Category: Archive

  • TODAY IN LGBT+ HISTORY: The city of Philadelphia reveals 8 stripe Pride flag

    TODAY IN LGBT+ HISTORY: The city of Philadelphia reveals 8 stripe Pride flag

    In 2017 the City of Philadelphia revealed their take on the traditional LGBT+ pride flag, to include two new stripes. A black and brown stripe to represent LGBT+ communities of colour.

    The organisers of the campaign, to drive awareness of some of the issues faced by communities of colour, added an extra brown and black stripe to the flag and used the hashtag #MoreColorMorePride.

    It has proved to be both adored and controversial since its reveal.

    While some maintain that the standard Rainbow Flag was supposed to be inclusive of everybody, regardless of race, colour or creed, others have suggested that for far too long, people of colour have been precluded from LGBT+ history nor given proper credit for some of the culture that has developed and enjoyed by the wider LGBT+ community.

    Since its introduction in 2017, numerous Pride events across the UK, have adopted that version of the flag, particularly in cities where there is a large BAME (Black Asian and minority ethnic) community.

    “Fuelling an important conversation”

    A statement on the campaign’s website says,

    “In 1978, artist Gilbert Baker designed the original rainbow flag.

    “An iconic symbol of LGBTQ+ unity. So much has happened since then. A lot of good, but there’s more we can do. Especially when it comes to recognizing people of color in the LGBTQ+  community. To fuel this important conversation, we’ve expanded the colors of the flag to include black and brown.

    “It may seem like a small step. But together we can make big strides toward a truly inclusive community”.

  • TODAY IN GAY HISTORY: “Gay” penguins become fathers at a Zoo

    TODAY IN GAY HISTORY: “Gay” penguins become fathers at a Zoo

    In 2014 two male penguins at an English Zoo in Kent became fathers after looking after an unhatched egg given to them by zookeepers. They instantly became internationally famous.

    The two male Humboldt Penguins called Kermit and Jumbs at Wingham Wildlife Park were made surrogate parents for an egg which was abandoned by its biological parents.

    Best parents we’ve ever had

    Head of birds and mammals at the park Becky Johnson explained: ‘It was a shame to see the heterosexual pair leave their egg, largely because the male deserted his share of the duties”

    Park owner Tony Binskin added “These two have so far proven to be the best penguin parents we have had. But we have had to bring in two new males to keep the balance of the group

    “We are still very much starting our breeding efforts with this species, and this is only our second year, but having such good surrogate parents available should we need them is a huge bonus for us.”

  • TODAY IN GAY HISTORY: Men in Russia shave their beards in protest to Conchita Wurst’s Eurovision win

    TODAY IN GAY HISTORY: Men in Russia shave their beards in protest to Conchita Wurst’s Eurovision win

    In 2014, Drag Queen Conchita Wurst won the Eurovision Song Contest with her epic hit, “Rise Like A Phoenix” which prompted a backlash from some in Russia – despite Conchita not representing Russia in the competition or being a Russian national.

    Unlike other drag queens, Conchita Wurst’s look involves a full beard, which proved a little too controversial for some.

    Wurst, real name Tom Neuwirth, was the subject of much hate-mongering from online trolls in Russia, Armenia and Belarus. One top Russian politician even called the contest a ‘sodom show’ after the DQ’s appearance.

    Numerous men in Russia started a hashtag on Twitter and other social networks called #ProveYoureNotConchita in which they displayed their freshly shave off beards in protest to Conchita’s win.

    However, “Rise Like A Phoenix” did climb the iTunes chart to claim the Number 1 spot in the Russian iTunes’ chart despite the adverse reactions.

  • TODAY IN LGBT HISTORY | 1933: Nazis start the destruction of lesbian and gay culture in Germany

    TODAY IN LGBT HISTORY | 1933: Nazis start the destruction of lesbian and gay culture in Germany

    Today in 1933 the Nazis started their war against the gay and lesbian community in Germany by confiscating materials from the Institute of Sexual Science. The institute’s works were destroyed as part of the regime’s censorship programme, by youth brigades.

    The organisation was opened in 1919 and key in collecting and collating data concerning sexuality, gender and psychology.

    The Nazis burned the books and documents on the streets of Berlin as part of their censorship policy.

