From: Radical
History Network of North East London (RaHN) Meeting
held on 25th
Feb. 2015
Out and Proud in North London
Two stories
and opinions from people who campaigned
in the 80s for
Lesbian and Gay Rights in Haringey
Chris’s
Story
Background:
Chris grew up in the 1950s in Tottenham to a working class
Irish Catholic family. At the age of 12 he knew he was gay. Being gay was
illegal and it was a very difficult time for an effeminate boy to be growing
up. Chris describes his experiences at school and his childhood as ‘awful’. During his teen years it was
difficult playing along with the straight ways of his mates. He was closeted.
There were no role models, support networks or obvious cultural outlets.
By the time of his early twenties he was thoroughly fed up
with it so he told his parents and everyone else. His mum was good about it but
his brothers not so. He had no contact with one of his brothers for 20 years as
a result. Meanwhile his sister came out as a lesbian.
Chris grew increasingly concerned with politics and became
active in a variety of activities including attending the anti-Vietnam demos in
’69. It was at around this time the SWP and Militant tried to recruit him.
However, he had arguments about the position of gay rights within their parties.
They argued that it was merely a middle class diversion from the class
struggle. Chris retorted with, “Bollocks,
I’m working class”, and argued for gay rights through class politics.
Labour
Party Manifesto
He joined the Labour Party, though he later dropped out at
some point. He voted against his party on the Poll Tax, getting into trouble in
the process.
In 1982 he met people in the Labour Campaign for Lesbian and
Gay Rights. They were pushing to get gay rights into the Labour manifesto. As a
result, Chris went to the Party Conference as a delegate for Tottenham where
resolutions got discussed. It was the first time that gay rights had been
introduced at a Labour Party Conference. It was the first step in a process
that led to the inclusion of lesbian and gay rights within the Party’s equal
opportunities policy. However, at the time, it didn’t get through. Many Labour
members argued it would lose the party votes.
In 1984, the resolution was debated again. This was the year
of the Miner’s Strike and Ken Livingstone’s GLC (Greater London Council) which
included a ‘Gay Rights Working Party’ and which funded the London Lesbian and
Gay Centre. During the debate Chris
recalled one constituency member referring to gays as, “These germ ridden, sick people” and pronounced that, “There are so many important issues. We don’t
need gay issues.” To which, Chris’s mate said, “He’s just won it for us!” They needed a two thirds majority: they
got 90 per cent. Lesbian and gay rights
was now part of the Labour Party manifesto.
Haringey Councillor
This victory allowed Haringey activists to develop things
locally. This included the Positive Images campaign which, for Chris, was an
opportunity to counter to the terrible experience he’d had at school: the
bullying and isolation that had led to suicidal thoughts. More generally it
continued the debates and campaigns of the 1970s that countered the dominance
of heterosexual norms in society.
In May 1986 Labour won control of Haringey Council and included,
according to Chris, ‘a good set of
radical Labour councillors’ though opposed on the other side by some right
wing councillors. Lesbian and gay rights were now part of the Labour Manifesto included
within its position on equal opportunities.
A lot of people said they would vote for it in Haringey but
didn’t do anything. As the local election loomed Chris was asked and encouraged
to stand as a councillor as he was so committed. He did and he was selected. On
his election address he was named as a gay and lesbian rights candidate. As a
result, he did get some death threats on the phone which he ignored. On a
positive note a passer-by said, “You’re
the only one who is honest”, and said he’d vote for him.
Haringey
Positive Images Campaign
Chris focussed on the Positive Images Campaign. Opposing them
was the Parents Rights Group that included the chair of parents at a local
catholic school. A mass campaign in the local press whipped up fear against
them. They stated that, “They’re going to
teach kids to be gay; even 3 year olds.” Meanwhile, Chris’s brother
condemned him, worrying because they shared the same surname.
The campaign represented a big problem for Bernie Grant, head
of Haringey Council at the time. Many in the black community in Haringey were
extremely hostile to the Positive Images Campaign and lesbian and gay rights
generally. So much so that Bernie called Chris about it.
