I did a strike day teach-out today on how trade unions have supported queer rights in the past, with a discussion on how we can continue to advance queer rights going forward. I was asked if I could summarise the main points on a blog, so that’s the purpose of this blog post today. Also, there are a few thoughts on the various strikes happening now. The teach-out was planned for LGBTQIA+ History Month, but the strikes got paused. I won’t even start on how I feel about that.
First of all, thank you to all my UCU comrades. You’ve made standing on freezing cold picket lines much more bearable, and it’s been the best way to network with my colleagues in different departments. Special mention to the UoM Rent Strikers who turned up for my teach-out and shared their experiences. Please scroll right down for details on how to support them. Best move on, as this is turning into a bit of an Oscar speech!
Many people are familiar with the movie Pride (2014), so we’ll start there. The film is about how LGSM (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners) was set up by Mark Ashton and Mike Jackson to support miners during the 1984-1985 strikes called by NUM (the National Union of Mineworkers). The group raised funds for striking miners and also adopted a mining community in Wales. Other LGSM groups formed elsewhere in the country, inspired by this. As we saw in the film, LGSM’s show of solidarity led to support for lesbian and gay rights within the trade union movement, starting with NUM. This drove Labour to enshrine lesbian and gay rights within their party policies. You will probably remember the emotional scene at the end of Pride, where the miners led the march for Pride in 1985.
I was surprised this wasn’t the first example of trade unions support of queer rights. In 1976, a NALGO (National and Local Government Officers’ Association) member experienced homophobic victimisation at work and a strike was called as a result. Despite legal protection against discrimination at work based on sexual orientation not coming in for another 27 years, the dispute was won. Our own union (then NATFHE) voted to support lesbian and gay rights in the 70’s, and in 1974, the Gay Teacher’s Association was formed (now Schools Out).
The 80’s were a pretty shit time to be queer, especially for gay and bisexual men. It is commonly believed that sexual acts between two men were decriminalised in 1967. This is only partially true. Sex between men was legal over the age of 21, between two men, and only behind locked doors in private with nobody else present, even in another part of the house. The ancient “buggery” (applying to anal sex) and “gross indecency” (applying to other sexual acts between men) laws still existed and were often enforced during the 80’s, 90’s, and even later. Sex between women was never illegal. It is a commonly held belief that this was due to Queen Victoria denying the existence of lesbians. This isn’t true. In the 1920’s when legislation was discussed, it was believed that by making sex between women illegal, women would then be aware of the possibility of having sex with each other, so it was decided not to legislate against it. It appeared to be based on the belief that women were too stupid to figure it out without it being pointed out to them.
During the 1980’s, there were regular raids on gay venues, including pubs and saunas, including bars like New Union on Canal Street. One of the bars I remember in Newcastle still had heavy curtains in the windows from this period in time (as well as a barmaid who looked about 90 but that’s another thing). The raids led to arrests based on ancient laws that were never applied to heterosexuals in straight bars. This included the crimes of being drunk on licensed premises and licentious dancing. Procuring was a crime that was also enforced, meaning any sort of attempt to have sex with another man. In practice, this could mean looking at another man in a certain way, flirting, smiling, or winking. In 1986, during the HIV/ AIDS crisis, police raided the Vauxhall Tavern in London in what became known as the “rubber glove raid” as police wore gloves during the raid. The press at the time were very right-wing and used homophobic slurs. Even a short kiss on Eastenders caused a fracas.
In 1987, Thatcher gave a speech at the Conservative Party conference about kids growing up with the belief that they had the “inalienable right to be gay”. In 1988 (when I was 10 years old), Section 28 of the Local Government Act came into being. This prevented local authorities from “the promotion of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”. The wording was ambiguous, what did “promotion” actually mean?
Section 28 didn’t specifically apply to schools. However, NUT (the National Union of Teachers) issued a statement out of concern that although it didn’t apply to the advice and support given to students, teachers feared prosecution. The Department for Education and Science stated Section 28 didn’t prevent “objective discussion” of homosexuality in schools. In practice, teachers were scared to tackle homophobic bullying or even talk about the existence of queer people. Many teachers were scared to come out. Some undoubtedly left the profession.
Some local authorities (including Manchester) said they would ignore Section 28 completely. In 1988, TUAS (Trade Unionists Against Section 28) was set up to campaign against this legislation. It wasn’t until 2000 in Scotland and 2003 in England and Wales. Ironically, there are no known prosecutions under Section 28. However, it still caused irreparable harm for queer kids and teachers. It certainly was an influencing factor in me not coming out until much later. Section 28 was in place throughout all of my school years from age 10.
There have been other examples of trade union involvement in the queer rights movement, including individual trade unions and the TUC’s campaign for equal marriage and legal protections at work. In 2020, the TUC supported reforms to the Gender Recognition Act. Sadly, the reforms were watered down by the government and Scotland was blocked from allowing self-identification. Rishi Sunak spoke in his leadership campaign about tackling “woke nonsense” in schools. Around the UK, there are protests against Drag Queen Story Hours, claiming children are being groomed and indoctrinated by the mere acknowledgment that queer people exist.