    Students organized by the Nazi party parade in front of the building of the Institute for Sexual Research in Berlin prior to pillaging it on May 6, 1933. They confiscated its books, photos and periodicals for burning. The Institute had been established by Magnus Hirschfeld, a Jewish homosexual doctor, as a center for sexology. It provided counselling and other services, and sought rights for homosexuals and transsexuals.

    The institute was opened by Magnus Hirschfeld and his collaborator Arthur Kronfeld in 1919.

    Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

    Magnus is also famous for coining the term transsexualism. The institute also employed transgender people. Pioneering modern sex reassignment surgeries were offered here in 1930.

    To find out more visit the wikipedia page

  • GAY HISTORY | Remember the opening of the Crew Gay Bar in London

    GAY HISTORY | Remember the opening of the Crew Gay Bar in London

    After being served one too many warm beers at a rival, Crews was born. “Chris” takes us down memory lane.

    CREWS: 1990-1998 St Martins Lane, next to Stringfellows

    Crews came about after I was served yet another warm beer at the Brief Encounter and the manager asked me what I would do, lose him his job?

    I said “no”, far worse. 

    From the outside, you could not see the 3000 sq ft inside and the plan was just to be the biggest gay bar in London, not nightclub.

    The agents were only interested in it being let as a restaurant until I told them that my cousin was, a renowned architect, and they thought we would spend a fortune on it. However, our plan was to be cheap and cheerful, cruising and carefree so dark blue paint and murals of sailors went up on the walls.

    After a hiccup with early management, the bar became the first to introduce straight forward pricing of £2.50 a pint, the reason being that there was no time to give change, such was the demand.

    In addition, free nuts and crisps were offered. Two GoGo dancers would give performances on the bar. Crews became the busiest gay bar in London and was responsible for dragging the gay scene from Earls Court to the West End. 

    The year Crews opened saw the Edge, CXR, Admiral Duncan, G-A-Y Bar and The Village really take off.

    Have you got memories of a venue from the past which has now closed? Check out our list of venues at our Lost LGBT Scene Project.

  • GAY HISTORY | Remembering the first time at The Catacombs

    GAY HISTORY | Remembering the first time at The Catacombs

    A contributor to our Lost LGBT+ Scene project left this recollection of his first encounter at The Catacombs as an 18-year-old in the heydays of the early 70s.

    Vivid memories of The Catacombs…..

    At the tender age of 18, new to London, very green and exceedingly shy and discovering freedom!

    Soon discovered Gay News (a now-defunct gay newspaper) and the gay scene at Earls Court. Must have been incredibly brave to go on my own.

    Saturday nights. There were bouncers on the door, and the club used to provide square gold coloured metal keyring fobs with raised lettering CATA top-line COMBS bottom line to help ID.

    There was a steepish narrow flight of steps down to the dance floor and a bar on the right I think. I THINK they did sell beer, but I only ever drank Coke, so might be mistaken.

    The dance floor was always dark, illuminated with numerous flashing disco spotlights. I vividly remember the packed floor and the heads bouncing to Motown, Stevie Wonder-Superstition, Temptations-The Law of the Land, Timmy Thomas-Why cant we live together.

    I hear those on the radio sometimes, shut my eyes and I’m back there in 1971/2 such was the huge impression. Around the dance floor which was circular or multi-sided such as Octagonal was a series of arches which led on to a corridor around the dancefloor.

    There was a series of arches into open rooms around the outside of this corridor, each room with tables and seating around. There was always a row of stationary figures around the wall just watching the dancefloor and a similar row around the corridor, all awaiting the next pickup. I don’t remember where the toilets were, very shy and maybe didn’t use them, nor the disco, nor if there were any emergency exits and looking back.

    I always think the place could have been an inferno if the worst happened, but oh! such happy memories.

    Written by Paul

    Have you got memories you’d like to share? Check out our list of now-closed LGBT+ venues and leave you recollections in the comments.

  • GAY HISTORY | Remembering sexual encounters at Biograph cinema

    GAY HISTORY | Remembering sexual encounters at Biograph cinema

    Oh, the “Biograph” was a grubby, run-down, sordid, glorious place. I’d first heard about it in 1965, from friends that lived in Pimlico, and who constantly made jokes about the alleged goings-on.

