"… the North London Poly Student Union Gay Society was set up during the last academic year in order to provide a co-ordinating centre for the organisation of activities - political and social - for all gay students in the Polytechnic ..."
Extract from predecessor Polytechnic of North London Students' Union Handbook, 1974 (ref. UA/PNL/32/195) detailing the establishment of a Gay during the previous academic year 1973/74
Background
Our University Archive holds a unique collection of institutional records that not only document its operational history, but also capture the lived experience of LGBTQIA+ people who studied and worked on campus. These records were often written by LGBTQIA+ students and staff, and provide an important snapshot of their contribution to initiatives like the creation of safe and welcoming spaces at our University, and their campaign work for LGBTQIA+ rights.
Dating from the early 1970s onwards, these records can be set against a wider socio-historical timeline of LGBTQIA+ events happening in the UK, such as the establishment of the London Gay Liberation Front (1970), the introduction of Section 28 of the Local Government Act (1988), or the first Trans Pride (2013). Against this backdrop, they demonstrate how changes in the law, and the different histories of LGBTQIA+ movements off campus, impacted our students and staff on campus.
These records comprise:
Fundraising on Campus - FUSE Students' Union magazine, Nov 1986 (ref. UA/PNL/10/439)
'... the Lesbian Collective and Gay Group held a bucket collection at the Holloway Road site on 2 December in aid of the London Lesbian Mothers Fighting Fund and the Terrence Higgins Trust. The fighting fund gives financial support to lesbian women contending custody cases in heterosexual courts ...'
This extract from the 'News' section of SU magazine FUSE, is just one example of student fundraising that took place on campus to support the wider Lesbian and Gay community off campus. It not only documents the work done by the LCGG, but provides a snapshot of legal challenges faced by Lesbians during the late 1980s.
Student Voice - FUSE Students' Union magazine, Nov 1988 (ref. UA/PNL/10/460)
'... if you are Gay or Lesbian or think that you might be, do not be ashamed. There is no reason for you to feel inadequate. No reason for you to accept abuse.'
Written during 1988 in response to Section 28 of the Local Government Bill, which prevented local authorities 'promoting' homosexuality, this student written Feature on the subject of homosexuality aims to challenge historic myths and stereotypes about describe Gay and Lesbian people.
In particular, discussing 'moral' arguments used to attack Gay and Lesbian people during this decade and before.
Raising Awareness - G-Echo Students' Union magazine, Feb 1997 (ref. UA/LGU/08/195)
Conducted in the First Floor bar of the Students' Union, the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Society hosted a Gay and Lesbian wedding ceremony to raise awareness about civil rights and same sex marriage.
'... the sad truth is however, that this event, in reality, would have been illegal as it is just one of the civil rights that gays and lesbians are denied ...'
Call to Action
If you attended either London Metropolitan University, or any of our precursor institutions, and would like to gift or donate e.g. photographs, ephemera or club/society documents relating to our LGBTQIA+ history, please email: specialcollections@londonmet.ac.uk
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