PRESERVING - Haringey Vanguard
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PRESERVING BAME LGBTQ+ HISTORY
ABOUT
Haringey Vanguard is a BAME Bruce Castle to preserve this history
LGBTQ+ History project focused on and create a permanent home for it in
the history and contributions of Haringey, making it accessible to the
Haringey-based community activists general public, researchers and
in the 1970s - 1990s, work whose subsequent generations of activists.
influence was felt well beyond the
borough. The collection consists of photos,
banners, posters, flyers from
Launched in July 2018 and marches, club nights and parties,
culminating in February 2021, the political badges, minutes from council
project was funded by a grant from meetings of Haringey's pioneering
the National Lottery Heritage Fund Lesbian and Gay Unit and much
and led by Haringey Archive and more. All the physical material has
Museum Service, Bruce Castle, been catalogued as well as digitally
supported by London Metropolitan preserved.
Archives (LMA). Together, they
worked to improve access to existing The project has also recorded oral
collections and to encourage the histories from 40 people involved in
donation of new material. This BAME LGBTQ+ activism from the 70s
brought together formal records with to 90s to ensure that this invaluable
personal and community collections, historical testimony is not lost.
enriching the wider Haringey LGBTQ+
history and ensuring the preservation Though this phase of the project has
of this important history by placing come to a close, the collection
older BAME LGBTQ+ residents’ remains open to donations and it is
experiences at the heart of the hoped that the archive will continue
project. to grow and develop.
The project was the brainchild of Together this collection reveals the
Haringey filmmaker Veronica unknown history of the BAME
McKenzie, who started collecting LGBTQ+ community in Haringey, and
materials from the era while making a the important work they did to
documentary about the Black Lesbian promote acceptance, both in the
and Gay Centre and its activism in the mainstream LGBTQ+ scene and wider
1980s. She teamed up with the black communities.
London Metropolitan Archives and
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
A programme of proactive community London Metropolitan Archives has
engagement was a key pillar of the along history of working with LGBTQ+
Haringey Vanguard project. It was projects and groups and was able to
imperative to raise awareness in the leverage those partnerships and
community not only of the existence experiences for the Vanguard project.
of the project but the value of
personal materials documenting the Free workshops and training
era and the importance of their opportunities allowed both archive
preservation for the future. There is enthusiasts and professionals to
often a misconception that archives improve and expand their skillsets.
and museums solely hold artefacts Training was provided in archive
from well-known people. It was organisation, oral history collecting
important to communicate how techniques, interviewing and listening
crucial materials from ordinary skills, sound recording, digitisation,
citizens and citizen activists are in website and exhibition design, with
painting the fullest picture of the past. specific opportunities for young
people.
The project team, including many
volunteers, maintained an active Perhaps the most important aim of the
presence at key local and national outreach was to bring together
different generations of BAME
events including Pride in Haringey,
LGBTQ+ activists to learn from each
London Pride and UK Black Pride, and
other and to support a sense of
gave several public presentations and
wellbeing and being valued for the
talks about the project and the era it
elders in particular. For many of the
was seeking to represent. interviewees, this was their first
opportunity to speak about their
People were invited to join a Special experiences.
Interest Group to provide advice to
the project team and to offer a range Their history continues to be relevant
of discussions, talks and events, and their often unique and creative
programmed by the membership. This activism provides a blueprint for our
was a key component of ensuring the times. The collection provides positive
project's ownership by the community images and a sense of empowerment
and its long term sustainability. brought about by visibility and
presence.
activities 2018
JUNE AUGUST SEPTEMBER
Haringey Vanguard Tea Party at Bruce Haringey Vanguard
launches and introduces Castle Museum in stall at Haringey Has
itself to the community Tottenham attended by Pride, 30 years after the
through stalls at London LGBTQ+ activists, local first Haringey Pride
Pride and UK Black allies and young Festival was held in
Pride. historians. Wood Green in 1989.
OCTOBER OCTOBER OCTOBER
Wellbeing workshop at Free oral history Haringey Vanguard
London Metropolitan workshop covering best presentation at
Archives, exploring practice, ethics and Haringey Council which
current relaxation hands-on interviewing, shared material related
techniques and those of and the specific to Haringey's historical
BAME LGBTQ+ activist challenges of collecting support of LGBTQ+
communities in the 80s. LGBTQ+ oral history. rights.
OCTOBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER
Partnered with Opening Haringey Vanguard First meeting of the
Doors LGBTQ+ 50+ nominated for a Special Interest Group
group to host the short nOSCARS Award, given is held and first oral
film, hear here, and a for making a positive history interviews with
discussion at Bruce difference to sexual BAME LGBTQ+ elders
Castle Museum History health outcomes in begin.
Group. BAME communities.
NOVEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER
Workshops on sound Haringey Vanguard Special Interest Group
recording and makes a presentation at Xmas Social.
interviewing and Edgy: The 16th
listening skills. LGBTQ+ History and
Archives Conference
organised by London
Metropolitan Archives.
activities 2019
JANUARY FEBRUARY FEBRUARY
Haringey Vanguard The Art of the Haringey Vanguard has
attends the Queer Gestetner: Duplicating a stall at the Haringey
History Fair at Publishing workshop Local History Fair at
Goldsmiths University. teaching participants to Bruce Castle Museum.
duplicate publications
using these Tottenham-
made machines.
FEBRUARY MARCH MAY
The Vanguard of Then Haringey Vanguard is Workshop on
& Now BAME LGBTQ+ invited to run its Getting Campaigning Then and
Art Social brings it Down, Getting it Done Now looks at the
together Digital workshop at the relevance of campaigns
intergenerational Tate Modern’s Age/ncy in Haringey in the
communities to late event. 1980s and their
socialise and discuss relevance to the digital
activism and history. age.
JUNE AUGUST SEPTEMBER
Haringey Vanguard Second round of the "Eat and Transcribe"
participates in the Sound Recording and session at Bruce Castle
London Metropolitan Oral History Interviews Museum for volunteers
Archives’ stand at workshops. working on interview
London Pride and has a transcriptions.
stall at Black Pride in
Haggerston Park.
OCTOBER OCTOBER DECEMBER
Exhibition at Bruce Conversation with Haringey Vanguard
Castle Museum on the Olivette Cole Wilson, a organizes Provoke: The
contributions of local key member of 80’s 17th annual LGBTQ+
BAME LGBTQ+ people Black lesbian groups History and Archives
as part of Black History and a founder member Conference at the
Month celebrations. of the Stonewall charity. London Metropolitan
Archives.
activities 2020 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY FEBRUARY Panel appearance at the Haringey Vanguard Walking tour around University of Cambridge presents Key Moments Haringey outlining the exploring the history of in 1980’s BAME contributions of BAME LGBTQ+ people in LGBTQ+ History at the LGBTQ+ activists in Black communities University of Sussex. Haringey from the around the world. 1970s to 1990s. MARCH OCTOBER NOVEMBER Due to coronavirus Online workshop offers Haringey Vanguard restrictions, Haringey training in collecting volunteers speak at an Vanguard pivots to BAME LGBTQ+ Oral LGBT+ History Month virtual interviews with histories as part of event organised by oral history Black History Month. Schools OUT UK. contributors.
OUTCOMES - BUILDING AN ARCHIVE
The creation of a new, accessible Activities designed to encourage
and effectively managed BAME and support participants in
1 LGBTQ+ community oral history 5 collecting, preserving and sharing
and memorabilia collection based LGBTQ+ archive materials,
at Haringey Archive and Museum safeguarding items for the future
Service at Bruce Castle. and ensuring a presence in the
historical record.
Improved professional practice
through the creation of skills A revised, strengthened and
2 sharing events and training inclusive public engagement
opportunities. 6 programme for existing and new
users raising awareness of
LGBTQ+ history and experience
An accessible catalogue and set in Haringey and outer London.
of finding aids for anyone wishing
3 to explore or research BAME
LGBTQ+ history in Haringey. A well-trained volunteer team to
support the collection and
7 associated activities. Part of the
A programme of research training Special Interest Group acting as
to improve the skills of archive community champions for the
4 users. project and the wider service.
OUTCOMES - COMMUNITY & OUTREACH
Firmly established working The creation of an exhibition to be
relationships with BAME launched at Bruce Castle Museum
8 LGBTQ+ groups and individuals 11 designed to be portable for future
to secure the project's legacy use at libraries, schools,
and sustainability. community centres and public
spaces.
