Welcome to the 76Th LGBT History Month Bulletin

Claiming our Past Celebrating our Present Creating our Future

LGBT History Month bulletin 76

Welcome to the 76th LGBT History Month Bulletin. This bulletin covers October 2010

LGBT History Month Pre Launch at ‘Twickers’ The pre-launch event of LGBT History Month 2011 will take place at Twickenham Stadium. This is in recognition of the theme for the 2011 edition of the month exploring LGBT people and Sports. To attend any part of the event, click here to register via EventBrite. The deadline for registration is 20th October 2010. Buy our badges! To the left of you is Robbie, an arts student who designed the prize-winning badges for this year. The badges reflect the fact that LGBT History Month is focusing on sport for The next two years by displaying ball, track and field in an imaginative and dynamic way. If you’d like to order a badge, they are £3 for one, £2.50 each for two up to nine, £2 each for 10 up to forty-nine and £1.75 each for fifty+. To purchase, just click on the badge to the right. BBC Archive releases new collection charting the gay rights movement The BBC Archive has released a new collection of material charting the emergence of the gay rights movement in the UK. This collection, released through the BBC Archive website, brings together TV and radio programmes from news bulletins, documentaries and current affairs programmes, which chart the political and social change in attitudes to homosexuality over the past 50 years. The programmes in the collection feature noted gay rights campaigners including Sir Ian McKellen, Angela Mason of equality charity Stonewall, Peter Tatchell, founder of Outrage! and MEP and former EastEnders actor, Michael Cashman. Programmes include a press conference from 1957 about the Wolfenden Report, which first recommended the decriminalisation of homosexuality, and a Today interview on Radio 4 with MP Leo Abse, whose 1967 bill led to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales. Two editions from the ground-breaking documentary series Man Alive look at the lives of gay men and women in the late 1960s, while experts debate the pros and cons of the programmes in a follow-up panel discussion, Late Night Line Up. Other programmes in the collection cover the struggle of coming out, the age of consent, civil partnerships and the protests against Section 28 – the controversial government bill that banned councils from being able to ‘promote homosexuality’ through schools. Many of the programmes reflect the language common at the time when they were first broadcast and illustrate the changing attitudes in media portrayal towards gay and lesbian relationships from the fifties to present day. The collection can be found on the BBC Archive website, www.bbc.co.uk/archive. Tatchell Plaque

Peter Tatchell was rewarded for 40 years of campaigning with a blue plaque ceremony in South London last Wednesday, September 29th. Schools OUT and LGBT History Month co-chair Sue Sanders attended the ceremony and saw LGBT History Month patron Sir Ian McKellen unveil the plaque, which can be found at 62 Arrol House, Rockingham Street, London. Peter Tatchell said: “I’m gratified but a bit embarrassed. You usually only get a plaque when you’re dead but I’m still very much alive....I plan to carry on campaigning for another 30 years. “This is a special honour. It hasn’t been given to me by a quango or a committee of experts. The people of Southwark voted to give me this plaque.....in recognition of my 43 years of human rights and LGBT rights campaigning.....I feel humbled and undeserving to receive a blue plaque alongside so many truly great Southwark residents”. New Novel from Narvel There aren’t many people called Narvel Annable and there aren’t many gay men who spent half their youth in a Derbyshire mining community and half in Detroit either. In fact there’s nothing normal about Narvel. The former teacher who grew up near Belper and spent a large part of his life in the USA has a wealth of experience and knowledge about what went on both sides of the pond. He is now an accomplished author and has just released his latest novel: Secret Summer. “Having just completed its predecessor, Lost Boy, I’m looking forward to it immensely,” said LGBT History Month’s Co-Chair Tony Fenwick. “The thing about Narvel’s novels is that they are very loosely based on fiction,” he added. “A few names have been changed and a few characters mixed up, but the heroes, villains, Adonises and monsters that Narvel writes about are for the most part real and his main character, Simeon Hogg is no great distance from himself. What’s more, the places he describes were and often are still there”.

