F IT’S LGBT HISTORY R MONTH IN E QB E

Nottinghamshire’s Queer Bulletin

February/March Number 94

In this issue

Oscar’s door Stormy Calman Pink briefs The butler’s pantry Nottinghamshire’s Rainbow Notts Healthcare NHS Foundation Refs for pets Heritage once again takes over Trust; Notts County Council; Not- Frightful debasement the Council House Ballroom for its tinghamshire Pride; Notts LGBT+ annual Celebration and Awards Network, Fives Leaves Bookshop, Socially unacceptable Evening. Global Words, Terrence Higgins Loneliness The Booker Prize Trust and others … and of course The date is Tuesday February food and drink is free. See inside Galleries of Justice 28th. The time is 7-9pm. The en- for more information and details of trance is free - no tickets need- and other stuff who is getting the awards. ed, just turn up. Note that the Ball- room holds 150 people, so late Thanks go to Notts Healthcare arrivals may be refused admit- Nottingham City Homes, Notting- tance. As usual, there will be dis- ham City Council, Nottinghamshire plays by Rainbow Heritage as well County Council, Nottinghamshire as stalls featuring other organisa- Pride and Terrence Higgins Trust tions such as: for sponsoring the event.

THE BAD OLD DAYS

Did really say “Ladies don’t do that!” when the offence of gross indecency was introduced by MP Henry La- If you have any information, news, bouchere in 1885? gossip or libel or wish to comment on anything in QB, please contact True or not, the offence ended up only applying to men; a state of QB affairs that had repercussions for Notts LGBT+ Network 7 Mansfield Road well into the 20th century.

Nottingham NG1 3FB Thousands of men were punished or e-mail under that law; men such as Os- [email protected] car Wilde and Alan Turing. Many were imprisoned. Many are still The deadline for the next edition alive and retain criminal records will be February 21st from an outdated law. On page 5 we look at one of the last pre- SwitchboardThe Network is registered is registered charity 1967 cases - one which involved charityno. number 1114273 1114273 a young man from Nottingham. CELEBRATION AND AWARDS: WHO IS GETTING THE AWARDS?

This year’s awards will go to:

Out in Education. Out in Education is a not-for-profit organisation which originated at the University of Not- tingham. The young people from Out in Education go into schools to deliver lessons, assemblies and dis- cussions on homophobia, biphobia and transphobia and how to counteract them.

Trans4me. Trans4me is a group based at the Health Shop. It successfully supports young trans people. In 2016 the group collaborated with Global Words to put together a book of memoirs called “In different shoes”.

Sarah Lee and her team. Sarah’s team has helped the County Council move rapidly up the Ed- ucation Equality Index. Most importantly they have been responsible for the establishment of five LGBT youth support services in parts of the County where previously there was nothing.

MORE FOR LGBT HISTORY MONTH HUMAN RIGHTS

The Annual Student Human Rights Conference 2017 at the University of Nottingham will be on Saturday March 25th. Its theme will be LGBT+ rights in the 21st Century: Free and Equal? More in the next QB.

The Journey to Justice display at the Galleries of Justice museum will open to visitors of the museum on February 11th. One cell will house the door behind which Oscar Wilde was imprisoned at Reading Gaol. Visitors will also see an LGBT timeline and slides of LGBT related material for Nottinghamshire.

The City Council and Nottingham City Homes have arranged a film event at Broadway - see the details on the right. The University of Nottingham’s LGBT History Month is launched with the event below.

‘Citizens of the Third Reich: everyday betrayals and the pink triangle prisoners of Sachsenhausen’

Event details: Friday, 27 January 2017, 6.30pm- 7.30pm Lecture Theatre LT1, Exchange Building, University of Nottingham Jubilee Campus.

To book a place: go to drmaxbiddulph.eventbrite.co.uk

For details of all the University of Nottingham’s LGBT History Month events, go to https://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/peopleandculture/ LONELINESS AND LGBT+ PEOPLE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY

Trapped in the well of loneliness: an all-age workshop to explore loneliness in the non- heterosexual (+) community.

