LGBT History Month: Faces and Places - Uncovering Our Heritage

Posted on February 28, 2007
Filed Under Pride News |

“Faces and Places: Uncovering Our Heritage”
Sunday 4th March 4pm, Vine and Hops, 84 King St.

Lancaster Pride wants to uncover, discover and recover the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Heritage of the District. Come to an informal gathering this Sunday March 4 th at 4 pm, at the Vine and Hops on King St, and meet other people interested in the history of our community.

Do you remember the Navigation and the Albert? Did you attend the first Lesbian conference in the UK held at Lancaster University? Did you know that the GLF was present and active in Lancaster in the 70s? What places and events do you remember?

There are many places and people in Lancaster that have played a huge part in the development of LGBT rights and it is important that these faces and places are not forgotten. Miriam Murtin from Lancaster Pride says:

“It’s amazing. The more people that we talk to, the more we discover the rich history that the district has. Lancaster Pride wants to capture these stories and make sure that the District talks about them with the same pride that we talk about the importance of the Cotton Mills or the Linoleum Industry.”

February is LGBT History month – a national event aimed at raising the awareness of the input and impact that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people have had society. To celebrate the end of LGBT History Month Lancaster Pride is organising an event where residents of Lancaster will share their memories of queer Lancaster. Lenny St Jean from Lancaster Pride says:

“We’re really pleased that the Vine and Hops have agreed to host the event. We really wanted a venue that had a link to the LGBT Community in the past and as many will remember the Vine and Hops used to be the Albert. As well as hearing people’s stories we’re interested in mapping the physical spaces that have in the past been, and presently are, safe spaces for LGBT people.”

The event which is called “Faces and Places” will take place at the Vine and Hops pub this Sunday 4th March starting at 4pm. A number of people have been invited to share the good times and the not so good times that they have seen on both the commercial and political gay scene of Lancaster. There will also be an opportunity for anyone to share their story.

Lancaster Pride is inviting everyone to attend this event regardless of their sexuality. Sabrina Mazzoni from Lancaster Pride says:

“Throughout time there have been heterosexual allies standing alongside us so LGBT history isn’t just about people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender. You may have been involved in the gay scene at some point and know some of the LGBT history of the district or you may not know anything about its heritage. We really welcome everyone to come along.”

We would also like to draw to you attention that there is also a Dancing Divas Sat 3rd March, at the Gregson Arts & Community Centre. There are also elections for Lancaster Pride exec coming up, so if you want to be on the executive committee then come along and join the gang! Details coming soon.

We would also like to draw to your attention to there also being a Dancing Divas event on Sat 3rd March, 8pm till 12am at the Gregson Arts & Community Centre. This is a women’s only event, and is to coincide (kind of) with International Women’s Day and because of this we will make a donation to Lancaster & District Women’s Aid. This is a local charity and is the only domestic violence specialist service in the area. Run by women for women. A very worthwhile cause I’m sure you’ll agree!! So come along and bring all your friends!!

Thanks
Lancaster Pride

Comments

2 Responses to “LGBT History Month: Faces and Places - Uncovering Our Heritage”

  1. Alice Bondi on February 28th, 2007 5:29 pm

    I can’t make it to the event on 4 March, but I’d be happy to tell you about the Gay Liberation Group and some of what we did. We were the second GLF group in the country, founded by two people who’d been in London that summer (1971) when GLF first arrived from the States. We were a very active group and spoke at many university campuses round the country. It was an incredibly exciting time, as we were struggling to create our own understanding - there was very little theory or vision, and we spent hours discussing, often heatedly, in our efforts to get to grips with how things were (homophobia, relationship with sexism and racism, etc etc). A major event I recall only too well was the visit of Cliff Richard who spoke in the Great Hall to a Christian rally. We were all dolled up - some of the men in drag, us lesbians in our dykiest best - and sat in various different places around the hall. At a signal from one of us, we all stood up and shouted ‘Come out, Cliff!’. The response was pretty horrific - my girlfriend and I were set upon by some crazed Christian women who kicked at us and tore our hair out. It was frightening and not something I wanted to repeat too quickly. Cliff himself met with a couple of the men in the group and apparently was very pleasant and reasonable, even if, unsurprisingly, he didn’t come out to us directly (even if one of the men was convinced he had indicated his true sexuality….).

  2. Ian Townson on March 23rd, 2007 7:22 pm

    I moved down to London in October 1974. Prior to that I spent a lot of time in the Farmers Arms Hotel which in the early 70s was an absolute hot bed of radicalism, revolutionaries, druggies, counter culture people, hippies, thieves, rogues and vagabonds. There was a big lesbian scene then and lots of gay men, some in drag. The influence of Lancaster University was paramount. Some of the names I remember - Quentin Charatan, Don Milligan, Jimmy Glass, etc. led the way from the university. There was quite a bit of mixing between town people and students. I could go on and on…..I am sure there are still a few people around in Lancaster who remember the Farmers Arms. Put an ad in the local paper and I am sure you will get a big response.

    Lots of love

    Ian Townson
    Clapham
    London

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