Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association

GALHA CELEBRATES ITS FIRST 25 YEARS IN STYLE

KENILWORTH, 26 APRIL 2004 — The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) will be celebrating its 25th anniversary with a party themed Sexuality and the City: A History of Gay London on Friday 14 May 2004.

The event will explore London’s lesbian and gay history from the 17th century to the present day. Special guests will read from fictional and non-fictional accounts and there will be dramatisations of the events that have shaped the diverse and colourful history of London’s gay life.

Among the guests so far confirmed are:

• Andrew Barrow – author of Quentin and Philip: A Double Portrait.
• Rex Batten – whose articles in Gay and Lesbian Humanist describe aspects of being queer in the 1950s.
• Maureen Duffy – novelist, poet, playwright, and GALHA’s president, who has been acclaimed as Britain’s first woman to come out publicly as gay.
• Neil McKenna – author of The Secret Life of Oscar Wilde.
• Rictor Norton – writer and historian with a particular interest in gay history and literature – he authored Mother Clap’s Molly House: The Gay Subculture in England 1700-1830.
• Terry Sanderson – author, counsellor and Gay Times columnist.
• Peter Tatchell – author, journalist and indefatigable gay activist for over 30 years.
• Ivor Treby – gay poet.

Also participating will be the lesbian and gay teachers’ group Schools Out!.

Representatives from other gay and lesbian groups, as well as GALHA’s kindred humanist organisations, have been invited.

GALHA’s chairperson, Derek Lennard, who is organising the event, said: “London has a fascinating and complex history relating to gay men and lesbians that probably goes back as far as the city itself. We hope to point out some of the more colourful aspects of that history and celebrate the wonderful progress that we have made over the centuries – from persecution to partnership registration, from Molly Houses to a thriving commercial scene. The presence of gay people in the capital has enriched its life and culture.”

Commenting on GALHA’s 25th anniversary, George Broadhead, its administrator for the past 22 years, said: “This makes us one of the longest established, democratically run, national membership lesbian and gay campaigning groups in the country. We can be proud that we have survived and flourished all this time with no external funding. We rely entirely on the subscriptions and donations of our membership (with occasional bequests) and a dedicated band of volunteers. We can also be proud that we have made, and continue to make, a significant contribution to the ongoing campaign for lesbian/gay and humanist rights.”

Sexuality and the City: A History of Gay London, celebrating GALHA’s Silver Jubilee, will be held at 7.30 pm on 14 May in the Library, Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1 (nearest tube Holborn).