To order a copy, click here BBC LGB Report: More and Better Please A survey of LGB coverage on the BBC, undertaken by the BBC, has revealed that most people, straight and queer, would like to more representation of LGB people on TV and radio, and for that representation to be more realistic. Although there was general satisfaction with the BBC’s coverage, most LGB people are tired with stereotypical images of gay men as camp and effeminate and of women as lipstick lesbians or diesel dykes. The relative lack of women and of non-whites was also noted. However, programmes such as Anne Lister, Torchwood and the ongoing storyline concerning Syeed and Christian in EastEnders were broadly welcomed. The less sympathetic heterosexuals group and ‘closeted’ LGBs surveyed were uncomfortable with the representation of LGBT people in the media and the less sympathetic heterosexuals were unhappy with scenes of intimacy, including hand-holding. Recommendations based on the report's findings have also been made to the BBC's Diversity Board, chaired by BBC Director-General, Mark Thompson. These recommendations are: 1. The BBC achieve accurate and authentic portrayal of lesbian, gay and bisexual people across its services 2. All BBC Editorial Heads identify issues and plan actions 3. All BBC Editorial Heads debrief outcomes of research and consultation with their teams 4. A review in two years on progress 5. BBC Working Group on the Portrayal and Inclusion of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual audiences to monitor pan-BBC implementation. Ally Castle, who undertook the research, presented the findings on Monday and Tim Davie, Chair of the Working Group presented them to the public on Thursday. Amanda Rice, BBC Head of Diversity, said: "The publication of this very significant piece of work sends a clear signal to all our licence fee payers that the BBC is committed to meaningful engagement with all audiences”. Not all were happy with the results. The trans community expressed disappointment that the survey did not reach out to them, although their input was recorded in the results. Peter Tatchell said the report was “flawed” and criticised the BBC for giving airtime to extremist homophobes in the interests of balance where it wouldn’t give airtime to, for example, racists or anti-Semites. Tony Fenwick, co-chair of LGBT history Month, noted its focus on drama, sit-coms, presenters and news coverage, but lamented the lack of attention to sport, where there is a lot of under- reporting and under-representation of LGBT people: “There isn’t an out gay footballer in the world, Gareth Thomas gets mobbed by activists like myself wherever he goes because he’s the only gay rugby player on the field, and the lesbian presence in sport is almost zilch. Maybe the BBC and the rest of the media are contributing to this under-representation.” Equality Act: What You Need to Know Most of the Equality Act became law on Friday, October the 1st. Changes to the law that may affect LGBT people are as follows:  There is protection against direct and indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation in services and public functions; premises; work; education; associations, and transport.  Changing the definition of gender reassignment, by removing the requirement for medical supervision.  Levelling up protection for people discriminated against because they are perceived to have, or are associated with someone who has, a protected characteristic, so providing new protection for people like carers.  Applying the European definition of indirect discrimination to all protected characteristics.  Allowing claims for direct gender pay discrimination where there is no actual comparator.  Making pay secrecy clauses unenforceable.  Extending protection in private clubs to sex, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity, and gender reassignment.  Introducing new powers for employment tribunals to make recommendations which benefit the wider workforce.  Harmonising provisions allowing voluntary positive action. The Public Sector Duty, which will concern schools, hospitals etc. is still under consultation and will become law in April 2011.

The Government is reviewing:

