Reading
LGBT history
Reading Gay Alliance was founded in October 1971. In the 1970s there were a Reading CHE group and a Reading GLF.
Tom Coates and Will Young were born in Reading.
In 2003, Rev Jeffrey John, who is in a celibate relationship with another man, was chosen to be Bishop of Reading, but withdrew in the ensuing controversy.[1]
Reading Pride has been held annually since 2004.[2]
Support U is an LGBT health and wellbeing centre based in Reading.The Wynford Arms was a local gay pub for over 20 years, but closed down in 2015. The Blagrave Arms is now thought to be the only LGBT venue in the town.
Homophobic triple murder 2020
On Saturday 20 June 2020 three gay men were murdered in Forbury Gardens. The three men; James Furlong, David Wails and Joe Ritchie-Bennett, were regular customers at the Blagrave pub, near Forbury Gardens [3]. The murderer Khairi Saadallah, aged 26,killed the three men after shouting Allahu Akbar. On 11 January 2021 the murderer was sentenced to a 'whole life sentence' [4].
References
- ↑ http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/19/church-england-allow-gay-bishops
- ↑ http://www.readingpride.co.uk/. Accessed: 2013-05-25. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/6Gss9epPS)
- ↑ Reading stabbings: Victims were 'true gentlemen' BBC News 23 June 2020 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53142464
- ↑ BBC 11 Jan 2021 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-55622476