A Statement from Members of The Sexual Fringe

S/PTC/2/6/7

May 1985

Paul Thurlow was a volunteer on the Islington's Pride LGBTQ+ archives project at the Islington Local History Centre and later became a volunteer with the Islington Local History Centre. He is a long-term resident of Islington and an active member of the LGBTQ+ community having volunteered with many organisations including Gay Switchboard. He also actively participated in many events and activities.

Leaflet of two single-sided A4 pages, black on white. The text on the first page of the leaflet sets out The Sexual Fringe groups' views on and for a discussion at the the Icebreaker's regular discussion group, held at Gay's The Word bookshop, and open to all LGBTQ+ people. The leaflet describes Icebreakers as acting "in a disgracefully pre-gay liberation way by holding a public meeting to discuss a sexuality without inviting any speakers who are involved in that sexuality or have positive attitudes towards it. This is exactly how heterosexual groups used to discuss homosexuality - without seeking out gays to lead those talks". The second page of the leaflet consists of a list of LGBTQ+ SM and related groups and organisations, publications, sources of relevant goods and services, and bookshops in the UK selling (or in the case of Sisterwrite, not selling) SM-related literature. The Icebreakers discussion group meeting was held in the context of the debates and disagreements within the London Lesbian and Gay Centre (LL&GC - a membership-controlled organisation) and the wider LGBTQ+ communities at the time around what clothing, insignia, badges, decorations and behaviour were acceptable or unacceptable within the Centre and elsewhere. Item contains provocative subject material.

1 item

LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning+) Community, LGBTQ+ Campaigning and Politics, LGBTQ+ Social Life, LGBTQ+ Charities and Organisations, Gay Icebreakers

item