Black Lesbian and Gay Centre
The Black Lesbian and Gay Centre (BLGC) was a community centre in London that ran from 1985 to 2000.[1] The centre was founded by members of the Gay Black Group in response to "the overwhelming whiteness of the 'mainstream' LGBTQ+ scene, racism from within and outside of the scene, and the difficulties of coming out to families, who generally perceived homosexuality as a 'white' issue."[1] It was first set up in Haringey with funding from the Greater London Council, and later moved to Peckham. There is a Rainbow Plaque commemorating the BLGC in Peckham.[2]
Founding
[edit]The Gay Black Group were a collective of Black lesbians and gay men, who organised under the banner of political Blackness.[3] In 1982 they approached the Greater London Council to set up the drop-in centre, with plans to provide advice, information, and a helpline. The GLC awarded funding to the project three years later in 1985.[4] At the time it was founded, it didn't have a permanent premises.
The group worked to provide a range of services and supported a number of actions, such as:
- advice and counselling
- a telephone helpline
- organising the Fifth International Lesbian and Gay People Conference, the first time outside of North America[4]
- organised a boycott against the Black magazine 'the Voice' about their treatment of out gay footballer Justin Fashanu.[4]
- a library of relevant and specific material
- a social space, even when they didn't have a permanent venue[1]
They also published the magazine Blackout from 1986 for Black lesbians and gay men to share events and resources.[1]
The centre found a permanent home in 1992 in a converted railway arch in Peckham.[5]
Closure
[edit]The centre closed its permanent space in 1995,[6] however the last published bulletin is dated winter 2000 and stated their address as Westminster Bridge Road.[7][8]
Legacy
[edit]In 2014 film maker Veronica McKenzie made a documentary about the Black Lesbian and Gay Centre titled 'Under Your Nose.'[9] The film was low budget and a labour of love, with McKenzie describing using her 'small savings' and having voluntary crew working for expenses.[10] The film covered the history of the centre and surrounding political history, interviewing original members such as Dorothea Smartt, Dennis Carney, or Femi Otitoju.[11]
McKenzie went on to found the Haringey Vanguard Archive in 2018. Held at the Bruce Castle museum in Tottenham, it prominently features the documents of the BLGC.[12] The archive features oral history accounts from BLGC members Dennis Carney, Amber Djemal, and Savi Hensman.[13]
On 18th February 2024, a Rainbow Plaque commemorating the centre was unveiled opposite 83 Bellenden Road in Peckham. The unveiling was held with a special screening of Under Your Nose at Peckhamplex Cinema with a Q&A with former members. The project was supported by Studio Voltaire, and the London LGBT Forums network.[14]
Ephemera related to the BLGC are held by the Bishopsgate Institute, London.[1] Material is also held at the Feminist Library, London.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Black Lesbian and Gay Centre". Bishopsgate Institute. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
- ^ "Rainbow Plaque: Black Lesbian & Gay Centre - Studio Voltaire". studiovoltaire.org. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
- ^ Baska, Maggie (2022-10-10). "Remembering a forgotten landmark in gay, Black, British history". PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
- ^ a b c Murphy, Gillian (2016-10-31). "'Our own space' – the Black Lesbian and Gay Centre". LSE Blogs. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Rainbow Plaque: Black Lesbian & Gay Centre - Studio Voltaire". studiovoltaire.org. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
- ^ EDITOR (2024-02-20). "Peckham's Black Lesbian & Gay Centre marked with new Rainbow Plaque". diva-magazine.com. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
- ^ anonymous (2000). "Winter 2000". Black lesbian and gay centre newsletter.
- ^ a b Black Lesbian and Gay Centre (Project) Newsheet. London: Black Lesbian and Gay Centre Project. 1986.
- ^ "Under Your Nose | Veronica Mckenzie". Retrieved 2024-10-06.
- ^ "About Under Your Nose- why, what, when | Veronica Mckenzie". Retrieved 2024-10-06.
- ^ Albany Deptford (2023-02-07). Under Your Nose Trailer. Retrieved 2024-10-06 – via YouTube.
- ^ "About Us". Haringey Vanguard. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
- ^ "Oral Histories". Haringey Vanguard. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
- ^ "We Have Always Been Here Celebrating". MOCA LONDON. Retrieved 2024-10-06.