LGBT+ History Timeline

1895 Trial of Oscar Wilde.

Change in the law 1967

July 1968, the Albany Trust held a conference in Wychcroft in Surrey. Three members – Malcolm Johnson, Andrew Henderson and Christopher Spence – offered to start a social group for gay men, and Father Augustine Hoey offered the common room at the Royal Foundation (pg 3 OOTS).
October 1968 The formation of the first UK gay group called St Katharine’s Group SK meeting on Saturday evenings.

The St Katharine’s (SK) Group
1968 – 1994

Stonewall Riots, New York
June 1969

Formation of the Gay Liberation Front GLF in 1970.

London Gay Liberation Front (GLF)
1970-1974

Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE)
1971

The London Monday Group
1971

The Marypad Group
1971

The Croydon Group
1971

January 1971 first GLF Ball held at Kensignton Town Hall – the first gay event of it’s kind in the UK.
January 1971 it was decided to establish a GLF office at 5 Calendonian Road. Housemans Bookshop (est 1945).
1971 Launch of GLF Manifesto.
1971 GLF protested the Miss World Contest at Royal Albert Hall with an alternative pageant outside it’s main entrance.

Informal CHE Group (Kingston) meeting monthly in Portsmouth Road, Surbiton (pg175 OOTS).

Harrow Group
1972

Jewish Groups
1972

The Wandsworth-Richmond Group
1972-1983

London Friend
1972

The Lewisham Groups
1972-1985

The Walking Group
1972

The Streatham Group
1972-1986

1972 new women-only group Lesbian Liberation set up at Vauxhall Women’s Centre.
South London GLF C.1972-1976

Icebreakers
1973-1984

Quest
1973

Wimbeldon Area Gay Society (WAGS)
1973-1995

Metropolitan Community Church, London
1973

Gay Teachers and Schools Out
1974

The Transport Group
1974

Bexley and Bromley Gay Groups
1974-2001

CHE Youth Group
1974-1980

Informal CHE group (Kingston) faded away (pg175 OOTS).

Summer 1976, Oliver Merrington and Peter Hitcham hosted a meeting of the Southwark/Camberwell section of Lewisham CHE at Burton Road SW9 – Southwark Lambeth Area Gay Society SLAGS.

1976 CHE Kingston CHEK starts (pg175 OOTS).

1st September 1976 flat in SE17 inarguaral meeting of SLAGS.

October 1976 SLAGS becomes Southwark/Lambeth CHE.

London Campaign for Homosexual Equality Groups (Barnet & Brent, Bexley-Dartford, Bloomsbury (Group 4), Bromley, Chiswick, Croydon (Group 7), East London, Enfield, Feltham, Guildford, Harrow, Kingston, Lewisham, London Monday (Group 10), Marypad (Group 6), North London, Picadilly, Southwark-Lambeth, Streatham, Wandsworth-Richmond, West End, Westminster and Young London.
1976

The Southwark-Lambeth Group
1976-1980

The Kingston Group
1976-2001

Lesbian and Gay Christiam Movement founded in 1976, with its inargural meeting in a primary school very near St Botolph’s, Algate (pg 185 OOTS).

1977 Gay News Blasphemy Trial.

3F Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM London)
1977

Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) London
1977

3F (Lesbian and Gay Central London Christian Group) established in St Botolph’s Aldgate crypt, hosted by Rector Malcolm Johnson.

Gay Pride 1978

1979 Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association GALHA) founded.

March 1980 a Southern Counties Spring Fayre was held at Croydon Parish Church.

30th April 1980 Southwark/Lambeth CHE disolved.

June 1980 Surrey Regional meeting held in Guildford – 11 groups invited.

Ealing Gay Group (EGG)
1980

August 1980 York CHE Conference takes decision to seperate CHE into two organisations. The campaigning organisation Campaign for Homopsexual Equality CHE and the Gay Community Organisations GCO.
December 1980 Surrey Gay Link launched, followed by a Surrey Gay Youth Group.

Gay Pride 1980

During 1981 Surrey Gay Link was effectively replaced by SAGO Surrey Area Gay Organisations – consisting of Croydon CHE, GAGS, KRAGS, South Bank Poly Gaysoc and WAGS.

Gay Pride 1981

Octupus Group
1982

March 1982 quarterly National CHE Council meeting approved in principle the transfer of local groups to CGO.

