Happy Pride everyone! 1970s/80s Many LGBT+ friendly events, pub nights and clubs open An estimated 77,000 people identifying as in Leeds in response to a growing visibility of the scene. Rainbow LGBT+ live in Leeds. We’ve celebrated Pride Ye Olde Red Lion, The Grove, Charlie’s, The Bridge Inn to name a few. for over 12 years; this is a time to celebrate who we are and who we love. It is also a time to 1957 remember the experiences, people and events The Wolfenden Report recommends that homosexuality Plaque that have shaped who we are. National and should be decriminalised. Ten years later The Sexual 1981 international events have all influenced local Offences Act is introduced, which decriminalises homosexual acts between two men over 21 ‘in private’. ‘Tainted Love’ storms to the top of the charts. LGBT+ freedoms. With a striking New Romantics and androgynous LGBT+ communities and their allies have often image, Leeds ‘Poly’ (now Beckett) student, Trail Marc Almond becomes a household name as been forced to challenge the status quo to 1969 the lead singer of Soft Cell. receive fair and equal treatment. Becoming infuriated by police oppression, a series of spontaneous and violent demonstrations by the LGBT+ 2018 #RainbowPlaques aim to make LGBT+ heritage, community started in the Stonewall Inn, New York. 1982 achievements and stories visible. A pivotal moment in LGBT+ history, it started the modern movement for LGBT+ rights. Leeds Lesbian Line opens a switchboard to support women questioning their sexuality and provide information about the LGBT+ community in Leeds. 1971 The Leeds Gay Liberation Front start to meet at Leeds 1987 University. The Swarthmore Centre becomes another safe space for LGBT+ friendly meetings to be held openly, DV8 Physical Theatre perform ‘My Sex Our Dance’ having 1843 with the Committee for Homosexual Equality hosting rehearsed at Yorkshire Dance. The AIDS outbreak during the 1980s claimed the lives of a disproportionate amount Leeds men, Thomas Sykes and Edward Rayner were some of their meetings there. of gay men. Against a painful backdrop of prejudice sentenced to death following a liaison in a toilet in The surrounding AIDS, their performance provided a Regent pub’s yard, later amended to life-imprisonment. cathartic and powerful response. The death penalty was abolished in 1861, however 1973 committing ‘homosexual acts’ still carried harsh penalties. With very few dedicated places for LGBT+ people to meet, many men met other men by cruising or cottaging 1988 in public toilets. This carried a very serious rick of arrest, entrapment by the police and public naming in Introduced by Thatcher’s government in 1988, Section newspapers. On his blog, historian John Murphy details 28 forbade councils and schools from “intentionally his experience of being arrested as a student in Leeds promoting homosexuality”. Many teachers felt unable to “..one of the most traumatic experiences of my life. I felt support students who may be bullied or questioning their so ashamed. The police persuaded me to plead guilty – sexuality. It forced many professionals ‘into the closet’ for saying they’d go easy on me. I did but it turned out the fear of prosecution and of losing their livelihoods. Section police lied. For weeks I lived in total fear… but it also was 28 was repealed in 2003. a turning point. I came-out. I swore I’d never be conned; never be lied to and never to be a victim again – Leeds Civic Trust & Leeds LGBT+ HUB, 1885 just because I was gay. And I would never again feel 2005 ashamed of being gay.” john-murphy.co.uk Legislation allowing civil-partnerships becomes legal. The Labouchere Amendment was passed. This prohibited have worked together to prepare this Terry George and Michael Rothwell became one of the ‘gross indecency’ between males; making any sexual first couples in the country to have a civil partnership special #RainbowPlaques trail to acts punishable by law. Writer Oscar Wilde and Enigma at Bar Fibre on Lower Briggate (which Terry George code-breaker Alan Turing were both sentenced under celebrate & highlight the history, owned). Although dubbed ‘gay marriage’ by the this law. In Leeds, under this repression, artist Robert media, civil-partnerships weren’t recognised as events & people that have Hawthorn Kitson left the United Kingdom, building a ‘marriage’ by Government. influenced our LGBT+ heritage. beautiful villa in Sicily. To all who have made a nomination for a Rainbow Plaque this year, thank you, the stories you’ve shared with us have been 1921 2012 inspirational, heart-breaking and fun in equal measure! Nicola Adams OBE beats Ren Cancan and becomes the Cyril Livingstone was born (d. 2011). He had a couturier first openly LGBT+ person to win an Olympic boxing gold Leeds Civic Trust is a charity that works with its members shop on Albion Place, dressing the fashion-conscious medal. Born and raised in Leeds, Nicola topped 2012’s and community partners to help make Leeds a great place to of Leeds. Livingstone was also a well-known actor, ‘Independent’ list for Most Influential LGBT+ people. live, work and play. @leedscivictrust leedscivictrust.org.uk director and theatre critic. He famously fell out with She continues to fight and has won each of her bouts fellow Loiner Peter O’Toole… that’s show business! Leeds LGBT+ Community Hub is facilitated by Leeds City since turning professional. Don’t mess with the Lioness! Council, & led by members of the community with various 1974 groups & individuals leading & participating on discussion Kirkstall born musician and conductor, Angela Morley, topics affecting our community@leedsCC_LGBT 1921 becomes the first openly transgender person to be 2014 A #RainbowPlaque is just the beginning of the conversation, An attempt to make ‘gross indecency’ between women nominated for an Academy Award. A real Hollywood idol, 2013’s Marriage Act becomes law and means that we will all have places, events and people that have personal illegal was defeated in the House of Lords – in an attempt and former BBC Big Band conductor, Morley composed same-sex couples can marry on an equal footing with significance to us. not to raise awareness of lesbian relationships! music for Watership Down, Star Wars, Dallas and other heterosexual couples. Ceremonies can be performed at well known productions. licensed venues, and by religious venues that have ‘opted- Spotted a missing plaque? Then get nominating! We hope in’. Mill Hill Chapel became one of the first venues in Leeds to expand the trail beyond the city centre next year, 1934 to perform same-sex marriages within a religious context. nominations will open again in February 2019, so keep Playwright, actor and author, 1974 them coming in via the Trust website!  Alan Bennett is born in Armley. The first trans conference is held in Leeds University. The Rainbow Plaques will be on display until 17 September. Featuring workshops, discussions, bookstalls, fashion services and a disco. With help from the Leeds Gay 1953 Liberation Front, and Leeds Student Union, organisers The Beaumont Society said; “Here was a chance, once, The New Penny on Call Lane opens, this is the city’s longest- and hopefully for all, to dispel the Sunday newspaper running gay pub. Now celebrated with a blue plaque. scandal image which has dogged our steps for so long”. #RainbowPlaques M E

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Rainbow L A L A N E N E ( Parlez vous Polari? Many Polari A 6 LITTLE 6 words are now commonly used. 0 Plaque ) How many of these do you know? A bevvy (drink), clobber (clothes), WOODHOUSE LONDON 6 1 na• (awful), scarper (run away), NE strides (trousers). LA Trail CLAY PIT

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6 0 MERRION ) S 12 Angela Morley, BBC Building TREET Do you have your own recollections, QUARRY 7 T 1142 stories or memorabilia? Why not E E ST JOHNS share these with W. Y Queer Stories, R T 192 S CENTRE a new LGBTQ+ archiving project: 182 Alan Bennett, Leeds Playhouse* WEST HlLL T

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H G T W E The city’s longest running gay pub is The New Penny – which is We are grateful to the following organisations, celebrated with a blue plaque. GLO groups and businesses who have sponsored BE ROAD M #RainbowPlaques - if you would like to sponsor A R S one next year, get in touch with us via H

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