 dual discrimination  gender pay gap information  diversity reporting by political parties  positive action in recruitment and promotion  civil partnerships on religious premises For more information, the Government Equalities Office can be accessed here: http://www.equalities.gov.uk/equality_act_2010.aspx and the Equality and Human Rights Commisiion newsletter can be downloaded here: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/home/publications/email-newsletter/issue-24- october-2010/ International It Gets Better In response to yet more teen LGB suicides, a leading US rights campaigner has taken action. Dan Savage identified the sense of isolation many young LGB people face when they come out or try to come to terms with their sexual orientation, and with that in mind he started the It Gets Better Project. It’s a simple You Tube site where LGB adults make a video telling young people that their lives are good now and whatever they are facing at school at the moment will end once they get out of there. In his own words: “Gay adults aren’t allowed to talk to these kids. Schools and churches don’t bring us in to talk to teenagers who are being bullied. Many of these kids have homophobic parents who believe that they can prevent their gay children from growing up to be gay—or from ever coming out—by depriving them of information, resources, and positive role models. Why are we waiting for permission to talk to these kids? We have the ability to talk directly to them right now. We don’t have to wait for permission to let them know that it gets better. We can reach these kids. So here’s what you can do: Make a video. Tell them it gets better.” To see some of the videos, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IcVyvg2Qlo Tasmania Recognises Overseas Partnerships Tasmania’s parliament voted on the 1st of September to recognise same sex marriages and civil partnerships from other states on its soil. The territory, which allows same sex registration, along with 3 Australian states, will recognise partnerships registered in other states on the same terms as their own legislation allows. This will not extend to full legal marriage, as that is currently banned under Australian law. Clare’s trip Clare Dimyon MBE is on another of her trips to show solidarity with Pride throughout Europe. Currently she is enjoying the hospitality of the Slovakians as she joins them to celebrate their Rainbow Film Festival. Then it’s off to Bratislava! To find out how she is getting on, follow her progress on the LGBT History Month news blog. LGBT Birthdays

Transgender

Jan Morris CBE (2 October 1926 – )

Welsh historian, author and travel writer, known for the Pax Britannica trilogy, a history of the British Empire. She published under her former name, James Morris, until her gender reassignment in the 1970s.

Alan Hart (4 October 1890 – 4 July 1962)

American physician, radiologist and writer. He was one of the first female-to-male transsexuals to undergo hysterectomy and gonadectomy between 1917 and 1918. He pioneered the use of x-ray photography in tuberculosis detection.

Lesbians and bisexual women

Annie Leibovitz (2 October 1949 – )

American portrait photographer. She started her career as a staff photographer for Rolling Stone magazine and has become famous for her intimate photos of celebrities in publications like Vanity Fair. Leibovitz was in a relationship with writer and essayist Susan Sontag, who died in 2004.

Katherine Mansfield (14 October 1888 – 9 January 1923)

Modernist writer of short fiction who was brought up in New Zealand. She moved to Great Britain in 1908 where she befriended members of the Bloomsbury Set, notably DH Lawrence and Virginia Woolf. She had relationships with women and men throughout her life. Martina Navratilova (18 October 1956 – )

Czech American and former Czechoslovak tennis player and a former World No 1. She serves as the Health and Fitness Ambassador for the American Association of Retired Persons. When not playing tennis, she speaks on behalf of animal, child and gay rights. In 2000 she received the National Equality Award from gay lesbian lobbying group Human Rights Campaign. She announced she was being treated for breast cancer in March 2010.

Maureen Duffy (21 October 1933 – )

British poet, playwright and novelist. She has published around 30 works, including a biography of Aphra Behn and five volumes of poetry. In 1977 she published ‘The Ballad of the Blasphemy Trial’, a damning critique of the trial of the Gay News for “blasphemous libel”.

Gay and bisexual men

Clive Barker (5 October 1952 – )

English author, artist and film director. He is well known for his fantasy and horror fiction. His work has been adapted for the big screen, most notably the novella The Hellbound Heart, which became the Hellraiser series.

Michel Foucault (15 October 1926 - 25 June 1984)

French philosopher, sociologist and historian. He is well known for his studies of social institutions including prison, as well as for his work on the history of human sexuality.

Sir Cameron Mackintosh (17 October 1946 – )

British theatrical producer closely associated with numerous commercially successful musicals. He is the producer of such international hits as Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera and Mary Poppins.

Gore Vidal (3 October 1925 –)

American author, playwright, essayist, screenwriter and political activist. He caused a stir early in his career with the publication of The City and the Pillar (1948), one of the first American novels to deal unambiguously with homosexuality. More recently he was a vociferous critic of the Bush Administration.