    I already knew that I wouldn’t be averse to something like this. I’d had a friend in school that I used to “play” with, but that had been more adolescent discovery than anything serious.

    I’d left school in 1962, started work, got a girlfriend, who wouldn’t go all the way, because nice girls didn’t do that, but she provided “relief”. Even with this, I still couldn’t get the stories of the “Biograph” out of my head.

    A couple of times, after work, I’d saunter past on the other side of the road, watching the men going in. This graduated to crossing the road and slowly walking past the entrance, but I couldn’t get up courage to go in.

    Eventually, my thoughts and feelings became so overpowering that, one evening in 1966, 20-years-old, with my heart beating loudly, I entered the cinema, paid my money, and stepped into the darkness.

    “Nobody stood up to let me pass; instead, they would half-swivel in their seats, clutching their coats in position over their laps as I squeezed past”

    Turning left, I walked to the start of the left aisle and stood there, letting my eyes get used to the darkness, and the movements of the audience. The cinema was full but seats were constantly being vacated and occupied. As my eyes got accustomed to the darkness I spotted 3 empty seats in the middle of a row, eight or nine rows down, so, taking a deep breath, I walked down the aisle to the row and started to squeeze past the sitting members of the audience. Nobody stood up to let me pass; instead, they would half-swivel in their seats, clutching their coats in position over their laps as I squeezed past.

    This worked until I reached the first person who didn’t move his knees, forcing me to step over him, one leg at a time. Standing with my back to him, with my legs astride his knees, his hand coming up to grope me from behind caused me to moan, which drew the attention of the people in the row in front of me to my predicament. As I stepped over the second person, he also groped me, whilst the first person proceeded to massage my arse. Then someone in the row in front turned around and squeezed my cock through my trousers. I was in heaven! I finally made it to a seat and almost fell into it, with my heart fluttering wildly.

    Whilst I was recovering from this greeting, the two empty seats to my right had been occupied.

    The serious stuff quickly started, with a slow, steady, mounting pressure of a thigh against my left thigh. I returned the pressure and was rewarded with a hand slipping over my knee, and then moving up my thigh to squeeze me between my legs. After helping the fumbling hand to undo me, I half-sat half-lay there, being wanked off, encouraged by the man on my right who proceeded to kiss me.

    I couldn’t hold on; with spunk shooting out, my half-stifled cry of horrified joy caused those sitting around to laugh, with one man saying “Oh, you really must come again!”.

    I slowly cooled down and began to play with my new friend on the left, managing to help wank him off, before doing the same to the one on the right.

    I left the cinema floating on air.

    Photo by Adrien Olichon from Pexels

    After that, there was no holding back, and I was there at least once a week, sometimes twice.

    I was young, hot, and eager, so I was popular with the middle aged guys, which turned me into a bit of a precocious tart!

    The encounters developed into their own routine – knee pressure, the hand up the thigh, then both sitting there rubbing each other’s cock. If the other one was fanciable, there would be the furtive whispering of “Where do you live? Can we go there?”, then the zipping up and leaving together.

    One American was so overjoyed to find that I was wearing stockings, a suspender belt, and black satin panties (all bought from Axford Clothing Store, 306 Vauxhall Bridge Road. The two male owners were so kind and understanding to a young man exploring a facet of his sexuality) that we jumped straight into a taxi to get to his hotel as quickly as possible.

    The audience always varied; on the weekends the place was full, whereas in the week it could be half-empty and quiet, with nothing going on at all.

    Then you watched the films before going to the toilet to wank yourself off in front of anyone who cared to watch, usually with them staring at your cock and furiously wanking themselves off.

    Over the years the “Biograph“ changed; there was with more hassle from the usher, although once he’d gone past it was back to normal until his next round; the lights were turned up, but it was still possible to have fun.

    Walking down the right-hand aisle, towards the screen, led to the first door to the men’s toilet. Opening this led you into a fairly dark passage, about 5 yards long, at the end of which was another door which opened to the toilet proper .

    This passage could also be a source of enjoyment, especially when the cinema was full, and the passage crowded, with the fanciable ones going in having their thighs rubbed, or even being groped, in passing by the fanciable ones coming out, and vice versa.