The cause of being lonely is little understood and this is especially true amongst people of different sexualities and gender identities. The matter is fur- ther complicated because young and old people are more likely to be lonely than middle aged people. Neuroscientists have recently shown that because humans are social animals, social contact reduces the physical pain of loneliness. The way we live in our present neo-liberal economy would seem to ex- acerbate loneliness. This workshop is a community attempt to unravel some of these issues and seek remedies to make our lives better. Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration.

Addressing loneliness is important to improve the Remembering all the groups targetted during the quality of our lives and to improve health. It seems Nazi Regime along with Jewish people. Lesbian, to be increasingly understood that loneliness is Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, African/African strongly associated with depression, suicide, anxie- heritage people, Jehovah's Witnesses, people with ty, insomnia, fear and the perception of threat. disabilities, people with mental health issues, Polish people, political activists/Trade Unionists, Roma/ It’s more surprising to discover the range of physical Romany Gypsies. illnesses that loneliness causes or exacerbates. De- mentia, high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes, Join us to remember our groups and show solidarity lowered resistance to viruses, even accidents are to other groups. The event will include a candle more common among chronically lonely people. being lit for each group in Greens Windmill Yard.

Loneliness has a comparable impact on physical Thursday, 26th January, 2017, 6-7pm to Greens health to smoking 15 cigarettes a day: it appears to Windmill Yard, , Nottingham, NG2 4QB. raise the risk of early death by 26%. This is partly For more information contact NCBI Nottingham on because it enhances production of the stress hor- 0791 347 6905, or email [email protected] mone cortisol, which suppresses the immune sys- tem. DONATION, DONATION, DONATION Some questions for discussion Notts LGBT+ Network would like to thank the follow- How important is close relationship with a friend, ing for very welcome donations partner or spouse? How would you describe a good relationship  Dirty, Filthy, Sexy with a close person?  Propaganda Do you think it is fair to say that a close relation-  The University of Nottingham ship takes time to develop?  The New Foresters How important is physical sex in a close rela- tionship? 55+ GAY/BI MEN’S GROUP What do we mean by loneliness? In what ways might lgbt+ people’s experience of The first meeting of the 55+ gay/bi men’s group took loneliness be different from heterosexual place on December 1st at the Age UK premises at people? 12, Shakespeare Street. What might we do to address issues of loneli- ness amongst people of different genders/ 10 people attended and discussed what they might sexualities – are there differences within our want from such a group and what their general con- community? cerns were about being an older gay/bi man in Not- What is the difference between isolation and tingham. loneliness? How might your cultural/religious background be The initial feeling is that the group should continue related to our experience of loneliness? to meet at Age UK, but would be able to branch out in the future to include things such as walks and The workshop will take place on Sunday February theatre visits. The next meeting will be at Age UK 12th. The details of the time and venue will be avail- 2pm on Friday January 6th, when they hope to able from Notts LGBT+ Network nearer the date. sketch out activities for the future and perhaps de- cide upon a name.

The 1967 Sexual Offences Act Looking back 50 Years from Nottingham Evening Post

Prior to the 1967 Act, many gay men were imprisoned for no other reason than that they were gay men. In the 1950s, the Wolfenden Committee recommended decriminalising gay sex, but it had to wait until 1967 (and a Labour Government) to put the recommendation into practice. It worked if you were a consenting male adult (over 21) in private (not in a hotel, not with a third person). The anticipation of the change in the law prompted lots of correspondence, not least in the Nottingham Evening Post. The examples below were gathered by the Lesbian & Gay News Media Archives for Nottinghamshire’s Rainbow Heritage.

