Edinburgh
Before 1975, Edinburgh was a Royal Burgh within the county of Midlothian. Between 1975 and 1996 it was part of the Lothian region. Since the introduction of single-tier local government throughout Scotland in 1996, the City of Edinburgh has been a unitary authority. Edinburgh is now the home of the devolved Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament.
LGBT History
The city's first gay night, Cobweb Disco, was held in 1971.[1]
The first International Gay Rights Congress was held in Edinburgh in 1974.
In the 1980s Edinburgh and The Lothians lesbian and Gay Youth Movement provided social activities and support for young people under 26. The group met at the LGBT bookshop, Lavender Menace.
In 1985 60% of drug injecting addicts in Edinburgh were found to be HIV positive. This led to the city being termed the HIV capital of Europe. As a result hostility to gay men increased in Edinburgh [2].
Remember When was an oral and community history project documenting the lives and achievements of Edinburgh's LGBT people, past and present.[3]
The City of City of Edinburgh Council, Equalities Network is a former member of the LGBT Consortium:
- "City of Edinburgh Council Equality Unit support the Council in the implentation of its strategy of mainstreaming equalities issues. They aim to engage equalities groups in Council decision-making by supporting the work of 5 equality forums, including one for LGBT people."[4]
Pride marches (currently Pride Scotia) have been held in Edinburgh since 1994.
References
- ↑ LGBT Timeline Poster
- ↑ Coming Oot! A Fabulous History of Gay Scotland BBC TV 30 November 2015
- ↑ http://livingmemory.org.uk/rememberwhen/
- ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20120826095236/http://www.lgbtconsortium.org.uk/directory/city_edinburgh_council_equalities_network
