In January 2000, the ban on gay personnel serving in the armed forces was lifted. Twenty years on from the abolition of the ‘gay ban’, we speak to Sgt Craig Rudyk-Smith, who joined the Royal Air Force after the ban was lifted, and Flt Lt Tamsin Wakeham, who joined before and re-joined shortly afterwards. Both […]
Archive | LGBT History
I said “look, I’m trying to find lesbians…”
LGBT History Month 2020: A Chat with the Chair Sam Bennett LGBT History Month has taken place in February since 2005. An initiative launched by charity Schools OUT – which aims to make educational institutions safe for LGBT people – its 16th incarnation launched at Oxford’s Pitt Rivers and Museum of Natural History in November. […]
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“Lest we forget where we came from”
It is incredible to think how far the British Armed Forces have evolved since 12 January 2000 when their law barring service by lesbian, gay and bi people was finally repealed. With the 20th anniversary comes celebration and pride in what has been achieved, pride that all three armed forces have been Stonewall Top 100 […]
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Edalia Day: Loved and Not Put Up With
“I really feel like I do, actually,” says Edalia Day when asked if they think of themselves as someone who understands love. “Throughout my life I had it in my head that if you’re openly trans you’ve got no chance of ever being in love,” the 34-year-old resumes, attaching this to media stories and online […]
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Dean Atta: Fear, Flamingos and Fairytale Endings
Dean Atta rings in the morning after a drag show at Kings Place, “a bit on the comedown from it. You get a lot of adrenaline when you do drag performances,” says the spoken word poet, “and then afterwards you’ve got the makeup on your eyes that you didn’t wipe off, I’ve still got nail […]
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Catherine Bohart: Saying Something
Saying Something Sam Bennett “Who with?” I ask Catherine Bohart, on learning about her plans to move house. Fellow comedian and her partner, Sarah Keyworth, she tells me. They already cohabit but this move will mark the first time they’ve lived together without anybody else. “Imagine,” resumes the Irish stand-up, “if I was calling you […]
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Beau on Blackouts, Botticelli and Bohemian Rhapsody
Sam Bennett talks the queering of history and more with Dickie Beau. I first encountered Dickie Beau when he brought Blackouts: Twilight of the Idols to Liverpool’s Unity Theatre in 2012. He depicted Judy Garland, lip-syncing to the saddening Judy Speaks! tapes the singer recorded at home in London shortly before her death at the […]
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Expert Tips: Hiring an exclusive use wedding venue
Spring 2019 Congratulations on your engagement – let the fun begin. One of the earliest, hardest and probably most important parts about planning your wedding will be choosing the perfect venue to hold your celebration. There are dozens of things to consider when it comes to narrowing down your choices and we’ve been chatting to […]
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The Wrong Kind of 80s Revival
I’ve written in these pages previously about Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988; a pernicious little sinew of discriminatory law that referred to homosexuality as a ‘pretended family relationship’. This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots and the 30th anniversary of the eponymous charity that was the focal point of efforts to repeal Section 28 in the UK. However, amidst celebration of milestones have been some […]
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“We Have to be Continually Vigilant”
Co-founder of Stonewall Lisa Power talks evil, the Aids pandemic and remembering our history. Stonewall celebrates its 30th birthday this year – how proud are you? Very proud, although I’m not directly related to Stonewall these days. I think it’s done a fairly amazing job over the years. I haven’t always agreed with everything it’s done but I think it’s made a massive […]
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