Sodomy is the cardinal sin and the greatest abomina- Homosexuality is certainly no affront to the Creator, tion in all the behaviour of mankind and the contem- and it is simply one of nature’s safety valves against plation of this major crime being pandered to by any excessive population; at the same time being a release religious or legislative body is unthinkable. Robbery, for the natural instincts and is no more revolting than forgery, blackmail and harlotry are mere child’s play many so-called heterosexual practices, in fact - much to the frightful debasement of homosexual vice. less so. West Bridgford July 1st 1965. Grantham July 1st 1965

With deep disgust I notice Parliament After a discreet interval The letter from O.R.R. shows very lit- is yielding to allow discussion on the we again read of this tle understanding of the situation, The Sexual Offences Bill which seeks to Government’s intention Church, however, has shown great legalise private homosexual conduct. to legalise homosexuali- foresight in support of the Bill. These ty, to have coloured po- people are ill and desperately need What would be understood as lice and no death penal- medical treatment, and the only way to “private”? Could the vicarage, the gar- ty. get them to come forward is to ensure den shed, the butler’s pantry be consid- that they are not prosecuted in an at- ered suitable seclusion? The homosex- Could anyone in their tempt to get medical aid. ual contaminates society and should be right mind still be for eliminated as a pest. this administration? Miss Denise Smith, Hucknall Road, Nature Lover February 2nd 1966 N.B. February 18th 1966 Nottingham June 10th 1965.

Desperately need treatment ….cardinal sin … disgust …. perverts slimy …. mental illness … degenerate …. vile …. abomination

Not always is homosexuality due to perversion and Must Nature Lover write such nonsense against the corrupt sexual contacts, but can be due to harmful Sexual Offences Bill? Until we (I am one of them) are religious instruction emphasising “sin” and showing left alone to our own desires, the practice will still be God to be a vindictive deity. July 1st 1965 regarded as disgusting. People do not know what hell it is to be born with this disease, and it is a disease, a In my previous letter I was referring to the moral per- mental illness, which causes much anguish to resist. I verts who prostitute the sexual act in a degenerate beg that we are left alone to our problems. and filthy fashion, who are the subject of the Sexual Pam. January 3rd 1966 Offences Bill. The slimy characters who loiter in public urinals to ply their vile trade are typical of the homosexual pests. The consenting male is a mon- Apparently the bill to legalise homosexuality has the strous affront to decency and should be treated as support of the Church of . The argument has such. Nature Lover Feb. 25th 1966 been advanced that homosexuals leave themselves open to blackmail.

I do not think homosexuality should be made legal. What a fatuous argument. The crime of murder could Some commit the offence only once or twice and I lend itself to exactly the same conditions, but this does should like to think that homosexuality is temporary not make it necessary to legalise it. I am appalled that and that sooner or later they will find themselves and the Church should so debase itself. become normal. L.D. February 25th 1966 O.R.R. June 2nd 1965. 1965: THE TRIAL OF JOHN CLARKSON

The picture on the right shows John Clarkson in the 1980s. Below is a picture of Nottingham journalist and broadcaster Ray Gosling. In 1987 Ray inter- viewed John for a Channel 4 TV programme called “Socially unacceptable”. John talked about his expe- rience 22 years earlier in 1965.

In 1965 John was investigated by the police in con- nection with a shoplifting incident. During this inves- tigation they found out that John was living with a 28 year old man, Billy, and the police became inordi- nately interested in the bedroom. They also found a Christmas card which said “To Billy, with all my love as ever - John”.

John was bullied into admitting that he slept with Billy. Held separately at the police station, each be- ing told the other one had confessed, they both al- legedly gave statements incriminating each other. The statements are unlikely to have been genuine: they were written in “police speak” and both ended with absolutely identical wording.

Eventually a trial took place at the court which is now in the Galleries of Justice Museum.

The journalist who reported on the case was Ray Gosling. He said that the trial involved the most hu- miliating things he had ever seen in his life. Two ushers held up bed sheets and a clerk pointed out stains to the jury. A jar of lubricant was passed around the jury … “notice the pubic hair”, they were told. A police constable produced a list of items in- cluding a soiled towel and two pairs of pink briefs.