Chris’s colleague, Roy, had been at a meeting at the
West Indian Community Centre. Things had got so nasty that he threatened to
leave. Bernie suggested that maybe it was not the right time; such was the
pressure on him from within the black community. But Chris responded, “No way; if not now then never!” Bernie
said okay in the end.
The Parents’ Rights Group said they were going to burn books
promoted by ‘Positive Images’. Chris actually had a meeting with them. He held that, “If you have got a student of 16, and they’re reading literature, they
should know if the author is gay as it is a different way of looking at things”.
And that, in a primary school, when a child is innocently racist (being
children) they should be gently told so. Likewise, if a child is homophobic
they should be told that, for example, ‘That
is not a nice word to use’.
A short time later, the press released an appalling report on
the meeting. When Chris was asked about it, he stated that either they
misunderstood or they’re lying. Three months later The Express headlined ‘[surname] LIES!’ regarding the meeting.
And, ‘Go to centre page for our survey on
lesbian and gays.’ They had used an old article to advertise a spurious
survey.
The
Roundway Demonstration
In 1986 they organised a demonstration that went around the
Roundway, Tottenham. They chose this route as it went into ‘Murphy area’, White
Hart Lane; a Tory council area that was represented by 3 nasty, racist Tory
councillors (including Murphy). This was not just a few lefties but it had wide
support from Haringey lesbian and gays. There were 3,000 people on the march
including people from all over London.
[Add photo]
As the chair of the sub-committee, Chris set up a lesbian and
gay group in order to encourage disabled, black, ethnic minority gays and
lesbians to get involved. Unfortunately it did not last long.
Attacked
In October 1986 a council meeting was attacked. The first
half of the meeting was to do with bringing positive images into schools. It
was the first education committee to do that, and they got it voted through.
The second half of the meeting was with Sinn Fein arguing that there should be
dialogue; this being a time of media/state censorship of the voice of Sinn
Fein.
The meeting
was chaos. There were Sinn Fein supporters and Parents’ Rights Group supporters
in the same room. After the meeting the Parents’ Rights’ supporters left. Chris
and colleagues decided to go for last orders round the local watering hole.
Sitting in a car, a man appeared in front with a crowbar. He hit the glass and
bonnet etc. The driver put his foot down. Chris was cut with glass. He
recognised the guys. He identified them to the police. Three days, yep, three
whole days later, the police went to the pub to make enquiries. Bernie implored,
“You’ve got to move out from where you’re
living!” Chris was very reluctant but stayed at a friend’s. However, he
soon returned home and had no problems.
“Oi,
are you the queer councillor?”
“No”,
replied Chris, “gay!”
“You’ve
got guts!”
Section 28
It wasn’t
only Haringey that was active at this time but also Manchester, Hillingdon and many
others that were active but then the Tories brought in Section 28. The right
wing in the Labour Party were delighted. Now it couldn’t be said of them that
they’d sold them out as it was now law. Someone said it was Livingstone’s
fault. “No”, he said, “It was my mate Chris did it.”
Section 28
galvanised the lesbian and gay movement. There was a huge demonstration against
it. And the next Pride event was twice the size as before.
Anti-Clause 28 Demonstration
|
Spurs and the ‘Proud Lilywhites’
A fanatical
Spurs fan since 5 years old and a life-long season ticket holder, Chris got
invited and became involved in the Gay Supporters Network. They put forward a
motion to set up a lesbian and gay group but did not get the two thirds
majority required. However, Chris argued it was a question of equal
opportunities and that they shouldn’t need this vote. Chris and the Spurs group
left the Gay Supporters Network.
In the Spurs
matchday programme there was an invitation for any gay or lesbian fans to set
up an official supporters club. So Chris and others set up the ‘Proud
Lilywhites’. They designed a badge and banner with a cockerel (the Spurs
emblem) and a rainbow coming out of it. There are now 200 members, including
members from all over the world. As Chris suggests, ‘It’s a long way from 30 years ago.’
There have
been disagreements with the club who have helped them set up however the group
have made it known that ‘if we believe
you’re not protecting the lesbian and gay community then there’ll be problems’.
It is still early days. They had a stall at the latest Arsenal game. People
took leaflets and some took photos.
Chris is,
however, firmly against the club’s plans for expanding White Hart Lane at the
expense of working class homes.
