Southampton
Southampton is a city and unitary authority in southern England, and a major seaport. It was historically within Hampshire and is still grouped with Hampshire for ceremonial purposes.
LGBT History
The Beaumont Society held its first 'full meeting' in a Southampton Hotel in 1966 [1]. Southampton CHE Group was founded in October 1972 by David Porter [2] The group initially met at Porter's home, then in 1974 at the Anchor in East Street, Southampton. A separate Women's CHE group was founded in September 1974 [3]. Gay News reported in Sept 1974 the opening of Southampton's first all gay club; Beau Brummel above the Ambassadors Club in St Mary Street [4].At that time the Robert Burns at 9 South Front was listed as a gay pub in Gay News [5], and the Anchor Inn in East Street was listed as a lesbian venue. An article in Gay News in 1974 claimed that there were 3,000 gays on the scene in Southampton [6]. The Tangier Club, once a gay club, was reported to be 'straight' by the end of 1975 [7]. The CHE Conference was held in Southampton in May 1976. On each day of the Conference a special broadsheet newspaper called 'Daily Gay' was published [8]. In October 1976 they held a very successful and well attended event at the Haymarket where Quentin Crisp spoke. In 1978 the group nearly folded [9]. The group moved to the Joiner's Arms. In 1979 Gay Solent was formed (Southampton, Winchester and Portsmouth co-ordinating and producing a regular newsletter).
By 1977 Solent Gay Switchboard had been established in Southampton [10]. The telephone number in the 1980s was Southampton 37363 and phone lines were available three times a week.
In 1982 there was a gay disco on Sundays at Nightingales near the Bargate [11]. At that time a Gay Youth Group met in Southampton on Sunday afternoons [12]. In 1985 Southampton Council issued a pledge of equality which included 'not to discriminate against gay men or lesbians who apply for jobs with the council' [13]. In 1988 two gay men took an industrial tribunal case after the Victory Inn, Southampton, turned them down for a job without an interview [14].
The Edge claims to be Southampton's only gay nightclub, operating since 1995.[15]
Solent Pride events were held in 1992, 1993 and 1994. Events were spread over two weeks [16].In 2012 there was a campaign to hold a Southampton Pride[17]. Pride was held in Southampton 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Basement Boys is a group for trans men in and around Southampton.[18]
References
<references>
- ↑ Beaumont Society website https://www.beaumontsociety.org.uk/ accessed 24.02.2019
- ↑ Gay Solent. Newsletters of the Gay Groups of Southampton, Winchester and Portsmouth. Held in the LSE Hall Carpenter Archives Ref HCA/CHE/7/55. Issue 41 Sept 1982 has an article by Phil King 'Ten Years of Southampton CHE'
- ↑ Gay News number 59 1974
- ↑ Gay News no 55 Sept 1974
- ↑ Gay News number 50 July 1974
- ↑ Gay News 5 Dec 1974
- ↑ Gay News number 85 Dec 1975
- ↑ Copies in the LSE Hall Carpenter Archives HCA/CHE8/29
- ↑ A vote of 7 votes to 5 votes at a CHE meeting in April 1978 saved the group (Winchester Gay Group Newsletter Apr 1978)
- ↑ Winchester Gay Group newsletter no 11 Sept 1977 reports that the Switchboard is open Wed evenings on Southampton 32724 and that they average about 5 calls each Wednesday evening
- ↑ Gay Solent Newsletter no 43 Nov 1982
- ↑ Gay Solent Newsletter no 44 Dec 1982,and 'Gay Youth' No 1 page 3 (June 1981) which states 'In Southampton the gay youth group emerged at the same time as the gay soc collapsed'.
- ↑ Gay Times April 1985 page 14
- ↑ The Pink Paper 14 Jul 1988
- ↑ http://www.theedgesouthampton.com/
- ↑ Copies of the itineraries and other documents relating to Solent Pride (in Southampton) are held at the London School of Economics Hall-Carpenter Archives
- ↑ http://www.wessexscene.co.uk/news/2012/09/05/campaign-started-for-a-southampton-pride-event/
- ↑ http://gires.org.uk/tranzwiki/index.php/Basement_Boys