'GLF demanded an LGBT-positive and sex-affirmative society, where everyone could love whoever they wanted without guilt, prejudice or discrimination' , Peter Tatchell, 2010|.
The formation of Gay Liberation Front in the UK was inspired by the gay rights movement in the USA when Bob Mellors and Aubrey Walter brought back the idea to the UK and called the first GLF meeting, which was held in a basement classroom at the London School of Economics on 13 October 1970.
A list of Demands was drawn up and soon after the GLF Principles were drafted by David Fernbach and Aubrey Walter. The first issue of the GLF journal Come Together was produced in November 1970 and the GLF Manifesto was published in October 1971.
The aim of GLF was to encourage gay pride and stop gay people from being ashamed of their homosexuality. They organised demonstrations, street theatres, gay days, gay pride weeks, discos, informal conferences and other events to celebrate being gay and engage marginalised members of the gay society to join them.
In its short existence GLF inspired many people to come out and be proud of their sexuality and were responsible for kick-starting the modern gay rights movement.
This selection of images held at LSE Archives is a celebration of the GLF and its achievements.
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The exhibition features photographs from the following collections:
John Chesterman (HCA/CHESTERMAN)
Gay Liberation Front (HCA/GLF)
Hall-Carpenter Archives Journals (HCA/JOURNALS)
Michael James (MICHAEL JAMES PAPERS)
Mary McIntosh (MCINTOSH)
Lisa Power (HCA/POWER)
LSE Students' Union
For further information regarding the LGBT-related papers held at LSE Archives, please see Lesbian and gay archives| or visit our blog, Out of the box|.