LGSM- Lesbians and Gays Support The Miners

Lesbians and Gays support the miners

 I think it is important, not just for me but for everyone, to actually know who these people are. Not only does it affect my personal history being a lesbian but it effects everyone's personal history.

 Right. I should probably explain who these people are.

The group was formed in July of 1984. as you now there was a miners strike from 1984 to 1985. (I am getting this information of the website). There is two founding members of the LGSM group this is Mark Ashton and Mike Jackson. (Mark is first then Mike)

They basically started off collecting money in buckets and soon were able to raise more awareness for the miners. At first there was 11 people involved and at the end there was sixty people. The London LGSM managed to create links with the South Wales mining communities and donated funds to people Nottinghamshire-women's support group. The money mainly came from standing outside gay pubs, clubs and The Gay's the word bookshop. (My goal is to find this place in my life. Must create a bucket list).

One of the biggest fundraising events they had was called 'Pits and Perverts'. Why was this called Pits and Perverts? Pits= miners. Perverts=Gays. People do actually call LGBT+ people perverts. This was held in the London Electric Ballroom on the 10th of December in 1984. They managed to raise £5650.

You have a bit of a overview about who they were. Mark Ashton said this: (also from the website)

It's quite illogical to say ‘I’m gay and I’m into defending the gay community but I don’t care about anything else.’ It’s important that if you're defending communities, you’re defending all communities and not just one.


What does this mean to me and the movie Pride?

This has a ton of meaning to me. When I was first came out, I generally did not feel like anyone or anything would listen to me. No one would care. That I was alone and I was being stupid. That I was straight. That I had to follow society. 

I never thought coming out, as the biggest thing I had ever done in my life till recently. 

I am in a really happy relationship and I have never been in one like that before. I have never felt something lift off my shoulders or felt like I have a  place in this world. I have always felt the odd one out and the one who won't be able to a lick of good. 

But since I found the movie Pride, I found that I actually did have a place in this world. I know how stupid that sounds but when I first saw it: I had not come out. I had never mentioned this movie to my mum because...When I look back at it now. I never asked to see this movie because I knew I was a lesbian and I was terrified my mother was going to shout or something at me. After I watched this and I heard my mother tell me stories how she had given them money and remembers seeing them in London...I then came out as a lesbian. 

I also watched this movie in the first place because my favourite actor is in it. Andrew Scott. I wanted to see what it was like but yes the other reason was because I did not want to see how my other would react. Which is stupid because she knows half my family are gay and she doesn't care. She is not homophobic so why I had a problem with it...I will never know. 

But if it wasn't for Mark Ashton or those people, we would still have to fight for out rights and other peoples rights. If there is anyone I would want to meet and say thank you too, it is Mark Ashton an Mike Jackson. I don't think I will be more grateful to other people than these people for standing up for people and I hope one day I can be like that.