About this Archive

LGBTQ+ rights advocate

Administrative/biographical history

Griffith Vaughan Williams was a lifelong LGBTQ+ rights advocate and activist, and one of the leading members of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE). Born in Bangor, Wales, Williams pursued a career in journalism in early adulthood, and later settled into freelance work. His time as an LGBTQ+ rights activist began in 1964, in the co-founding of the first CHE branch in London and its London Information centre.

During his time as a member of CHE, Williams undertook a number of organisational roles and tasks, beginning as part of the London CHE committee in the early 1970s. He also took on the role of conference organiser in 1976, and tried to broaden the appeal and visibility of CHE through these annual national events. Williams engaged with producing educational material for CHE too, as well as leading on the attempt to create a CHE community football team in 1978. His work for CHE lasted over 35 years, and his final role in CHE, as the secretary for the whole organisation, continued until the end of his life in 2010.

Williams’ time as an LGBTQ+ rights advocate also extended to liaising with the London Metropolitan Police, attempting to work collaboratively to prevent homophobic violent crime and homophobia amongst police officers. These actions began in the early 1990s, with the creation of the London Lesbian and Gay Police Initiative (LLGPI). This was followed by membership of the LGBT Advisory Group with the Metropolitan Police in 2007. Williams continued to liaise with the London police force until weeks before his death.

Scope and content

Papers of Griffith Vaughan Williams, (Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE) organiser and activist), including: papers and correspondence regarding CHE general and financial administration, papers regarding annual CHE conferences, papers regarding the annual CHE Winter Fayre event, publications and annual reports by CHE regarding homosexuality, papers and newsletters regarding regional CHE groups, papers regarding sexual offences legislation and homosexual law reform, papers, correspondence and publications regarding LGBTQ+ events and campaigning organisations in London, papers regarding CHE affiliation and disaffiliation with other organisations, papers and correspondence regarding international LGBTQ+ organisations and conferences, papers regarding CHE committee administration and actions, papers regarding the experiences of elderly gay people, regarding gay people and medicine, papers regarding the Greater London Council, papers regarding the Hall Carpenter Archives, papers, correspondence and publications regarding civil and political rights organisations and associated campaigns, photocopied and original press cuttings regarding homosexuality, framed award certificates regarding the work of Griffith Vaughan Williams, audio tapes and .avi files regarding CHE, and miscellaneous papers and correspondence regarding LGBTQ+ campaigns, personal administration, and Williams’ personal affairs (1946-2011).