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Event
Lgbtq+ History Club - Janet Jones
Brighton LGBTQ+ is back. For our second session of 2019 we are delighted to be welcoming Janet Jones.
Janet is a lesbian researcher living in West Yorkshire. Now in her 50s Janet has been politically active since her teens, in defence of both womens rights and LGBT equalities.
Janet will be presenting her documentary "A Lesbian Life: Outing the 70s & 80s".
This is a unique filmed-interview with Amanda Russell, the manager of Gays the Word bookshop in London at the time it was raided by HM Customs who seized imported books that they deemed obscene. This was 1984 and the bookshop Directors were charged with conspiracy.
The film shares specific details of what it was like for Amanda coming out in the 1970s, the homophobic discrimination and events which led to a raid in the early 1980s by HMS Customs and Excise on Gays the Word Bookshop, and also her own home. Prior to the recording of these interviews, full details of the experience of the raid, and the impact of the legislative and cultural context at the time remained a partially untold story, which is also therefore a significant part of hidden LGBT history. Amanda's role as manager of the bookshop at the time put her in the position of potentially appearing at the Old Bailey on charges of defrauding HM customs, and the importation of material deemed obscene. The case was dropped just prior to her appearance but not before the experience of being questioned for several hours, having her home searched and being harassed by customs officers for several months. Her experience was also a key part of the introduction of Section 28 as she was the person who deposited the title 'Jenny lives with Eric and Martin' into the schools library at their request, for material showing positive images of young people and homosexuality. The visibility of lesbian activism in providing a space for marginalised groups such as 'Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners' to meet at the bookshop was entirely omitted from the 2004 film Pride. The reasons for this are unclear but it does raise a question about lesbian visibility in history, which elements of her story demonstrate.
At this history club event, we will also begin the planning and collection of our queer community exhibition!
We are keen to have as many of you budding historians and collectors on board.
So to kick things off, we'll be holding a collection session in the second part of the afternoon after the talk. If you have something you would like to be considered for inclusion in the exhibition, or you have any items that could be scanned (such as flyers and photos) as part of a digital photographic display, bring them along to this session.
Search through your boxes of mementos. Is there anything that tells a story about being LGBTQ+ in Brighton?
Also bring along anything that relates to a queer history project in Sussex that you have been involved with or know about, as we will also be showcasing local queer history projects in the show.
The history club is open to all (18+) and is free, but please consider making a donation if you're able to help us support future sessions.
If you have any questions, suggestions or comments then let us know on here or email info@queerinbrighton.co.uk
Brought to you by Queer in Brighton & Pink Fringe
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LocationThe Brighton Museum & Art Gallery (View)
4 Pavilion Buildings
Brighton BN1 1EE
United Kingdom
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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