C.S.A celebrate Pride Month June 2022

As a bisexual woman Pride month is always important to me and this year it’s momentous as we look forward to Pride 50, the 50^th anniversary of the first Pride event that took place in the UK. Pride month June 2022 is focusing not only on the earth-shattering achievements of the last 50 years but also on what we aim to change over the next fifty years. Let’s all ask the question “What kind of world do we want to see for LGBTQ+ people in 2072?”

Let’s make a commitment to be stronger, more powerful, and prouder together.

Annabelle Baugh |C.S.A Founder

 

LGBTQ+ 50 Years of Achievements

The first Pride march was in 1972 and attracted approximately 2,000 people who believed that everyone should be equal and have the same rights and protection. This first organized march focused on gay rights.

Here are just a few more achievements made since 1970.

 

1970’s

• Britain’s first newspaper Gay News, promoting gay rights, was founded.
• British journal Gay Left begins publication
• Switchboard a helpline for LGBTQ+ people, Switchboard was established.
• The UK’s first National Trans Conference was held at the University of Leeds in 1974.
• Europe became the first nation to allow citizens to legally change their sex.
• The first gay lesbian Trades Union Congress (TUC) conference took place to discuss workplace rights for Gays and Lesbians.
• Britain’s first openly lesbian MP Maureen Colquhoun was elected in a watershed moment

 

1980’s

• Britain’s longest-running free gay newspaper Capital Gay  (which ran from 1981 to 1995) was founded and featured the first regular column on AIDS in the world.
• The Greater London Council (GLC) directly started funding LGBT groups
• The Self Help Association for Transsexuals (SHAFT) was formed, later known as Gender Dysphoria Trust International (GDTI).
• Chris Smith, MP declares: “My name is Chris Smith. I’m the Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, and I’m gay”, making him Britain’s first openly male homosexual politician.
• The first Black Gay and Lesbian Group is founded.
• Stonewall UK is set up to oppose Section 28 and campaign for LGBTQ+ equal rights.
• The Lesbian and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) campaign was launched, and a fabulous film Pride was released about it.

 

1990’s

• The Lesbian and Gay Police Association (LAGPA) was established.
• The age of sexual consent for gay men is lowered from 21 to 18.
• Mermaids a charity for children with gender dysphoria is founded.
• The UK Sex Discrimination Act is amended to include protection for transgender people, on the basis of Gender Reassignment.

 

2000’s

• The UK Government lifted the ban on lesbian gay and bisexual people in the armed forces.
• The age of sexual consent for gay men is lowered from 18 to 16.
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) declassifies same-sex attraction as a mental illness.
• Equal rights were granted for same sex couples applying to adopt.
• Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 was repealed, which stated that local authorities  “shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality” or “promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”.
• The Civil Partnership Act grants same-sex couples the same rights as married couples.
• The Gender Recognition Act allows trans people to acquire new birth certificates
• The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations outlawed discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities, services, education, and public functions on the grounds of sexual orientation.
• The Equality Act adds gender reassignment as a protected characteristic.
• Same-sex marriage was made legal and the first gay couple Peter McGraith and David Cabreza married just after midnight.
• The ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood was lifted.
• The UK Government issued a posthumous pardon to all gay and bisexual men who were convicted under sexual offenses laws.
• The first Trans Pride event happened in Brighton.
• Bi Pride UK held its first bi focused event.

 

 

Currently STONEWALL UK  are campaigning for a full, legislative ban on conversion therapy to cover trans people in the UK.

Spread the word about Pride Month on Twitter with the hashtag #LGBTHM22.

 

 

LGBTQ+ Helplines

 

LGBT Foundation

9.00 to 21.00 Monday to Friday 0345 3 30 30 30

 

Give Us A Shout (24hr crisis text service) Text Switchboard to 85258

 

MindLine Trans+ (emotional support helpline for trans people)

20.00 to 24.00 Monday, Wednesday and Friday 0300 330 5468