In Friday's (09/12) second episode Billy quoted Peter Tatchell, while sat at the bar in the Rovers talking to Todd and Michelle.

The scene begins and they are mid conversation. Billy is talking of 'those days when the church didn't even allow women to be Anglican priests'.
He says 'Peter Tatchell once said you can often tell what a country's human rights are like by the way they treat the women and the gay people. We're like canaries going down a mine'.

So he did - 'Women and gay people are the litmus test of whether a society is democratic and respecting human rights. We are the canaries in the mine'.
Unable to find source. Certainly plenty of websites that attribute the quote to Tatchell.

If the CS producers read these forums then might I suggest a couple of other Peter Tatchell quotes they could use Billy as the mouthpiece for:

Any part of this infamous letter maybe?
Peter Tatchell's letter to the Guardian, dated 26 June 1997, reproduced in full below

Ros Coward (Why Dares to Speak says nothing useful, June 23) thinks it is “shocking” that Gay Men’s Press has published a book, Dares To Speak, which challenges the assumption that all sex involving children and adults is abusive. I think it is courageous.

The distinguished psychologists and anthropologists cited in this book deserve to be heard. Offering a rational, informed perspective on sexual relations between younger and older people, they document examples of societies where consenting inter-generational sex is considered normal, beneficial and enjoyable by old and young alike.

Prof Gilbert Herdt points to the Sambia tribe of Papua New Guinea, where all young boys have sex with older warriors as part of their initiation into manhood. Far from being harmed, Prof Herdt says the boys grow up to be happy, well-adjusted husbands and fathers.

The positive nature of some child-adult sexual relationships is not confined to non-Western cultures. Several of my friends – gay and straight, male and female – had sex with adults from the ages of nine to 13. None feel they were abused. All say it was their conscious choice and gave them great joy.

While it may be impossible to condone paedophilia, it is time society acknowledged the truth that not all sex involving children is unwanted, abusive and harmful.

Peter Tatchell

Or very appropriate for an ex vicar:

'The Bible is to gays what Mein Kampf is to Jews'.
Lecture, St. Botolph's, Aldgate, London, 21 March 2000*[2]

I think someone should have run to the medical center to get nurse Rana over and loosen that collar around his neck. She would know what effect oxygen starvation does to the brain. First aid should be made mandatory for all bartenders as well so they can recognize the symptoms when the patrons horseshit reach such levels.

Been thinking about why Corrie want a newly de-frocked Billy to be suddenly quoting Tatchell?

Total character change, the moment he loses the dog collar for good?
Either that or rather then starvation of oxygen to the brain, he has a rush of the stuff to his noggin' on account of ditching the collar.

Also funny to see Tatchell came out from what rock he was under, immediately after being name checked on prime time national television.

Any other publicity seeking dubious folk CS can reference?

Not having seen it yet I assumed he was propping up the bar with his collar on. Maybe he had too many pints and that brought on an epiphany.

Billy gives me the creeps. I'm always more than half expecting him to start licking Todd's face. He always seems nervous and sweaty.

I wish he'd leave. The character of Billy isn't working for me.

He isn't working at all now

I would be more concerned about him biting Todd. Every time I see his teeth I think of the line from Jaws. "I think we need a bigger boat."

So funny. It does look like he is seriously perving over Todd.
There was a scene the other day where Todd went over to give Billy a quick kiss before he went out and which we saw from behind and you could tell that he had been 'acting' the kiss. Billy looked sooo disappointed as if to say Awww, I didn't get a chance to stick me tongue down your throat.

What is the appeal for Todd of this slobbering, grinning, giggling and gurgling, prosletysing now asswipe. Marcus was Prince Charming compared to this creep.

That dole bum.. sitting in the cafe with a few papers around... what a life !