LGBT+ History Month | Looking back at the History Shapers

AS LGBT+ HISTORY MONTH COMES TO A CLOSE, WE WANT TO SPOTLIGHT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO HELPED SHAPE HISTORY THAT HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN OR OMITTED FROM CONVERSATIONS OVER THE YEARS

Wendy Carlos is a musician, composer, and the first transgender recipient of the Grammy Award in 1970.

Wendy Carlos’ album “Switched On Bach” is a reimagining of the classical composers’ work using synthesisers, which she also helped to develop and is now a staple instrument in contemporary music.

Carlos’ success led to her being asked to compose soundtracks for cult classic films by Stanley Kubrick, having worked on “A Clockwork Orange” and “The Shining”.

Justin Fashanu was the first Black footballer to command a £1 million transfer fee and the first openly gay professional footballer in England.

In 1990, he made history once after declaring his sexuality in the press. He also became the first gay professional footballer in England, creating waves in mainstream media and leading Fashanu to face immense public backlash.

It took 32 years after Justin Fashanu came out for another footballer to announce their sexuality, with Jake Daniels following in his steps in 2022.

June Jordan was a writer and activist throughout the civil rights movement of the 1960s, her work focused on gender, sexuality, race and immigration.

June Jordan’s writing championed the use of African American Vernacular English, ensuring its preservation and recognition as a language.

June Jordan made it a pivotal point to not hide her bisexuality throughout her work, despite the stigma faced at the time of her writing and viewed her sexuality as a critical proponent of establishing solidarity among the marginalised.

The Camden Lesbian Centre and Black Lesbian Group was the only dedicated lesbian space for 10 years in the UK.

The Camden Lesbian Centre and Black Lesbian Group was formed in the early 1980s to organise around the intersections the lesbian community faced at that time across race, gender, sexuality and class.

In 1986, after years of searching for a property, The Camden Lesbian Centre and Black Lesbian Group found a home in Kentish Town. The centre became a hub for the community to socialise, organise protests and host various events for the community, by the community across parties, arts and crafts, to history lessons.