York LGBT History Month 2017: Week Two!

2-12 Deep In The Heart of Me

This week brings you poetry, drama, and art – and a fantastic day of free public talks at York Explore Library, showcasing cutting-edge research into LGBT history! Don’t miss the play Deep in the Heart of Me this Sunday, nominated for best LGBT+ show at Brighton Fringe 2016.

For a full list of all the events taking place throughout the month, see our programme.

Listings are colour-coded by type: Craft | Discussion | Exhibition | FilmPerformance | Personal histories | Service | Social | Talk

Monday 6 February
Lunch Poems: reading LGBT/queer poetry | Discussion
12:30-14:00 | The Eagle and Child, 9 High Petergate, YO1 7EN

Taking its name from gay New York poet Frank O’Hara’s celebrated collection ‘Lunch Poems’ (1964), academics and poets will host a lunch time discussion and reading group of poetry on LGBT themes, over lunch. Poems will be circulated in advance to ticket holders, but you do not need any previous experience or knowledge of poetry to take part in the discussion.

Organised by: York St John University
Tickets: Free from yorklgbthistory.org.uk/17/lunch-poems. Food not included.
More information: Dr Adam Stock (a.stock@yorksj.ac.uk)

Accessibility: none.

Tuesday 7 February
Higher education reading group: being LGBTQ in higher education | Discussion
11:00-12:00 | Department of Education Senior Common Room (D/L/104), Derwent College, University of York, YO10 5DD

This monthly reading group for those interested in higher education issues opens its doors for LGBT History Month. There are two recommended articles for discussion: email Annis Stead or visit the GSA website for reading materials. Refreshments are provided. Sponsored by York Graduate Students’ Association.

Organised by: York Graduate Students’ Association
Tickets: Free from as799@york.ac.uk
More information: Annis Stead (as799@york.ac.uk) | yorkgsa.org

Accessibility: wheelchair access.

 

Tuesday 7 February
LGBTQ+ Greats One: Alan Bennett | Social
19:30 | Café W, Waterstones York, 15 Coney St, YO1 9QL

Come along to Café W in Waterstones York for a celebration of Alan Bennett, a pillar of the LGBTQ+ community. Price includes a rainbow snack box, and further refreshments will be available to purchase from the café. Book discount offers will be available. Booking strongly encouraged.

Organised by: Waterstones York
Tickets: £3 from york@waterstones.com, 01904 620784, or in store
More information: Andrew Auton (york@waterstones.com | 01904 620784) | yorklgbthistory.org.uk/17/waterstones | facebook.com/WaterstonesYork

Accessibility: wheelchair access.

 

Wednesday 8 February
Is Our Past Ace? How Asexual Communities See Their Own Pasts | Talk
13:30 | The Treehouse, Berrick Saul Building, University of York, YO10 5DD

Come and explore the pasts of a community you’d probably assume didn’t have a history, in this talk by George Norman, founding member of asexual campaign group maaple. There’ll be a brief introduction to asexual history and culture, but the main focus of the talk will be on how an LGBTQ community sees its own past.

Organised by: George Norman
Tickets: Not required
More information: George Norman (george@yorklgbthistory.org.uk)

Accessibility: gender-neutral toilets; wheelchair access.

 

Wednesday 8 February
“I don’t shave for Sherlock Holmes”: queerbaiting, queer coding and queer visibility in popular culture from Sherlock to Stranger Things | Discussion
18:15-19:45 | D/L/047, Derwent College, University of York, YO10 5DD

Queerbaiting entices LGBT audiences by flirting with queer possibility, but never realising it. The paper explores tensions between queerbaiting and representing male intimacy, referencing Sherlock, Supernatural, One Direction and Harry Potter. Exploring queer coding and LGBT representation in TV, the session identifies recurring issues, such as the ‘dead lesbian’ trope and bierasure. The paper concludes by asking what challenges face creators of LGBT television in 2017 with reference to earlier LGBT shows. Part paper, part discussion: audience contribution is welcome and encouraged.

Organised by: Emily Roach/University of York
Tickets: Free from equality@york.ac.uk
More information: Emily Roach (emilyroach92@yahoo.co.uk)

Accessibility: baby-changing; gender-neutral toilets; wheelchair access.

 

Thursday 9 February
Bisexuality in science fiction | Talk
18:30 | D/L/003, Derwent College, University of York, YO10 5DD

A talk by Oli Lipski.

Organised by: University of York Students’ Union LGBTQ Network
Tickets: Free from lgbtq@yusu.org
More information: Jaz Millar (lgbtq@yusu.org)

Accessibility: baby-changing; gender-neutral toilets; wheelchair access.

