Friday August 29th 6-8pm - Honouring our HIV + AIDS ancestors to inspire us today.
Ever wanted to learn more about HIV activism? Dan Glass, author of ‘Queer Footprints: A Guide to Uncovering London’s Fierce History' , is here to guide you. Our walking tour is to build awareness, empowerment and community so that we can continue to cherish and support the amazing work at Positively UK Gay Mens Project. For the past 10 years, the Gay Men’s Project was the only pan-London peer support space created by and for gay and bisexual men living with HIV. It offered monthly meetups, one-to-one support, and a community that helped men feel living with HIV to feel seen, supported, and connected. But due to funding cuts, we had to pause the project earlier this year. Now, we’re working to bring it back, and we need your help.
Costs - The event is free, but any voluntary donations will go towards sustaining the gay group - please donate here.
Highlights - tour stops include stories from campaigners that led to ‘Sexual Offences Act’ that partially decriminalised homosexuality in 1967; ‘The Order of Chaeronea’, a secret society of homosexuals; The Gay Ultradisco at Heaven Nightclub and the birth of the modern HIV / AIDS movement for justice; Oscar Wilde’s statue; politicians and activists that overturned ‘Section 28’ which banned the promotion of homosexuality in public institutions; first person testimony from trailblazing protests including ‘The Teenage Turn-in’ at Charing Cross police station; The Gay liberation front (GLF) Youth Demo against the unequal age of consent; AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) ‘die-in’ protests at the height of the AIDS pandemic; London Trans Pride and more.
PRAISE FOR QUEER FOOTPRINTS PUBLISHED BY PLUTO PRESS - Pre-order here
This electrifying book is an adventure book through London’s untold queer past. Every page is packed with inspiring, moving and downright hilarious secrets just itching to be uncovered - and with the riotously entertaining Dan Glass as your mincing tour guide - you’ll have an absolute blast as you do. A word of warning: after reading this, London will never seem the same again' - Sam Arbor, Film Director
Queer Footprints is your back pocket guide to our queer/LGBTQIA+ histories, full of joy and ammunition to claim without any shame our beautiful queer futures - Tash Walker, host of The Log Books podcast and Co-Chair of Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline (2018 - 2022).