Gay Pride 1982

1983 CHE Kingston and CHE Richmond merge and become Kingston Richmond Area Gay Society KRAGS (pg 179 OOTS).

Gay Pride 1983

London Lesbian and Gay Centre – Cowcross Street
1983-1992

1983 London Lesbian and Gay Centre funded by the Greater London Council opens in Cowcross Street.
October 1983 St Katherine’s Group SK celebrates 25th anniversary with Halloween Party.

Pimpernel
1984-99

Pride 1985 – 29th June

Surrey Association of Gay Organisations SAGO / SLAGO
1984

September 1984 GCO sinks without a trace.

Gay / Lesbian Pride 1986

Courage UK
1988

1992 London Lesbian and Gay Centre closed down.

1994 The Foundation announced that the building was to be partly demolished and redeveloped, and it was decided to close the St Katharine’s Group SK down.

25th Anniversary of Stonewall

26 June 1994

The Barnet Group
1994

South London Gays
1995

17th, 24th and 30th April – London Nail Bomb attacks on Brixton, Brick Lane and Soho.

2001 decision to close Kingston Richmond Area Gay Society KRAGS. Funds distributed to gay charities, and some members joined South London Gays.

The Sexual Offences Act 2003 abolishes the gay-only sex crime of ‘gross indecency’. It is estmated that over 50,000 gay and bisexual men were convicted of ‘gross indeceny’ during the 118 years it was on the statute books. The law against “buggery” dating back to the 1500s was also repealed in the same legislation.

Discrimination against queers in the workplace was also outlawed.
Peter Tatchell (pg 12 OOTS)

17-24-30 / 17-24-30 No To Hate Crime Campaign
March 2009

March – founding of 17-24-30 Facebook group by Mark Healey and Ryan Parkins.

17th, 24th, 30th April – 10th anniverary of London Nail Bomb attacks on Brixton, Brick lane and Soho.

Rainbow Hamlets
Founded 2009, becoming independent 201, incorporating 2012, closed in 2015.

30th October 2009 – 1st London Vigil against Hate Crime after the death of Ian Baynham attended by over 10,000 people in Trafalgar Square, with other vigils taking place around the UK.

2nd London Vigil against Hate Crime.

Westminster LGBT Business Forum
January 2010-July 2010

The Westminster LGBT Business Forum was set up by Mark Healey from 17-24-30, he contacted many of the LGBT+ businesses in Westminster and organised the first meeting on the 26th February 2010.
Westminster LGBT Business Forum held four more meetings; 26 March, 19th May, 21st April, and the 15th June before it was taken over by Jeremy Preceleton (Bar-Code) and Michele (Ku-Bar). They changed the focus of the group, ejecting non-business members and ranaming the forum the Soho Gay Business Forum.

Soho Gay Business Forum
Juy 2010 – ?

3rd London Vigil against Hate Crime.

4th London Vigil against Hate Crime.

Launch of first National Hate Crime Awareness Week #NationalHCAW 01.

Act of Hope and Remembrance for those affected by Hate Crime at St Paul’s Cathedral. National Candle lit for Nick Moore.

National Hate Crime Awareness Week #NationalHCAW 02

Act of Hope and Remembrance for those affected by Hate Crime at St Paul’s Cathedral. National Candle lit for Ian Baynham.

Lambeth Hate Crime Forum
2013-2016

Sunday 24th November approximately 150+ including the Mayor of Lambeth Cllr Mark Bennett attended the N0 2 LGBT Hate Crime : Reclaim Vauxhall Walk organised after David Braniff-Herbert and his partner James were homophobically abused and chased by a group of young people on the 17th November.

National Hate Crime Awareness Week #NationalHCAW 03

Act of Hope and Remembrance for those affected by Hate Crime at St Paul’s Cathedral. National Candle lit for Sophie Lancaster.

National Hate Crime Awareness Week #NationalHCAW 04

Act of Hope and Remembrance for those affected by Hate Crime at St Paul’s Cathedral. National Candle lit for Mohammed Saleem.

Lambeth LGBT Community Network
2015-

Lambeth LGBT+ Community Network meetings held on the 8th and 27th May 2015.
Sat 13th June 2015 Lambeth Council/Police LGBT+ Community Engagement Day held 2-6 pm at The Eagle, Vauxhall attended by 48 people (approx). Stalls included: 17-24-30, Lambeth Hate Crime Stall, Galop, Terrence Higgins Trust, GMFA, Victim support Lambeth, Stonewall UK, Stonewall Housing, Unison LGBT Lambeth & London Region, SH:24, Gaia Centre, Lambeth Hate Crime Prevention Coordinator, Lambeth Council, Lambeth Police.
Sunday 28th June Pride in the Park/UK Black Pride event held in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens.

