About this Archive

LGSM was magnificent. It woke me up. Drew me back into political struggle with a whooosh, brought me into contact with new and old friends, made me laugh a lot, think. It regenerated me. My personal and political life became integrated. I rushed here, organised there, spoke in public again, enjoyed argument and gossip (I always will!). The group made the connection between gay liberation and socialism come alive – I thought that dream died in the seventies. I loved the group, it was my political romance.

Nigel Young, c1990

After lesbians and gay men had given generously to an impromptu collection for the miners at Pride in 1984, a meeting was held at the University of London Union with speakers from South Wales NUM. The reaction was so enthusiastic that another meeting was called the following week to set up a lesbian and gay miners support group, and LGSM was formed.

The group began to meet weekly at Gay’s the Word bookshop to organise collections and publicity. LGSM contacted Neath, Dulais & Swansea Valleys Miners Support Group who sent a representative, Dave Donovan, to speak to the group. As a result, the two groups were twinned and most of LGSM’s collections were sent to striking miners and families for the duration of the strike.

LGSM’s achievements were considerable and were much celebrated. Over £20,000 was raised, £12,000 coming from collections alone. The Pits and Perverts Benefit at Camdem Ballroom on 10 December 1984, featuring Bronski Beat, raised £5,000 while two jumble sales bought in over £500. A commemorative badge was struck and LGSM t-shirts were printed, both of which were popular sellers.

Hundreds of thousands of people converged on London on 24^thFebruary 1985 to show support and celebrate the first anniversary of the strike. Initially peaceful, the Police later waded into the crowd in Trafalgar Square and dragged off miners to Horse Guards Parade were they were beaten. What had started as a celebration ended in frustration and anger.

LGSM’s efforts were recognised at Lesbian and Gay Pride when a large contingent of men, women and children from Dulais came to London for the day, bringing their NUM banners with them. Although initially meant to be a ‘non-political’ march, LGSM were actually asked to head the march and at Jubilee Gardens, LGSM hosted a stall selling badges, t-shirts and NUM mementoes. Later in the day, Sian James from Dulais (later MP for Swansea West) was one of the speakers on the main stage.

Nigel Young (1946-2022) was one of the leading members of LGSM and his archive, deposited with Bishopsgate Institute by his partner and fellow LGSM activist Jonathan Blake in 2023, contains substantial materials regarding the activities of and his involvement with LGSM, including minutes, ephemera and even Nigel’s handwritten notes he used to compare the Pits and Perverts Benefit. All of these materials have been digitised and are available to view below.