Unsung Heroes?

Most know and respect the likes of Stonewall or Tatchell. But Fyne’s Adrian Gillan gives three cheers for ten lesser-known modern-day LGBT heroes, not everyone may have heard of…

1. Jenny Broughton, FFLAG (Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays) - www.fflag.org.uk

Since 1993, FFLAG has helped families – mainly parents but also children – deal with the common trauma of a child’s coming out. Its 40 local help-lines get over 3000 calls from distraught parents every year with many hundreds attending one of the 15 local Parent Groups. It also provides training sessions, gives talks, attends conferences and works with police, schools, heath authorities and social workers, and other sister organisations across Europe, to combat homophobia in the family and society at large. Jenny - herself the mother of a lesbian daughter – has been central to FFLAG’s development and success displaying boundless determination, sensitivity and humanity.

2. Sue Sanders, Schools Out! - www.schools-out.org.uk

Sue has been pioneering educational projects in British schools since campaigning and lobbying group Schools Out! formed way back in 1973. Her hard work, commitment and inspiration as co-chair has helped open up a dialogue with government and changed the face of equality education in Britain. Her work in instituting and promoting the UK’s first LGBT History Month (last February) is further driving culture change, both within schools and colleges, and in wider society. Sue has recently been invited to a reception at No 10 Downing Street in long-overdue recognition of her ongoing work.

3. Inspector Paul Cahill, Gay Police Association - www.gay.police.uk

Chair of the Gay Police Association (GPA) and himself the victim of homophobic cop-on-cop activity in the late nineties – fresh-faced Paul’s 15 years’ service with the Met includes stints in fire arms and Community Safety Units, as well as plodding the beat in Soho. Within ten minutes of the Admiral Duncan bombing in 1999 he had a phone call from the senior officer in charge asking for advice and for the GPA to deploy its members in the area. Formed in 1990, the volunteer-driven GPA has a thousand members and is the only national staff association specifically representing the needs and interests of UK lesbian and gay police employees; inwardly educating the police service about issues connected with sexual orientation and outwardly cultivating better relations between the police and the gay community. It directly and indirectly supports 16,000 LGB police staff and aids service delivery to almost six million LGB public - the largest minority group employed by police, and living in the UK, respectively. Paul has been involved with the GPA since its inception, and been instrumental in effecting internal change - police marching in uniform on Pride parades would have been unthinkable only two or three years ago - and transforming the way the public interact with our boys in blue. He was awarded the MBE for "services to diversity in the police and the wider community" in the 2004 New Years Honours.

4. Simon Nelson, Race Equality Lead, South West Regional Equality Unit – www.equalitysouthwest.org.uk

Formerly Terrence Higgins Trust’s Black Gay Men's Development Officer, Simon Nelson fearlessly fronted the THT’s Black Gay Equality poster campaign, challenging black prejudices about gay people and ultimately putting across the message that it’s OK to be black and LGBT - thereby indirectly reaching guys at higher risk from HIV. He has also been a leading member of the Black Gay Men’s Advisory Group - an independent body of black gay and bi men of African and Afro-Caribbean parentage, working for and on behalf of other black men who have sex with men. Never afraid to challenge taboos or break new ground, Simon recently became Race Equality Lead with the newfound South West

5. Reverend Richard Kirker, Lesbian & Gay Christian Movement - www.lgcm.org.uk

Richard has been the eternally youthful General Secretary of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement since 1979. The LGCM is a UK-based, but internationally active, ecumenical charity, with a predominantly Anglican/Episcopal membership, campaigning against homophobia and for an inclusive church. He is an ordained deacon, has written dozens of articles, makes regular media appearances, oversees the Lesbian and Gay Christians magazine, and has been involved in establishing links with a wide variety of religious organizations of all faiths. An outspoken commentator on all aspects of queer life, religious or otherwise, Richard regularly feeds into government consultations and instigated the Peter Tatchell Human Rights Fund back in 2001, to support the work of the UK’s most famous human rights campaigner. He lives in East London with Steve, his partner of many years.

