News
Jessica Brown
Feb 23, 2017
Giulia Fassone
A group of LGBT protesters stuck a plaque to the House of Lords to commemorate a protest from 1988.
You might have seen them dotted around London; little blue plaques telling you that a famous poet or artist once lived somewhere... Before a hedge fund manager or oil tycoon moved in. But they’re also used for social justice, at least, they are thanks to the “Sexual Avengers,” who awarded a brand new sign to the House of Lords.
It read:
Queer heritage: Protesting against Section 28 that discriminated against homosexuality, lesbians abseiled into the House of Lords, 2 February 1988
In 1988, three lesbian activists abseiled into the Lords from the public gallery to protest the debate of a bill that banned the promotion of homosexuality in schools.
It called for councils to not “ intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality” or “promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”.
The vote was passed at the time, and was only repealed in March 2003.
Activist Ariana Jordão told Pink News they put the plaque there to celebrate acts of resistance. She said:
The House of Lords represents the powerful who ignore the interests of the few, so this is about visibility, creating something that’s impossible to ignore – a rupture in the impenetrable powerhouse
Here they are in action:
Picture: Giulia Fassone
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