The launch of a website
haringeyblackqueerhistory.com Actively worked with local BAME
and LGBTQ+ communities,
9 including oral histories and
transcripts, scanned documents, 12 particularly with elders to
case studies and accessible acknowledge valued personal
resources for adults and schools, history, which boosts mental
which links to other online well-being.
projects, specifically, Speak Out
London (LMA). Targeted training opportunities
for young people provided a
13 deeper engagement with local
Downloadable learning resources history and culture supported by
for teachers, facilitators and other Haringey BAME LGBTQ+
10 organisations such as Schools residents and heritage services.
Out, for use in educational
settings nationwide. Intergenerational and cross-
cultural activities benefitted all
14 volunteers, participants and
those attending public events.
HARINGEY A LEGACY OF LGBTQ+ ACTIVISM 1967 Homosexuality decriminalised in the UK 1984 Gay rights included in the Labour Party’s manifesto. Haringey is one of 10 councils to donate more than £600,000 to gay projects and groups. 1986 Labour wins control of Haringey Council and launches the country's first Lesbian and Gay Unit to highlight the rights of LGBT people to council staff. 3,000 people march around the Roundway in Tottenham in support of Haringey’s gay and lesbian community in a demonstration organised by the group Positive Images. The book Jenny lives with Eric and Martin, about a girl living with her dad and his partner, is made available to school children in Haringey. The book, which was located in a restricted part of a library, was seized on by a parent. A group of local parents complain, sparking protests on the streets of Wood Green, both for and against gay rights. 1987 Bernie Grant, MP for Tottenham, becomes the first MP to voice opposition to Section 28, which is brought in a year later. Positive Images and Haringey Black Action organise the first demonstration in the UK to highlight the stories of black lesbians and gay men. The Department of Education and Science expresses concerns to Haringey Council’s education team about the “promotion of homosexuality” after the council's Lesbian and Gay Unit write to the borough’s headteachers, urging them to share positive views of homosexuality with pupils. 1988 On 23 May, the night before Section 28 becomes law, four protestors, including Haringey’s Booan Temple, storm the BBC 6 O’Clock news, handcuff themselves to equipment and shout ‘Stop section 28’. 1999 Wood Green arts charity Wise Thoughts is established to address social justice issues and the needs of Haringey’s BME LGBT communities.
2001 The equalisation of the age of consent is enacted for gay men nationwide. 2002 UK’s Adoption and Children Act allowed same-sex couples to adopt. Then- MP for Hornsey and Wood Green Barbara Roche, who was Minister for Social Exclusion and Equalities, spoke in support of civil partnerships, saying there was a strong case for allowing same-sex couples to register their relationships. 2003 Section 28 is repealed. 2009 The T-shirt Haringey protester Booan Temple wore when she stormed the BBC goes on show at Bruce Castle Museum, as part of From the Closet to the Collection: Haringey LGBT Exhibition. 2010 GIRES (Gender Identification Research and Education Society) is set up to improve the environment in which gender non-conforming people live. 2012 Equalities Minister and MP for Hornsey and Wood Green Lynne Featherstone is widely hailed as the architect of the bill that brings same-sex marriage to England and Wales. She is named Attitude Magazine’s Politician of the Year. Stonewall bestows a similar honour in 2014 and Pink Magazine names her Ally of the Year in 2014. 2014 Subodh Rathod and Niranjan Kamatkar become the first gay couple to marry in Haringey and the first gay Indian couple to marry in the UK under new marriage equality legislation. 2017 Haringey begins work to make the council a more LGBT+ friendly place, with support from Stonewall. 2018 The LGBTQ+ Community Network is formed - 15 organisations from across the borough working with and championing the needs of the LGBT+ population. Cabinet reinstates its commitment to the LGBT+ population with a new action plan. Haringey Vanguard, an archiving project focussed on the histories of Black, Asian and ethnic minority LGBTQ+ communities in the borough, is launched.
A LIVING ARCHIVE The Haringey Vanguard Collection is available by prior appointment to anyone wishing to view materials. It also remains open to expansion through donations. If you have any materials related to any aspect of Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority LGBTQ+ life in Haringey from the 1970s to the 1990s, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch Haringey Council Haringey Archive and Museum Service Bruce Castle Museum, Lordship Lane, London N17 8NU 020 8489 4250 www.hqbh.co.uk
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