Oscar Wilde (16 October 1854 - 30 November 1900)

Writer, poet and one of the most popular playwrights of the nineteenth century. His works include The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest. While the latter was still on stage, Wilde sued the father of his lover Alfred Douglas (or “Bosie”) for libel. Following a number of trials, he was convicted of gross indecency and imprisoned for two years. His poem commemorating this time, The Ballad of Reading Gaol, was his last work. He died destitute in Paris.

Events and Calendar

Date where when what 1 2 3 17 Shaws Passage, B5 11am St Francis day Pet Blessing. Judging from previous years, we are 5JG (Opposite the most likely to have dogs during the service, but you are most Warehouse Café, close welcome to bring any other pet – please contact our pastor, Chris Dowd if you have any questions at to New Street/Moor [email protected] or call him on 0121 6343770 (or street stations in visit the website athttp://jmcc.weebly.com for more information). Birmingham)

Derby University 6-8pm Derby Rainbow Fringe Festival. Peter Tatchell introduced by distinguished local author Narvel Annable, whose latest work, Secret Summer,has been recommended by Peter. Tickets £5 Cons £3.50. Narvel will address the audience with a short biography of Peter’s many accolades, contributions and controversies. More information at - www.derbysrainbowfringefestival.org.uk [email protected] 4 Clocktower Café, 10am Silver Rainbow coffee morning. Silver Rainbow, Croydon’s social Katherine group for older gay and lesbian people, extends a warm welcome Street, Croydon, CR9 to members of Opening Doors Central London to come and 1ET celebrate Black History Month with them as they visit the photographic exhibition “Ethnic Minorities Coming Out” by London based photographer Sonalle. After which they will meet over coffee for discussion of the exhibition and the contents.

Warwick University Warwick Pride Student Fresher Fare

The Workshop All day Launch of ‘Missing Piece’ by Dean Atta. Free entry @The Roadtrip Bar, 243 Old Street 6-8pm London ECV1 9EY 5 Portobello Green Fitness 2-4pm Opening Doors Dance Classes. Come and join us for the new Club basic Latin dance classes. Every Tuesday afternoon 3-5 Thorpe Close, W10 contact Nick or Stacey. Telephone: 020 7121 3335 e-mail: 5XL [email protected] Stacey Halls: telephone: 020 7121 3331 e-mail: [email protected]

“Vida Walsh Centre” Goldies Coffee Mornings. Open to LGBT men and women 2b Saltoun Road aged 50 + A chance to meet and chat to other older 10-11.30 Brixton LGBT people SW2 1EP For more information ring Richard on 020 7346 6801 or Julia on 020 7346 6800 6 Quebec Pub in 9- Quebec Pub quiz night Marble Arch, Old 10.30pm Quebec St (closest tube Marble Arch)

7 Liverpool evening GYRO Day. Support for LGBT Youth 0151 203 0824 or email: [email protected] 8 9 10 World Mental Health All day day

Sunday Social; James Please forward contact details to the Koco Bldg 4-6pm helpline (024 7671 4199) or email: [email protected]) if Arches wishing to attend and we will get back to you. Industrial Estate, Spon End, Coventry, West Midlands CV1 3JQ

11 12 Coming Out Day All day

Portobello Green Fitness 2-4pm Opening Doors Dance Classes. Come and join us for the new Club basic Latin dance classes. Every Tuesday afternoon 3-5 Thorpe Close, W10 contact Nick or Stacey. Telephone: 020 7121 3335 e-mail: 5XL [email protected] Stacey Halls: telephone: 020 7121 3331 e-mail: [email protected] “Vida Walsh Centre” Every Tuesday Goldies Coffee Mornings. Open to all LGBT men 2b Saltoun Road Brixton and women aged 50 plus…a chance to meet and chat to other 10-11.30 SW2 1EP older LGBT people, organise activities and events. For more information ring Richard on 020 7346

