26.05.18 12 noon – “If you can ignore the background news” Queer Tour of London – Section 28 special

“If you can ignore the background news” Queer Tour of London – Section 28 special – facebook event page here

***When and Where***

Saturday May 26th meeting point at 12 noon sharp at the Millicent Fawcett Suffragette statue, Parliament Square, Westminster, London SW1P 3JX – nearest tube station ‘Westminster’ with your tour guide Holly. The tour ends at 2pm at ‘The Kings Arms’ 23 Poland St, Soho, London W1F 8QL

Followed by ‘Femmetopia Festival: Deeds not Words’ – Protest 101 // Intersectional support for LGBTQI / QTIPOC protest. [Further details to come]

***Booking Details and Press Requests ***

Please book here on the outsavvy link. Suggested donation £10. If you can afford more please do and if you can’t no worries please email us on the address below. All profits go to ‘The Outside Project’* 

All press requests, bookings and all questions please email queertoursoflondon@gmail.com.

Please book early to avoid disappointment there are very limited spaces!

***About***

To celebrate the iconic invasion of BBC news on May 23rd 1988 and to   commemorate the 30th anniversary of ‘Section 28’ come on an informative journey of queer sexual freedom, something that most queer people have been denied. Come and hear from the activists who helped overturn this iconic homophobic legislation, explore London’s rich herstory of women’s and lesbian protest movements and join the ongoing movement for radical queer freedom.

Margaret Thatcher introduced ‘Section 28’ in 1987 which banned the promotion of homosexuality in public institutions at a time when HIV / AIDS was at plague proportions. A group of friends met the ‘Never Going Underground – Repeal Section 28’ protest and knew something had to be done. So on 2nd February 1988 when the House of lords were due to vote in favour, instead of sitting at home depressed they decided to change the world – What did they do?

They abseiled into the House of Lords in protest. A few months later they chained themselves to Buckingham palace protesting section 28 and commemorating 70th anniversary of partial suffrage and then infamously invaded the 6 O’clock news on May 23rd 1988 the evening before section 28 became law where Sue Lawler the presenter meekly said ‘Please ignore the background noise’ –  and the rest is herstory.

*** Join the struggle for lesbian freedom ***

If you want to continue the struggle for LGBTQIA+ freedom for all in London and beyond come explore and deepen your skills on effective disruptive activism, escalating strategically, building momentum, D.I.Y. Ethic, Discipline in activism, The role of radical lesbian movements and be part of a movement to agitate for more radical lesbian rights and spaces in London today.

So come and join this very special ‘Queer Tour of London’ and hear from the activists themselves, Pay tribute to those who overturned it and Join the movement for queer sexual freedom and education for all.

*** About Queer Tours of London – A Mince Through Time ***

In 2018 ‘Queer Tours of London’ and friends are reclaiming the teaching of queer culture and taking charge of how it should be taught because as queer people we refuse to ever be silenced. Today we are louder and prouder than ever before. Launched in 2017 for the 50th anniversary of partial decriminalisation of homosexuality ‘QUEER TOURS OF LONDON – A Mince Through Time’ exists to bring forth the visibility of our incredible community at large and the journey to how we became who we are today. Find out more at www.queertoursoflondon.com

If you have Section 28 and related materials that you would like to archive please contact the Bishopsgate Institute on library@bishopsgate.org.uk

“Children are being taught they have an inalienable right to be gay. All of those children are being cheated of a sound start in life.” – Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, October 9, 1987.

‘The Outside Project’ is a LGBTIQ+ community shelter & centre. Independent, grassroots project led by queer ex-homeless, homelessness professionals, community & activists. www.lgbtiqoutside.org/