 

Thursday 9 February – NEW 
Breaking out of the straight jacket: mental health and the LGBT community | Talk
18:30-19:30 | Ron Cooke Hub auditorium, Campus East, University of York, YO10 5GE

A talk by Matthew Todd, editor of Attitude, the UK’s best-selling gay magazine, on his novel Straight Jacket: a revolutionary clarion call for gay men, the wider LGBT community, their friends and family. Part memoir, part ground-breaking polemic, it looks beneath the shiny facade of contemporary gay culture and asks if gay people are as happy as they could be – and if not, why not?
In an attempt to find the answers to this and many other difficult questions, Matthew Todd explores why statistics show a disproportionate number of gay people suffer from mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, addiction, suicidal thoughts and behaviour.

Organised by: University of York Public Lectures
Tickets: Free from york.ac.uk/events
More information: Sue Abson (open-lectures@york.ac.uk | 01904 324778) | facebook.com/events/1427059357318447

Accessibility: baby-changing; gender-neutral toilets; hearing loop; wheelchair access

 

Friday 10 February
Discursive silences: exploring the continued absence of pleasure in sex and relationships education in England | Talk
18:00-20:00 | D/L/002, Derwent College, University of York, YO10 5DD

A talk by Dr Vanita Sundaram (Centre for Research on Education in Social Justice, University of York) and Dr Helen Sauntson (Associate Professor in English Language and Linguistics, York St John University). The event is followed by a drinks reception.

Organised by: York Graduate Students’ Association
Tickets: Not required
More information: Annis Stead (as799@york.ac.uk)

Accessibility: baby-changing; gender-neutral toilets; wheelchair access.

 

Saturday 11 February
National Festival of LGBT history: Yorkshire hub | Talk
10:30 – 16:30 | Marriott Room, York Explore Library and Archives, Library Square, Museum Street, YO1 7DS

York Explore Library and Archive will play host to a fascinating variety of free talks on all aspects of LGBT history. Visitors can drop in throughout the day to discover hidden stories and forgotten heroes, and to find out about the other exciting events taking place throughout the month of February. Hot drinks, snacks and lunch will be available to purchase from the café.

Organised by: York LGBT History Month/Schools OUT/LGBT History Month
Tickets: Not required
More information: Kit Heyam (info@yorklgbthistory.org.uk)

Accessibility: baby-changing; gender-neutral toilets; hearing loop; wheelchair access.

10:30 Stephen Miller, ‘Maurice Dobson: a story of bravery, acceptance and love’
The unique story of Maurice Dobson (1912-1990): a gay ex-coal miner, WW2 veteran and antiques collector who lived in Darfield, South Yorkshire.
11:00 11.00: Jeff Evans, ‘Criminal prosecution of inter-male sex, 1850-1970’
How did prosecution of sex between men change over this 120-year period?
11:30 Break
12:00 Caroline Paige, ‘True Colours: trailblazing transgender service in the military’
The untold story of what it meant to be transgender in the British military before and after permissive service. From 1980 to 2014: the highs and the lows, in peacetime and in war.
12:30 Paul Amann, ‘Kop Outs: you’ll never walk alone’
The story of the development of Kop Outs, Liverpool FC’s LGBT fan club, from a time when being LGBT and a football fan appeared mutually exclusive, to the development of a club-recognised fan group helping enable LGBT fans to attend the match in confidence.
13:00 Lunch break
14:00 Rainer Schulze, ‘The battle for decriminalisation of (male) homosexuality in (West) Germany, 1945-69’
Rainer tells the story of the long battle for recognition and acceptance in (West) Germany following the defeat of Nazism up to the partial decriminalisation of (male) homosexuality in 1969. Given the battles for recognition and acceptance in other parts of the world right now, can we learn from history and from each other?
14:30 Juno Jones, ‘The Gay Liberation Front: how we invented direct action’
Juno draws on her personal experience of activism with the Gay Liberation Front to provide the background and origins of LGBT direct action in the UK and eyewitness accounts of protests from the Miss World Contest to the London Stock Exchange.
15:00 Break
15:30 Jane Traies, ‘The Other Consenting Adults: or, what were lesbians doing in 1967?’
In 2017 we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Act of Parliament which partially decriminalised homosexuality between men. Lesbians, never having been illegal, are not officially part of this story – but the media spotlight that was trained on their gay brothers at that time sometimes illuminated their struggle, too. This presentation draws on contemporary reporting and on Jane’s own oral history research to uncover the hidden lives of lesbians in the 1960s.
16:00 Alison Child, ‘Gwen Farrar and Norah Blaney: ‘our love is a thing apart’’
Gwen Farrar and Norah Blaney were household names in the 1920s. They filled the London Palladium for the farewell performance of their variety act in 1932. They were lovers between 1917 to 1931 and counted Radclyffe Hall, Jo Carstairs and Tallullah Bankhead amongst their close friends. Alison will explore the reasons these remarkable women have been excluded from cultural memory.

