly in light of his new husband keeping him well fed.

 

He spoke eloquently of his lifelong obsession with Oscar Wilde and his works in literature. On discovering The Trials of Oscar Wilde, which documents the eminent writer’s mistreatment at the hands of archaic laws deeming his sexuality illegal, Stephen said he felt “an extraordinary moment when my brain thumped and blood pumped in my ears”

 

“I knew in myself that I had the same nature – as he refers to it – as Oscar and it was a terrible blow,” Stephen confessed. He went onto add that his love of Wilde, and consequentially, literature of all philosophical tendencies, stemmed from his inward-looking curiosity. He read to answer the questions of his own sexuality: “By accident, I fell in love with literature because I pursued this ruthless goal to find myself.”

 

Although, he mused, young people these days “aren’t as cheap as me” and will find literature of their own accord, Stephen said the new generation of teens struggling with their own identities will miss the incredible journey of finding heroes in literature because all they have to do in this internet-dominated age is find their role models online.

 

Stephen discussed his history of mental health and cocaine abuse with his trademark charming self-depreciation and wit, saying “a large section of the Peruvian GDP went up my nose.” On a more serious note though, he added that this was a means of self-medication, as the medical profession would say. He also added that he is incredibly proud of being President of Mind, the mental health charity which he has championed trirelessly.

 

“If you’re mood changes and you can’t control it, what can you do? You can attempt, in moment of monumental stupidity, to reach for the thing that brings you back up again.”

 

Perhaps Stephen’s incredible rollercoaster ride through life is causal, not just by his history of bi-polar disorder, but also from the overriding fact that it is still hard to be a member of the LGBT community: “There is a lot of bullying, a lot of unhappiness among those born with a different sexuality.” With people like Stephen’s support and the forthcoming progressive legislation, as evidenced by the vote for gay marriage in Ireland yesterday, perhaps we are looking at a new era and moving towards a more accepting society.

 

 

Photo: Courtesy of Hay Festival
Text: Francesca Donovan