The end result was that John was sent to prison for two years and his partner was given three years.

CONSENTING ADULTS IN PRIVATE: THE LAW AFTER 1967

The 1967 Act only applied to men and it only partial-  Interpretation of “privacy” ly decriminalised sex between men. The definition  Sex in “institutions” of privacy was bizarre. A locked hotel bedroom was  Gross indecency not private; having sex while there was a third per-  Incitement to hatred  Adoption son in the building (not necessarily in the same  Goods and Services room) was not private.  Trans birth certificates

 Fostering The “adult” bit meant 21, while it was 16 for every-  Public displays of affection one else, including lesbians who - to all intents and  Partner’s rights in the law purposes - did not exist under the law.  Custody of children after divorce  Criminal injuries compensation So many areas of legal discrimination still prevailed  Obtaining insurance after 1967 and young people today are surprised to  Obtaining mortgages learn that most of those areas of discrimination still  Immigration and same-sex partners operated until 2000. It is only in recent times that the  Access to partners in medical emergencies law has taken a more positive view. Here are those  Pensions & employment perks for partners areas where the law positively discriminated against  Security of housing tenure for partners

LGBT people: In addition to all the above hangovers after the 1967 Act, the Conservative government introduced Sec-  Age of consent tion 28 of the Local Government Act in 1988.  Employment Rights  Funeral arrangements Since 2000 nearly all the above have either been  Excluded from armed forces swept away or substantially modified. WRITE UP YOUR STREET REFS FOR PETS

Some people in abusive relationships find that wor- ries about what will happen to their pets form a bar- A Gay Men's Creative Writing Weekend rier to leaving the relationship. Refs for Pets can 3rd-5th February, 2017 help.

Unstone Grange, Chesterfield S18 4AL What Refs For Pets will do? organisers: Richard McCance, Tony Challis & Joseph  We will collect your pet Nicholas  We will house your animals with a vetted fos- This weekend as ever is for those guys, who want to ter carer have a go at writing, and perhaps try their hand at  We will provide you with updates about your something different. And once again you don't need to pet have already won the Booker Prize or had articles pub-  We will collect payments from you to pay for lished in The Lady. You come along because you want your animal’s food to have a go and see what ideas you can contribute.  We will re-unite you with your pet when you

There will also be an opportunity to go out and explore are ready. some of the Peak District or stay in front of a roaring log What you need to know fire. The choice is yours. Ideas for writing come from a  You will not be able to visit your pet. This is for thousand different places. the safety of both you and the fosterer. The sessions on offer during the weekend will be de-  The service is confidential signed to encourage you above everything else to have  You will be required to pay for your pet’s food a go. Nobody is going to be offering anything but sup- whilst it is being fostered port. Your own individual contributions are going to be  We are not a 24 hour service but if you leave what really matters. You will decide just how much it is a message we will get back to you as soon as that you want to achieve. And it will be entirely up to we can you, if you wish to share anything you write with the rest of us. For details, contact [email protected]

I have always got a buzz out of writing. All my life I have loved writing stories or sketches for cabaret, and even having a go at poems, but they were always much more For Council housing difficult. Over the weekend we will also take a look at in Nottingham and different styles of writing in order to bring inspiration to a range of job all of us. It might be an idea to bring along a piece of writing that has inspired you in some way. Share it with opportunities visit us in front of the log fire. It could be a useful contribu- tion, but it is your own ideas that are going to be the www.nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk most important thing you can bring along. So, go for it! or call 0845 330 3131. Come and join us. Tony, Joseph and Richie are just looking forward to meeting a group of gay guys who fan- Homeless or losing your home? Contact cy having a go at writing. Housing Aid Further information: [email protected] on 0115 87 63300. or phone Joseph 01223 721500.