Camden The Women’s Project. Workshops for women who love women. Every Tuesday, in Camden For more information email 6:30– [email protected] or phone 020 7700 1323 9:30pm 13 Quebec Pub in 9- Quebec Pub quiz night Marble Arch, Old 10.30pm Quebec St (closest tube Marble Arch)

14 Liverpool evening GYRO Day. Support for LGBT Youth 0151 203 0824 or email: [email protected] 15 16 Koco Bldg 10-12 CWF Business Meeting 024 7671 4199 www.cwfriend.co.uk Arches Industrial Estate, Spon End, Coventry, West Midlands CV1 3JQ

17 18 19 Portobello Green Fitness 2-4pm Opening Doors Dance Classes. Come and join us for the new Club basic Latin dance classes. Every Tuesday afternoon 3-5 Thorpe Close, W10 contact Nick or Stacey. Telephone: 020 7121 3335 e-mail: 5XL [email protected] Stacey Halls: telephone: 020 7121 3331 e-mail: [email protected]

20 Quebec Pub in 9- Quebec Pub quiz night Marble Arch, Old 10.30pm Quebec St (closest tube Marble Arch)

Amnesty International 10-4.30 British Institute of Human Rights Training: Human Rights and UK, The Human Rights Policing. http://www.bihr.org.uk/events/training/human-rights- Action Centre, 17-25 and-policing New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA

Library Theatre, 7.30 - Jackie Kay. Price £7/£5 Chamberlain Square, 8.45pm In association with The Drum and Shout Festival. Birmingham, B3 3HQ. For more information contact 0121 303 2323 www.birminghambookfestival.org

21 Liverpool evening GYRO Day. Support for LGBT Youth 0151 203 0824 or email: [email protected] 22 23 Trafalgar Square, 7-9pm International Hate Crime Day London Hope and Remembrance. 2 minute silence at 8:00pm__ 24 Koco Bldg 4-6pm Sunday Social; Chris and Sai. Please forward contact details to Arches the helpline (024 7671 4199) or email: [email protected]) if Industrial wishing to attend and we will get back to you. Estate, Spon End, Coventry, West Midlands CV1 3JQ 25 26 Henderson Court, 6-9pm Men’s group Film night: gay love in the Orthodox Jewish Hampstead community. Contact Nick for details and to book. Age Concern 020 7121 3335

Friends Meeting House Out at The Movies. Talk by James Agar. Tickets £3 on the door The Friars, Canterbury 7.45pm www.prideincanterbury.org.uk

27 Quebec Pub in 9- Quebec Pub quiz night Marble Arch, Old 10.30pm Quebec St (closest tube Marble Arch)

28 Riverside Studios 7.30pm Older gay Men’s Group Theatre Trip. Peter Gill’s “Over Crisp Road, Gardens Out” Hammersmith This play touchingly shows the relationship between two young lads, Jeffrey and Dennis, potentially bright but hampered by their family backgrounds. Tickets are £12.00 each (conc) 12 tickets available. Telephone: 020 7121 3335 Koco Bldg Arches Industrial Estate, Hate Crime Forum. Buffet at start. 024 7671 4199 or email: 7-9pm Spon End, Coventry, [email protected] West Midlands CV1 3JQ

29 30 31 Quebec Pub in 3.30- 6 Lunch Club on the last Sunday of each month from. First time will Marble Arch, Old cost £3.00 and this includes membership, lunches after cost Quebec St (closest tube £5.00. Marble Arch)

