1985. Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners. Part Two.
During the 1984-85 UK miners strike strong ties developed between Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM), Lesbians Against Pit Closures and the mining communities they supported. Even when the strike concluded, the ties remained and ultimately led to one of the biggest political breakthroughs for the LGBT community.
The first sign of sustained support was the 1985 Gay Pride march in London, in which a large contingent of miners and their families from Blaenant Lodge in South Wales took part (above).
But the most significant event happened later that year at the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth.
A motion to support equal rights for gay men and lesbians was scheduled for the agenda. The National Executive Committee, already entrenched in its now familiar position of abandoning principles whenever votes might be at risk, opposed the motion. The motion went to a card vote – and was carried due to the block votes of the National Union of Mineworkers and their allies.
This was a major turning point for the fortunes of lesbians and gay men as it allowed the more progressive elements of the Labour Party to push for a real implementation of this policy. Thirty years down the track it may all seem like a storm in a teacup but at the time there were still many of the Party Executive who shared the view of one senior staffer that, “the gays and lesbians issues is costing us dear.”
Had it not been for the miners repaying some of the support we had given them equality would have remained in the hands of a National Executive more focused on popularity than principles. Who knows where we would have been today.
It’s clear to me that there’s a link between the activities of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners and Lesbians Against Pit Closures and the rolling out of the LGBT rights agenda in the Eighties. I recently came across the following video, All Out! Dancing in Dulais, which gives much greater insight into the work of both these groups.
Thank you so much for your memories. I just saw the “Pride” movie and loved it. And I’m glad to see your stories, which enriched my experience of the film.
Thanks for your kind comments Sonia (and glad you liked the movie – but there again, what’s not to like!) If you haven’t already seen it, watch Dancing in Dulais too, as this is the ‘real’ LGSM and adds so much to the experience of the movie ‘Pride’.
Colin
Excellent footage that captures the politics of the time and a fantastic reminder of the power and strength of unity .. something much needed right now!!!
Thanks Sue. You’re certainly not alone in your view that we need a return to unity; I and other former members of LGSM are hearing this a lot now in the wake of the movie ‘Pride’. Let’s hope that this signals the start of something.
Colin
I recently saw the film Pride in Toronto and loved it. But through your writing and documents such as All Out! Dancing in Dulais, I realize that much of the socialist politics that informed the work has been sacrificed to allow the film to reach a general audience. All this makes me think of Toronto where the struggle over the meaning of our annual Pride is intense. There are those who want only a party (including city officials and some LGBT folk), and those like Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA) whose support of Palestinian rights is often seen as counterintuitive, as did LGSM’s solidarity work, but has similarly led to groundbreaking conversations and collaborations.
Many Thanks Richard. It’s interesting to note how the movie Pride has highlighted/reignited the debate about the meaning of L&G Pride. Various people associated with LGSM – myself included – are hearing this from around the world (Canada, USA, Australia as well as the UK) in the wake of the movie. Here’s one example of what’s happening in the UK to try and get back to the original spirit – https://houseofbrag.wordpress.com/2014/05/08/alternative-pride-an-update/. The original members of LGSM are also meeting this Friday in London to discuss how to take forward the interest generated by the film. Colin
I’d love to hear more about what comes out of that meeting. Hopefully you’ll write about it.
The film “Pride” is right up there with “Beautiful Thing” and “Brokeback Mountain” in terms of gay cinema that stays with you well after the end of the movie itself. It is wonderful.
Pingback:Pride, film on British miners-LGBTQ solidarity, review | Dear Kitty. Some blog
I have just seen the movie and and it really touched me, it gave me plenty to think about the union of the people, nowadays the people is divided, so many bands; that’s what is happening in my city, Mexico, all the country is suffering because of the government riddled with corruption and murders, which oppresses its people. If we were united we could make a real difference and and nobody could defeat us, but sadly the reality is getting worst, but “we must fight for our lives”. The world must know what is happening here #Ayotzinapa
Thanks for your comment. It’s clear that the movie ‘Pride’ is bringing present injustices, as well as past ones, to the fore. And, along with that, a lot of people are recognising the need for solidarity again. I have mentioned in a reply to an earlier comment that the surviving members of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners have come together again in light of the response to ‘Pride’. Some fund-raising activities are already underway and a LGSM website is under development, where information about past and present struggles is likely to be included. I will post further details of these activities in future.
Ah, PRIDE: still sobbing at the ending, two hours afterwards. Coach after coach of Welsh miners drawing up, vintage union banners being unfurled and hoisted, a roll call of lodges as the passengers disembark and get into formation: all come to repay a debt of gratitude, all finally understanding that prejudice is fear, is tool and ally of the enemy. This was better than the Knights of Rohan coming to raise the Seige of Gondor. They really came. It really happened. Sob. Sob. Sob.
Pingback:British lesbians and gays still support miners, and opera workers | Dear Kitty. Some blog
Pingback:Virgin airline deports LGBTQ refugees, bad Pride sponsor | Dear Kitty. Some blog
Pingback:Unless Labour chooses to fight against transphobia now, Keir Starmer risks losing hard-won LGBT+ votes – lgbt-99.com
Pingback:Pride de Matthew Warchus : grèves et solidarités – Mauvais Genres