    The men’s toilet itself could also be lively, depending on how crowded; I got there one time and stood next to a young guy who was being seriously sucked off. As I rubbed his arse, he looked round to his right at me, and I was kissing him as he came. I can still feel him trembling!

    One thing that I eventually noticed was that there being only men in the cinema, the women’s toilet was never used, and so, if I met someone who was very nice, we could discretely go to the women’s toilet for a fuck!

    Buying a motorbike gave me a justification for wearing tight jeans and knee-high leather boots.

    With braces to hold up my jeans and no panties, I would arrive, undo the top button and unzip my jeans, sit down with my long jacket undone but covering me, and wait for the first knee pressure and hand moving up my thigh. There was no more fumbling, just a hard cock, ready and waiting!

    I went to the “Biograph“ for 13 years, until I moved.

    Even after all these years, after relationships, experiments with SM, and cross-dressing, I have never experienced anything to match the sheer excitement of my first visit to the “Biograph”. It was simply wonderful!

    This post was uploaded anonymously. If you’re the author please get in contact if you’d like to be credited.

  • TODAY IN HISTORY | The Admiral Duncan Bombing

    TODAY IN HISTORY | The Admiral Duncan Bombing

    In 1999 a nail bomb went off in the popular gay pub The Admiral Duncan, killing three people.

    Three people were killed and dozens injured when a bomb, left in an unattended bag, placed by Neo-Nazi David Copeland, exploded on the 30th April 1999. The Admiral Duncan bombing was part of a series of three bombings in London, by Copeland who was targetting various diverse communities and stirring fear in the communities he targetted.

    The Soho bombing was the deadliest attack.

    Andrea Dykes 27, Nik Moore 31 and John Light, 32 were killed. Andrea was four months pregnant at the time. Around 70 people were injured.

    Embed from Getty Images

    Days after the attack, Peter Tatchell and members of the activism group Outrage organised a vigil outside the pub.

    Copeland was captured that same evening. He had terrorised Londoners with two other bombings, one in Brixton on the 17th and one in White Chapel on the 24th. His two other bombs, fortunately, did not kill anyone. It was thought that Copeland was trying to stir up race and homophobic tensions.

    Embed from Getty Images

    Copeland was convicted of three murders and three offences of planting bombs on 30 June 2000 and given six life sentences. The minimum time he’ll spend behind bars is 50 years.

    Read more about the attack here and to see pictures from the attack click here.

  • TODAY IN GAY | The Admiral Duncan Bombing

    TODAY IN GAY | The Admiral Duncan Bombing

    In 1999 a nail bomb went off in the popular gay pub The Admiral Duncan, killing three people.

    Three people were killed and dozens injured when a bomb, left in an unattended bag, placed by David Copeland, exploded on the 30th April 1999.

    Andrea Dykes 27, Nik Moore 31 and John Light, 32 were killed. Andrea was four months pregnant at the time. Around 70 people were injured.

    David Copeland was captured that same evening. He had terrorised Londoners with two other bombings, one in Brixton on the 17th and one in White Chapel on the 24th. His two other bombs, fortunately, did not kill anyone. It was thought that Copeland was trying to stir up race and homophobic tensions.

    Copeland was convicted of three murders and three offences of planting bombs on 30 June 2000 and given six life sentences. The minimum time he’ll spend behind bars is 50 years.

    Read more about the attack here and to see pictures from the attack click here.

  • TODAY IN GAY | 20,000 protest the Government’s Section 28 in Manchester

    TODAY IN GAY | 20,000 protest the Government’s Section 28 in Manchester

    In 1988 over 20,000 people took to the streets of Manchester to protest the Conservative Government’s controversial anti-gay legislation known as Section 28.

    (C) BIGSTOCK

    Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 meant that local authority employees, including school teachers, could not “intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality” or “promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”.

    Section 28 was supported by a number of religious groups including, Salvation Army, the Christian Institute, the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance,[citation needed] Christian Action Research and Education, the Muslim Council of Britain, and groups within the Catholic Church and the Church of England.

    It became law in England, Scotland and Wales on the 24th May 1988 under Margaret Thatcher‘s Tory government. Section 28 was repealed in 2003 by the Labour government. The Scottish government was able to repeal this bill in 2000 and was, in fact, one of the first pieces of legislation enacted by the new Scottish Parliament.

    Watch this incredible footage of the protest in Manchester.