Pride Bristol 2010

Pride is a celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community; in our past, our present, our future. Unifying and inclusive events, Pride festivals run like a Mexican wave across the globe. This year Pride comes to Bristol. Pride Bristol 2010 is organised by the LGBT community for the people of the South West. Pride Week Aug 14 – 22 offers an array of diverse cultural events, and culminates in Pride Day, a large free festival in Castle Park on Sat 21 Aug. For details and information see their Pride Bristol website here where you can sign up the newsletter for up-to-date info on this year’s event.

Introduction

LGB Myth-busting

Research from the British social attitudes survey over the last 20 years has demonstrated how the general population’s attitude towards lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people is becoming more positive. Although crime statistics, records of legal cases and individuals’ personal experiences continue to provide evidence of significant discrimination against lesbian, gay and bisexual people, there is a growing acceptance of diversity in modern society.

The research shows how prejudice and discrimination against lesbian, gay and bisexual people is directly linked to stereotypes, myths and ignorance about the reality of LGB people’s lives and experiences.
LGB Myth-busting booklet – Bristol City Council (2009).

Pride, Progress and Transformation Regional LGB and Trans research Update - Feb 2010

Click here to read the report.

LGB History Timeline

1290:

First mention in English common law of a punishment for homosexuality.

1533:

Henry VIII introduces an Act bringing male-male sexual activity punishable by hanging.

1885:

Labouchere Amendment to the Criminal Law Amendment Act criminalises homosexuality. No reference is made to Lesbianism leading to the myth that Queen Victoria refused to accept that Lesbianism existed.

1869:

First published use of the term ‘homosexuality’ (Homosexualitat) in a pamphlet by Karoly Maria Kertbeny, a German-Hungarian campaigner.

1885:

Labouchere Amendment to the Criminal Law Amendment Act criminalises homosexuality. No reference is made to Lesbianism leading to the myth that Queen Victoria refused to accept that Lesbianism existed.

1941:

Transsexuality was first used at the time, in reference to homosexuality and bisexuality.

1948:

Alfred Kinsey publishes ‘Sexual Behaviour in the Human Male.’ It states that 4% of men identify as exclusively homosexual and 37% had enjoyed at least one homosexual experience in their lives.

1953:

Kinsey publishes ‘Sexual Behaviour in the Human Female.’ It states that 2% of women identify as exclusively lesbian and 13% had enjoyed at least one lesbian experience in their lives.

1956:

The Sexual Offences Act becomes law, determining much police activity against gay people in the UK for the rest of the century.

1967:

the Sexual Offences Act in England and Wales decriminalises homosexual acts between two men over 21 years of age and ‘in private.’

1972:

Gay News, UK’s first gay newspaper, founded.

1975:

British Home Stores sacks openly gay trainee Tony Whitehead; a national campaign subsequently picketed their stores.

1976:

Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement founded.

1982:

Terry Higgins dies of Aids aged 37.  His friends establish a trust in his name focused on raising funds for research and awareness of the illness – then called Gay-Related Immune Deficiency (GRID).

1984:

Gay Times begins publication.

1988:

Section 28, preventing the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality by local authorities, comes into force restricting awareness-raising or discussion of LGBT issues in schools.

1989:

Stonewall Group established to oppose Section 28 and other blocks to equality for lesbians and gay men. Founder members include Ian McKellen and Michael Cashman.

1994:

Parliament reduces gay male age of consent to 18 (after a proposal to equalise it to 16 in line with heterosexual consent was defeated).

1994:

The Bristol Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Forum is established to challenge the discrimination that lesbian, gay and bisexual people experience in the city.

1995:

Gay Times goes on sale in John Menzies newsagents for the first time.

1999:

The Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations extends the Sex Discrimination Act to make it unlawful to discriminate on grounds of gender reassignment, but only in the areas of employment and vocational training.

1999:

a bomb explodes in the Admiral Duncan, a gay pub in Soho, the third in a series of bombs targeted at minority communities by a lone extremist. Three people die and several are injured.

1999:

House of Lords rules that same sex partners should be treated as family and have the right to succeed a tenancy.

1999:

The Law Commission proposes that partners of same-sex couples should be able to claim damages in fatal accident cases.

1999:

Angela Mason receives an OBE for services to the gay community and appears in the Observer’s 300 most powerful people in the UK.

2000:

the Government lifts the ban on lesbian and gay men serving in the armed forces.

2001:

the Age of consent is reduced to 16.

2001:

EACH (Educational Action Challenging Homophobia) established to challenge homophobia in Bristol, and goes on to gain national recognition for their work.

2002:

the Adoption and Children Act 2002 grants equal rights to same sex couples applying for adoption. (Legislation passed in Scotland in 2009)

2003:

Repeal of Section 28 – but no guidance from government about how schools can educate children about gay relationships.

2003:

Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations becomes law making it illegal to discriminate against lesbians, gay men and bisexuals in the workplace.

2004:

the Civil Partnership Act is passed giving same-sex couples the same rights and responsibilities as married heterosexual couples.

2005:

the Government amends the Equality Bill, including a clause to make it illegal to discriminate against lesbians and gay men in the provision of goods and services – from NHS care through to hotels and restaurants.

2008:

Parliament passes the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act giving better legal recognition to same-sex parents.

2009:

The Equality Bill is introduced to Parliament with important implications for sexual orientation equality.

2009:

A poll by Populus reports that 61% of those surveyed support allowing same-sex couples to marry.

LGBT History Month (February)

Key legislation

Sexual Orientation Employment Regulations (2003)
The Equality Act: Sexual Orientation, Goods, facilities and Services (2006)
For more information see:
Direct Gov
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)

Resources

•    EACH (Educational Action Challenging Homophobia
•    Bristol LGB Forum
•    Bristol Lesbian and Gay switchboard (BLAGS)
•    Stonewall
•    Terence Higgins Trust
•    The Gender Trust
•    LGB Myth-busting booklet, Bristol City Council
•    Culture 24: (Background and information on known homosexuals – Lesbian History in the archives)