I posed two questions for discussion: 1. How do you see queer rights and workers’ rights as part of the same fight? 2. What can we do as trade unionists/ activists going forward?
So here’s a summary of the discussion today from what I remember (I hope I haven’t misrepresented anyone):
One reason queer rights and workers’ rights are part of the same fight is that work can give people a purpose and a place in society. Most people will view a positive working environment as being important in their lives and without equal rights at work, this cannot be achieved.
Another point about workers’ rights was that some trans people around the world have been unable to get jobs and therefore engage in sex work. So we must fight for sex workers’ rights too.
Trade unions pushed for queer rights at a time when public opinion was against equal rights and homosexuality was viewed as morally wrong by the press and general public.
Trans rights is a priority, particularly with the current “culture wars”, transphobia on the increase, and poor access to healthcare. The current Tory government appears to be trying to divide people to distract from their failings, by fuelling transphobia and anti-refugee narratives.
Some trans people consider working for large corporations such as HSBC, who offer trans employees access to private healthcare including hormone replacement therapy and gender confirmation surgery. HSBC have been highlighted as unethical for a number of reasons, including a frankly eye watering gender pay gap, investing in fossil fuels and links to arms supplies. https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/company-profile/hsbc#:~:text=Our%20research%20highlights%20how%20HSBC,worst%20rating%20for%20Tax%20Conduct. However, with trans people unable to access gender identity clinics within any reasonable timeframe (even for the world’s most patient person), many will be forced to consider going against their values in order to access the healthcare they need. Waiting times vary but we are talking years and years, nowhere near the 18 week NHS target.
Trade unions should consider passing further motions relating to trans rights. Perhaps healthcare as this is an issue that affects members and the students we teach.
The queer rights/ trade union movement in the 1980’s were united in their hatred of Thatcher (something I share being from County Durham/ hopefully being a decent human) and the oppression they experienced. One thing we have learned from the recent strikes is that they are better when unions work together. The treatment of refugees, women in Iran and trans people is frequently spoken about at rallies. We see them as part of the same fight, and should continue to.
In solidarity
Sources for teach-out (excuse the lack of Harvard referencing):
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/blogs/lgbti-network/taking-pride-our-unions-part-2-hidden-history-how-trade-unions-championed-lgbt (I’m still waiting for Peter Purton’s book on backorder from Queer Lit. If I had it, the teach-out would probably be much longer).
https://www.tuc.org.uk/blogs/trade-unionists-led-fight-lgbt-rights-struggle-equal-world-continues
https://www.petertatchellfoundation.org/1967-the-myth-of-gay-decriminalisation/
I highly recommend this fascinating book on Section 28. I couldn’t put it down and I have ADHD so can put most books down. The link is to buy it from Queer Lit so you can support your local queer bookshop. https://www.queerlit.co.uk/products/outrageous-1
https://www.queerlit.co.uk/products/pride Pride by Tim Tate.
Further info:
I highly recommend a visit to the Labour History Archive. It’s free to visit by appointment. They hold the LGSM archives among much more and have amazing librarians: https://phm.org.uk/collections/labour-history-archive-study-centre/
My recent writing (shameless plug):
For Heroica: https://www.heroica.co/commentary/queer-kids-and-culture-wars-the-tories-and-the-return-of-section-28
Guest blog for Rainbow and Co (queer/ autistic owned business so buy loads of merch): https://rainbowandco.uk/blogs/what-were-saying/the-problem-with-gatekeeping-identity
Please support the UoM Rent Strike. The National Union of Students recommend at least 40% of halls of residence meet their definition of affordable, which is no more than 50% of the amount of student finance received. Many students pay much more than this, and have very little left for food, travel costs and other expenses in the middle of a cost of living crisis. Source: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/jan/09/students-at-university-of-manchester-on-rent-strike-over-cost-of-living-crisis UoM students have also highlighted substandard university accommodation with mould, mice, plumbing and other maintenance issues and it just looks grim. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Mp_Q3_1SMA A group of rent strikers have occupied one of the university’s buildings for a few weeks and are not prepared to leave until their demands have been met, which include a reduction in rent, a rebate to help with the increased cost of living and student finance shortfall and for UCU demands to be met. So far it would seem, UoM’s Vice Chancellor has made no attempts to negotiate and students have been threatened with discipinicary and legal action. Please support their strike fund if you can, which will help to cover any fines that rent strikers face. https://chuffed.org/project/96174-uom-occupation-fund Students deserve better, and our working conditions are their learning conditions. The rent strikers have shown solidarity to us during our strikes and we need to stick together to improve conditions for students and staff in Higher Education.
My ADHD PhD 