ALL OVER BRITAIN this summer; lesbians gay men, bisexual, transgendered people and their friends will be marching and partying. TERRY CONWAY looks at what has changed and what has remained the same in the last 34 years of fighting for sexual liberation. THE TRIGGER for Pride mobilisations happened in New York in 1969. Police attacked Stonewall, a gay bar - not an unusual occurrence. But this time, the people in the bar, including a significant number of transgendered people, fought back. The 'Stonewall riots', inspired gay people (as we tended to call ourselves in those early days) to come out of our closets and fight for our rights.
The first Pride march in Britain took place in 1973 with 700 demonstrating through central London. It felt like a historic day for those who attended -probably more ground breaking than being part of a crowd of hundreds of •• thousands does today. There were no pop stars, no sportspeople nor politicians nor even any actors openly allying with our cause.
Nor did the Labour movement take up the issue spontaneously. Lesbians and gay men were routinely sacked -as bus drivers, as shop floor workers, as teachers. Fighting against this discrimination led to the formation of some informal trade union groups that today have recognition as official parts of union structures.
Nalgay, for example was set up in the mid-70s and then became an officially recognised part of NALGO in the late 1980's, and this was then incorporated into today's UNISON during the merger ten years ago..
None of the main political parties supported our struggle. The Young Liberals did some work - but this was very much on a rather patronising "civil rights" basis. Labour first discussed the issue in 1982.
It was not until 1986 that Labour Party Conference adopted a non-discrimination position.
The development of the Gay Liberation movement in this country bigger and broader political changes. adopted from the Black Power movement and the notion of Black Pride. ing place at the same time as the the streets organising around issues like Equal Pay. movement develop in the 70s and 80s. Today the movement is truly tion clause as part of its constitution support to LGBT people elsewhere in
The first conference of the International Lesbian and Gay Asia will take place this year in the
••• and elsewhere in the world was part of The name Gay Pride was consciously The marches for gay rights were takwomens movement was coming onto Nor was the movement confined to Europe and North America. Mexico is celebrating 25 years of Pride this year and Latin America in particular saw a
the fall of the wall. South Africa has a non-discriminaand the vibrant movement there lends
today. Association (ILGA) to be held in South crimination at work.
••• Philippines. In Eastern Europe, organisation is becoming more visible since We've come a long way. When I attended my first Pride event in 1974 (a picnic in Hyde Park) I couldn't have imagined what would be happening
But I also wouldn't have believed the battles left to win. There is still disPeople are still murdered for being
...
UK lesbian or gay. The suicide rate amongst lesbian and gay teenagers is still high.
There is much to be proud of - and much to fight for. Unions Out and Proud
The TUC LBGT conference will be held in London on 24 and 25 July. Debates and demands will include:
• Campaigning for a civil partner-