FOF #2726 – Francois Clemmons: Being Mr. Rogers’ Gay Black Neighbor
Feast of Fun: Gay Talk Show
Fausto Fernós
4.4 • 834 Ratings
🗓️ 4 April 2019
⏱️ 77 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
One of the unexpected surprises from “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” the documentary film on Mr. Rogers, was just how fierce and unapologetically gay in real life is Francois Clemmons, the actor who played Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
Francois joined the pioneering children’s TV show as a young man and spent decades playing Officer Clemmons. As one of the first African Americans to have a recurring role on children’s television, Francois was in a unique position to help Fred Rogers open his eyes to the struggles of disenfranchised people. In turn, Francois learned to take in the love that Fred had to give.
Today we’re delighted to talk to Officer Clemmons, Francois Diva Man Scarborough Clemmons from his home in Vermont about coming out as gay to Mr. Rogers, his love of turquoise jewelry and is there any truth to the recently revealed rumor that Mr. Rogers was bisexual?
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | One of the most unexpected surprises from Won't You Be My Neighbor, |
| 0:11.8 | the documentary film on Mr. Rogers was just how fierce and unapologetically gay in real life is Francois Clemens, |
| 0:24.3 | the actor who played Officer Clemens on Mr. Rogers' |
| 0:25.1 | Neighborhood. |
| 0:31.3 | Francois joined the pioneering children's TV show as a young man and spent decades playing Officer Clemens. |
| 0:35.8 | As one of the first African Americans to have a recurring role on children's television, |
| 0:38.3 | Francois was in a unique position to help Fred Rogers open his eyes to the struggles of disenfranchised people. In turn, Francois learned |
| 0:44.0 | to take in the love that Fred had to give. Today, we're delighted to talk to Officer Clemens, |
| 0:50.6 | Francois, diva man Scarborough Clemens from his home in Vermont about coming out as gay to Mr. Rogers. |
| 0:58.8 | His love for turquoise jewelry, and is there any truth to the recently revealed rumor, was bisexual? |
| 1:05.6 | I'm Fausto Furnos. |
| 1:07.2 | I'm Mark Fillion. |
| 1:08.3 | And this is Feast of Fun. |
| 1:32.4 | There are many ways to say I love you. |
| 1:35.3 | You thought that was Officer Clemens singing. |
| 1:37.3 | No, it's just me, Fausto. |
| 1:38.9 | You did a good job, though. |
| 1:39.6 | Thank you. |
| 1:40.1 | Thank you. |
| 1:42.4 | I sing that song every night before I go to bed. |
| 1:43.9 | You know what's a good way to say I love you? |
| 1:49.8 | How? Just say I love you. We love you, the listeners. You are the people who make this show possible. |
... |
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