Advance Notice... Young Hearts, Run Free… Saturday December 4th 9.30am - 4.30pm £10 / £7.50 London Metropolitan Archives, 40, Northampton Road, London, EC1R 0HB BOOKING: 020 7332 3851 INFORMATION: [email protected] This eighth annual LGBT History and Archives Conference is focused on young people's projects and activities. Young people have been exploring LGBT Histories in many different ways including intergenerational work, visits to historical sites and exploring archive material. Come along and celebrate their achievements, discover the impact the projects have made and ways of setting up your own activities and groups. Community Birmingham Community Forum We are pleased to be able to offer Forum groups the opportunity to receive £250 grants.The process is simple, please write a short letter outlining what you will do with the funding and also fill out the attached ‘Needs Assessment’ form, so we can ascertain any support needs you group may have.The deadline for submissions is 1st September. We will inform groups on the 5th September if they have been successful. http://www.blgbt.org Tel : 0121 773 0633 University of York Carnival of Feminism. How You Can Help This carnival is part-festival, part-conference. We seek to bring together artists, activists and academics from many nations to learn from each other, celebrate our creativity, and advance feminist work. We ask, can feminist art save the world, and if so, how? We warmly invite you to send in proposals and ideas for performances, academic papers, presentations, films, exhibitions & workshops. Informal enquiries welcome. Check the link above for more 'Info' and join us on our Blog. The deadline for plans and proposals to reach us is 31st October 2010. Homophobic and Transphobic Quotes

"If you a man and your [sic] over 25 and you don't eat pu**y just kill your damn self. The world will be a better place. Lol"

50 Cent from his Twitter page (Pink Paper 30-09-10) (http://news.pinkpaper.com/NewsStory/3980/30/09/2010/50-cent-urges-men-who-dont-have-sex-with- women-to-kill-themselves-.aspx)

“We oppose and challenge [the pope’s] view that gay people are unequal, deserve less respect and are a threat to society. Instead, we regard the hate he encourages as one of the greatest threats to fairness and freedom, which should form the foundation of any society, and indeed, religion.”

Joint statement released by LGBT titles Attitude, DIVA, GT and PinkPaper.com in response to the pope’s visit to the UK. (http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/Interact/Blogs-articleid-7360-sectionid-711.html)

“I'm here because 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is wrong, it's unjust and fundamentally it is against all we stand for as Americans.”

Lady Gaga speaking at a rally in Maine against the US military’s ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ policy. Between 1997 and 2008, 10,500 service members were discharged under this rule. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/richard-adams-blog/2010/sep/20/lady-gaga-rally-maine-dont-ask-dont-tell- gay-rights)

“Today, Liberal Democrat members showed that the party remains in the vanguard of the progressive movement and won’t settle until everyone enjoys equal status.”

Liberal Democrat MP Steve Gilbert, speaking after a motion backing marriage equality for gay and straight couples was passed at the Liberal Democrats’ annual conference in Liverpool. (http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/09/21/liberal-democrats-back-marriage-equality-for-gay-couples/)

"Clause 12 is very clear that newspapers must avoid prejudicial, pejorative or irrelevant reference to an individual’s sexual orientation and the reference to Miss Balding plainly breached its terms.”

Stephen Abell, director of the Press Complaints Commission, which has upheld a complaint from Clare Balding about a television review by AA Gill published in The Sunday Times Culture section. In the review, Gill described Balding as a “dyke on a bike”. (http://news.pinkpaper.com/NewsStory/3905/17/09/2010/pcc-uphold-clare-baldings-complaint-against- sunday-times.aspx)

"If there are any gay cricketers, they should feel confident enough to come out, because I don't think there is homophobia in cricket.”

England cricketer Jimmy Anderson, who posed nude for the October issue of Attitude magazine. (http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/09/20/cricketer-jimmy-anderson-poses-naked-for-gay-magazine/)

See You Next Month!

LGBT History Month Patrons: Angela Eagle MP Work and Pensions, Cyril Nri, actor, director and writer, Sir Ian McKellen, actor, Labi Siffre, poet, songwriter and singer, Professor Sheila Rowbotham, lecturer and campaigner, Professor Martin Hall, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Salford University, Professor Melanie Tebbutt, Director, Manchester Centre for Regional History, Senior Lecturer, Manchester Metropolitan University, and Professor Viv Gardner, Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, Gareth Thomas, rugby international, Jeffrey Weeks, historian, sociologist, author and LGBT activist, Dr Harry Cocks, social historian and writer, John Amaechi, former international basketball player, broadcaster and psychologist, Christine Burns MBE, political campaigner, IT consultant, campaigner for trans rights and advocate for trans youth