Lambeth LGBT+ Community Network meetings held on the first Tuesday of each month at Royal Vauxhall Traven – 5th April, 3rd May, 7th June, 5th July, 2nd August, September, 1st November and 6th December 2016.
February 2016 – Mark Healey launched the London LGBT Blog during LGBT History Month (which later evolved into the Rainbow Boroughs Project).
5th April 2016 Lambeth LGBT+ Community Network adopts its Constitution.
London Stands with Orlando Vigil after Pulse Nightclub shooting.
July 2016 Lewisham LGBT+ Forum set up their Twitter profile @LGBTLewisham
National Hate Crime Awareness Week #NationalHCAW 05
Act of Hope and Remembrance for those affected by Hate Crime at St Paul’s Cathedral. National Candle lit for 49 victims of Pulse Nightclub shooting.

13/10/2016 Lewisham LGBT+ Forum launch event took place in Lewisham Council Chambers and foyer – read more.

Lambeth LGBT+ Communiy Network meetings moved to The Eagle and took place on the first Tuesday of each month – 10th January, 7th February, 7th March, 4th April, 6th June, 18th July,
16 February Lewisham LGBT+ Forum meeting at the Civic Suite in Catford – view agenda.
Saturday 20th May at The Eagle, Lambeth LGBT+ Community Network Annual General Meeting attened by over 50 people.
National Hate Crime Awareness Week #NationalHCAW 06
Act of Hope and Remembrance for those affected by Hate Crime at St Paul’s Cathedral. National Candle lit for MP Jo Cox.
18 October Lewisham LGBT+ Forum – guided LGBT Hate Crime Walk.
20 November Transgender Day of Remembrance marked by The Lewisham Unitarians.

National Hate Crime Awareness Week #NationalHCAW 07

Act of Hope and Remembrance for those affected by Hate Crime at St Paul’s Cathedral. National Candle lit for Altab Ali and Stephen Lawrence.

30th January Lewisham LGBT+ Forum meeting at Catford Civic Centre – notice.

7th February – Lewisham LGBT Forum LGBT History Month Event 2019

17-24-30 National Hate Crime Awareness Week (1184819)
August 2019

17th, 24th, 30th April – 20th anniversary of London Nail Bomb attacks on Brixton, Brick Lane and Soho.
8th August 2019 – 17-24-30 National Hate Crime Awareness Week registered with the Charity Commission (1184819).
National Hate Crime Awareness Week #NationalHCAW 08
Act of Hope and Remembrance for those affected by Hate Crime at St Paul’s Cathedral. National Candle lit for

12th November Lewisham LGBT+ Forum join Lewisham Council for a Democracy Review Focus Group follow up.

National Hate Crime Awareness Week #NationalHCAW 09

Act of Hope and Remembrance for those affected by Hate Crime at St Paul’s Cathedral. National Candle lit for those affected by Disability Hate Crime.

National Hate Crime Awareness Week #NationalHCAW 10

Act of Hope and Remembrance for those affected by Hate Crime at St Paul’s Cathedral. National Candle lit for those affected by Transphobic Hate Crime.

National Hate Crime Awareness Week #NationalHCAW 11

Act of Hope and Remembrance for those affected by Hate Crime at St Paul’s Cathedral. National Candle lit for those affected by Race Hate Crime.

Thu 3rd November – first Inclusive Pan London Collective Forums Meeting took place online. Read more here.

National Hate Crime Awareness Week #NationalHCAW 12

Act of Hope and Remembrance for those affected by Hate Crime at St Paul’s Cathedral. National Candle to be lit for those affected by Faith Hate Crime / Antisemitism.

Thu 12th January – 2nd Inclusive Pan London Collective Forums Meeting took place online. Read more here.
Mon 9th January – London LGBT Forum’s Network met in-person at New City Hall.

19/01/2023 Lewisham LGBT Forum released a forum statement announcing that after 7 years it is closing down. The forum’s WordPress site and Twitter profile will remain online as an archive.
Thu 9th March – 3rd Inclusive Pan London Collective Forums Meeting scheduled to take place online. Read more here.