Southampton

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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.
Switchboard leaflet 1982

LGBT History

The Beaumont Society held its first 'full meeting' in a Southampton Hotel in 1966 [1].

The Horse and Groom on the corner of East Street/Canal Walk was a pub that in the 1960s attracted all sorts including lesbians and gay men. It was demolished in the 1970s [2] [3].

The Lord Roberts, in Canal Walk, was a well established gay venue by 1972. [4]. It has since been demolished [5] [6].

Southampton CHE Group was founded in October 1972 by David Porter [7] 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 [8]. 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 [9].At that time the Robert Burns at 9 South Front was listed as a gay pub in Gay News [10], 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 [11]. The Tangier Club, once a gay club,at 11 St Mary Street, was reported to be 'straight' by the end of 1975 [12].By 1975 Hickups gay club was located at the Magnum Club, 113 St Mary's Road [13].

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 [14]. In October 1976 local CHE group held a very successful and well attended event at the Haymarket where Quentin Crisp spoke. In 1978 the group nearly folded [15]. 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 [16]. The telephone number in the 1980s was Southampton 37363 and phone lines were available three times a week.
Switchboard leaflet (back)

In 1982 there was a gay disco on Sundays at Nightingales near the Bargate [17]. At that time a Gay Youth Group met in Southampton on Sunday afternoons [18]. In the 1980s other gay clubs in the city included Smugglers and Warehouse [19] [20]. 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' [21]. In 1988 two gay men took an industrial tribunal case after the Victory Inn, Southampton, turned them down for a job without an interview [22].

Solent Pride events were held in 1992, 1993 and 1994. Events were spread over two weeks [23]. In the early 1990s the Solent Group of the Gay Outdoor Club was active [24]. In 2012 there was a campaign to hold a Southampton Pride[25]. Pride was held in Southampton annually 2016-2019, 2021-2023. No event was held in 2020 due to Covid-19 virus restrictions.

In September 2022, following a five month project in Southampton, researchers at the University of Southampton reported that,for lesbian people in the city, community is vital in navigating the city [26].

In January 2023 a gay sauna called Pink Broadway in East Street shut down after two decades of business [27].

In August 2024 an exhibition about queer life in Southampton since 1970 opened at God's House Tower Arts Centre [28].

Southampton today

The Edge claims to be Southampton's only current gay nightclub, operating since 1995.[29] In the 1980s and 90s Magnums at 113 St Mary's Road was the main gay night spot. The London Hotel in Terminus Terrace hosts cabaret events.

Bi-Panic! Southampton (formally BiWessex) is a social group for 18+ bi/pansexual people, their friends and loved ones in Southampton, UK.[30].


References

  1. ↑ Beaumont Society website https://www.beaumontsociety.org.uk/ accessed 24.02.2019
  2. ↑ https://www.closedpubs.co.uk/hampshire/southampton_horsegroom.html
  3. ↑ https://historicengland.org.uk/research/inclusive-heritage/lgbtq-heritage-project/meeting-and-socialising/lesbian-clubs-and-pubs/ (accessed 23 June 2024.Vito Eileen Ward remembers the Horse and Groom, a pub near the docks in Southampton that welcomed a range of Queer people in the 1960s
  4. ↑ Gay Scene August/September 1972 states the pub is run by Mike and June Sexton ' a long standing pub with a completely gay clientele'
  5. ↑ Clifford Williams 'A Queer A-Z of Hampshire' (2nd Edition: 2019)
  6. ↑ https://www.closedpubs.co.uk/hampshire/southampton_lordroberts.html
  7. ↑ 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'
  8. ↑ Gay News number 59 1974
  9. ↑ Gay News no 55 Sept 1974
  10. ↑ Gay News number 50 July 1974
  11. ↑ Gay News 5 Dec 1974
  12. ↑ Gay News number 85 Dec 1975
  13. ↑ Gay News number 64 Feb 1975 reports that gay women were calling for a boycott of the Magnum Club because no women were admitted to the gay club nights
  14. ↑ Copies in the LSE Hall Carpenter Archives HCA/CHE8/29
  15. ↑ A vote of 7 votes to 5 votes at a CHE meeting in April 1978 saved the group (Winchester Gay Group Newsletter Apr 1978)
  16. ↑ 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
  17. ↑ Gay Solent Newsletter no 43 Nov 1982
  18. ↑ 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'.
  19. ↑ Information from Mark Ovenden
  20. ↑ Smugglers was on the corner of Bernard Street (referred to by Rob Dewing (b 1962) in his interview held in the Southampton City Archives D/OH/SHP )
  21. ↑ Gay Times April 1985 page 14
  22. ↑ The Pink Paper 14 Jul 1988
  23. ↑ Copies of the itineraries and other documents relating to Solent Pride (in Southampton) are held at the London School of Economics Hall-Carpenter Archives
  24. ↑ Newsletters of the Solent Gay Gay Community in the LSE Hall Carpenter Archives list events.
  25. ↑ http://www.wessexscene.co.uk/news/2012/09/05/campaign-started-for-a-southampton-pride-event/
  26. ↑ https://www.in-common.co.uk/2022/09/27/7883/ New research finds community is vital for lesbian people in Southampton. Published on September 27, 2022 by Dr Elizabeth Reed
  27. ↑ https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/23244332.southampton-gay-sauna-pink-broadway-closes-suddenly/
  28. ↑ https://godshousetower.org.uk/eventer/launch-event-everyone-involved/edate/2024-08-23/
  29. ↑ http://www.theedgesouthampton.com/
  30. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/BiPanicSouthampton/ (accessed 5 Jul 2019)
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