Cost: £120 - includes all meals. Please send deposit of £50 to secure a place. If you want to receive QB by e-mail, contact LGBT+

Cheques payable to: Write Up Your Street Network and ask to be put on to the e-mail list. The Send: c/o Joseph Nicholas 31 James Street e-mailed version not only appears 14 days before Cambridge CB1 1HX the printed version - it’s also in glorious colour!

Notts LGBT+ Network SOME LOCAL LISTINGS

Coming out and going out. Staying in. Outburst! Group for LGBT young people aged 11-19 Feeling down. Meeting up. Meets Wednesdays at NGY (29-33 Castle gate) Breaking up.. Safer sex and Phone Base 51 (at NGY) on 9525040 for details

everything in between. Trans4me Young trans people’s group. Meets Wednesdays at the Heath Contact us Shop, 12, Broad Street, Tel. 07958 194768

0115 934 8485 WOW LGBT Youth Group. Wed. 6.30 - 8.30pm Centre Place,

Worksop. Tel: 01909 479191 email: [email protected] or text 07481 344040

Monday to Friday 7 pm to 9.15 pm Details of the following local groups can be obtained from LGBT+ Network:

7 Mansfield Road, Notts Hyking Dykes; Women’s Badminton; Badminton Social; Lesbian & Nottingham, NG1 3FB. Gay Christian Movement; Chameleons (trans); Free to Be (Christian group) Nottingham & Trent Uni LGBT Societies; Peak Rufties women’s walking [email protected] group; Man Up (bears, leather group); Loved by God (Christian group); www.nottslgbt.com Women’s Midweek book group; Lesbian Café evening; SYNT (Women’s

Follow us on Facebook at social group); Gay History Tours; Nottingham Bi Women’s Group; Age UK www.facebook.com/NottsLGBT over 55 lesbian group; LiNk-Notts (lesbian e-mail info); QT Notts (info shar- ing by e-mail); QT Walks; Eat Out Social; Nottingham Lions football team; Twitter at https://twitter.com/nottsLGBT Nottingham Women’s Craftspeople; Trans Hub (support for Notts Trans ******************************************** community); Lirain (Lesbians into real ale); Nottingham LGBT 20s & 30s; Nottinghamshire’s Rainbow Heritage Nottingham Invasion - trans night out: Sherwood Ladies 5-a-side football; Tagadere (HIV+ support); Trans Space Notts; BiTopia & BiTalkia (Bi social c/o NVAC, 7 Mansfield Road, groups); Emerge (Police, fire, ambulance social group); Gay Outdoor Club; Nottingham NG1 3FB. Dinner Ladies (women’s eat out group); LGBT Alcohol Support group; 0115 9349529 Kairos (Lesbian Immigration Support Group); QTIPOC (for QTI people of [email protected] colour); Rainbow Families (LGBT parents & children).

www.nottsrainbowheritage.org.uk Download a directory of groups & services from the Local Facilities page of

https://twitter.com/rainbowheritage the LGBT+ Network’s website

DIARY THE CALMAN BEFORE THE STORM LIFE: AT THE PLAYHOUSE

“Rippling torsos, reckless leaps and a happy sense of shared joy” - No, that’s not the QB staff, it’s the return of the all-male BalletBoyz troup. LIFE takes an elegant, powerful and provocative look at life and death presented in the inimitable BalletBoyz style.

It’s at the Playhouse, March 6th at 8pm. Box Office: 0115 941 9419

Susan Calman's back with a brand new show. You may have seen her on shows like QI, Have I Got News For You; now see her in person, life-size. For information, Susan is taller than a borrower but shorter than the average thirteen year old child. .7.30pm 10th/11th March at the Djanogly Theatre. TRANS SPACE NOTTS

A safe, accessible, facilitated sup- port group for all under the trans ADVANCE NOTICE umbrella and people who support them. Meets 1st Monday each will take place on Saturday month 7-9pm. For details contact July 29th in and Worksop Notts LGBT+ Network or e-mail Pride will take place on Saturday 8th July 12pm- [email protected] 6pm at Civic Square, Worksop.