6. Marcus Morgan, bisexual community stalwart - www.bicommunitynews.co.uk

When Marcus came out as bisexual in his early-20s some of his gay friends acted with horror; and his local Lesbian & Gay Switchboard asked him if he was quite sure he wasn’t really gay. And he’s been fighting to raise awareness and understanding of bisexual issues ever since. He is a major fixture on the UK’s bi scene and has organised and participated in several BiCons (National Bisexual Conferences). Head up to Glasgow 13th - 17th July for BiCon 2006 and all the usual relaxation, socialising, discussion and entertainment: www.bicon2006.org.uk

7. Jason Pollock, Pride London & EuroPride 2006 - www.pridelondon.org

After a wash-out in Hackney (2002) and financial problems in Hyde Park (2003), Pride London started to find its feet again in 2004 and 2005, with greater focus on the Parade and Rally, and any commercial post-Pride event left to other organisers. Although now in a paid post as chief executive, Jason claims never to have made money from past Pride parades or rallies – with even past post-Pride events failing to turn in profits. Jason also helped develop the concept of the wider Pride Month plus secured Pride London as EuroPride for 2006 (16th June – 1st July), culminating in EuroPride Day on Saturday 1st July 2006, when over 80 floats and hundreds of walking groups will parade down Oxford Street for the first time, followed by the now-customary rally and cabaret in central London squares.

8. Michael Quinn, Out-Side-In - Email Michael

Few volunteering jobs can arguably be less “fashionable” than Michael’s: running queer prison support group Out-Side-In. OSI is the only registered charity in the UK dealing with LGB prison issues. It offers befriending, visiting and counselling services as well as advising on day-to-day issues that arise for any LGB person - inmate or staff - within the straight-dominated, same-sex prison environment. OSI currently supports well over a thousand inmates, either directly or through their partners and families. No meaningful figures exist; but the one-in-ten principle implies that - out of a UK prison population of over 65,000 – as many as 7,000 LGBs may be locked up nationwide.

9. Gus Cairns, HIV commentator and consultant – www.guscairns.com

Between 1998 and 2004, Fergus (Gus) Cairns deputy edited and then edited Positive Nation - the UK's HIV and sexual health magazine - written by, for and about people living with, and affected by, HIV and AIDS. Oxford-educated, Gus’ “pre-AIDS” career was as a social worker with homeless adolescents, though he became involved with HIV as soon as it appeared. He has recently set himself up as a freelance writer, trainer and therapist. A talented wordsmith with an irrepressible sense of humour, Gus still contributes regularly to Gay.Com and other media, and is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced people currently active in the field of HIV.

10. Janett Scott, Beaumont Society – www.beaumontsociety.org.uk

Born February 1934, Janett started wearing girls clothes well before aged 11 - normally mum’s which were unfortunately far too large. Cross-dressing in varius guises throughout National Service, whilst in the Merchant Navy and even once married with kids, Janett’s urges grew stronger, putting strains on family life. She joined the transgender-supporting Beaumont Society in 1972, although dropping out a couple of years later. Janett began her “new life” within a month of her wife passing away in 1987. She gained in confidence and re-joined the Beaumont Society triumphally in 1988, becoming President in 1990, largely on a ticket to help forge a more open and positive approach to cross-dressing, whilst respecting the confidentiality of members. She officially became Janett Scott in 1992 and now lives “full time” as a woman, with changes to all documents except her Birth Certificate. Janett is not a transexual – neither taking hormones nor considering major surgery – and merely sees herself as “gender gifted”.

Naturally, there are many other people out there across the UK working tirelessly on behalf of the LGBT community – often as unthanked, unpaid volunteers. Fyne salutes them all. Do you have a hero you want to tell Fyne about? Email us