Wine and nibbles reception followed by LGBTQI+ archives roundtable | Discussion
16:30 – 18:00 | Marriott Room, York Explore Library and Archives, Library Square, Museum Street, YO1 7DS

PhD student and archivist Victoria Hoyle invites you to participate in an informal workshop about the creation of LGBT archives. What should be preserved as part of an LGBT archive? Who decides what is valuable? How can it be shared and interpreted?

*Please be aware that this session is part of an active research project and will be recorded. Victoria will explain her research and ask your consent to use anonymised transcriptions of the roundtable as part of her thesis. You may opt out if you wish.

Organised by: Victoria Hoyle
Tickets: Not required
More information: Victoria Hoyle (victoria.hoyle@york.ac.uk)

Accessibility: baby-changing; gender-neutral toilets; hearing loop; wheelchair access.

 

Saturday 11 February
The Lydia Shaw and Tina Mammoser Exhibition | Exhibition
19:00-21:00 | John Cooper Studio Theatre, 41 Monkgate, YO31 7PB

HLGBT York Productions present The Lydia Shaw and Tina Mammoser collaboration. Lydia’s work explores the realms of gender, confidence and sexuality: she focuses predominantly on the female form while toying with the idea of “what lies beneath”. Tina’s, inspired by landscapes, creates precise drawings with a creative and changed reality in the line and pattern. Working between these contrasts of paint and pencil, the art evolves. Produced by Mei Wilshire.

Organised by: HLGBT York
Tickets: £7 from yorklgbthistory.org.uk/17/hlgbt-york
More information: Mei Wilshire (mei.wilshire@live.co.uk | 07871 268688) | hlgbtyork.wordpress.com/2016/08/15/peter-podmore-exhibition-2016 | facebook.com/HLGBTYork

Accessibility: baby-changing; gender-neutral toilets; wheelchair access.

 

Sunday 12 February
Queer Sundays | Craft
11:00-16:00 | York Art Gallery, Exhibition Square, YO1 7EW

Drop in to make performance art at York Art Gallery in this unique and exciting community project. An opportunity for participants to come and explore the artworks from a queer perspective and make their own work from them. Come and have fun with masks, drapes, storytelling, drama, singing, drag, materials, contact improvisation, clowning, percussion, paints, food and anything else you are inspired to play with! Participation includes use of materials.

Organised by: Cast-Off Drama/York Art Gallery
Tickets: Not required
More information: Nina Kane (ninakane@btinternet.com | 07590 388770) | castoffdrama.blogspot.com

Accessibility: baby-changing; wheelchair access.

 

Sunday 12 February
Share your LGBT history at York Castle Museum | Personal histories
13:00-17:00| Kirk Room, York Castle Museum, Eye of York, YO1 9RY

Opening in May 2017 to mark the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of sex between men, a new community-led exhibition at York Castle Museum will tell the story of LGBT life in York from the 1960s to the present day. Bring along your stories, objects and photographs to contribute to the exhibition and find out how you can be involved in the project. Visitors will need to sign in and collect a visitor pass at the Castle Museum entrance. The event is free, but if you wish to also visit the rest of the museum you will need to pay admission as normal.

Organised by: York Museums Trust/York LGBT History Month/York Pride
Tickets: Not required
More information: Kit Heyam (info@yorklgbthistory.org.uk)

Accessibility: baby-changing; gender-neutral toilets; wheelchair access.

 

Sunday 12 February
50 years of love and pride | Talk
16:00-19:00 | Briar House CIC, Club Chambers, Museum Street, YO1 7DN

Come and join us as we explore 50 years of love and pride. The talk will document the changes in LGBT legislation since 1967 and explore the development of Pride events. The talk will also cover LGBT history in York, which has surprising stories waiting to be discovered! Jake will give a talk on being BAME and LGBT and Lisa will give a talk on being trans.

Organised by: York LGBT Forum
Tickets: Not required
More information: Jake Furby and Lisa Kelly (yorklgbtforum@gmail.com | 07935 200575)

Accessibility: baby-changing; gender-neutral toilets; wheelchair access.

 

Sunday 12 February
Deep in the Heart of Me | Performance
20:00 | The Basement, City Screen, 13-17 Coney Street, YO1 9QL

Thirty years on from ‘Shirley Valentine’, Janet takes a holiday to Greece. She meets the girl of her dreams in a suit and tie singing Frank Sinatra songs. To a backdrop of Sinatra’s greatest hits, ‘All or Nothing at All’, ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’, their romance unfolds and Janet realises this holiday was a departure in more ways than one. Nominated in the Best LGBT+ Show category at Brighton Fringe 2016.

Organised by: Behind the Lines
Tickets: £8/£6 (concessions) from yorklgbthistory.org.uk/17/deep-in-the-heart-of-me
More information: Alison Child (admin@behindthelines.info | 07908 155000) | behindthelines.info

Accessibility: baby-changing; hearing loop; wheelchair access.

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