Lesbian Film Show banned
1985
While I was working for the National
Association of Youth Clubs editing ‘Working with Girls’, Val had agreed
I could have some time to set up and support a Young Lesbians Group in
Birmingham, as there was a gay youth group but no girls went to it. For
reasons that escape me other than total stupidity, we thought it would
be a good idea to have a fund-raising event for the Young Lesbians
Group, showing a couple of films by young lesbians, for young women,
about sexuality, with really provocative titles, and invite lots of
girls groups to come. So I did the copying and sent the invites out to
all the Girls’ Groups through the National Association of Youth Clubs,
not thinking twice about it. One of the Girls’ Night workers somewhere
sent it to the press, because she was so appalled that we were trying
to raise money for a young lesbian group, and it was on the front page
of the Birmingham Evening Mail, on a Saturday, and the headline was
‘Lesbian Film Show banned’ and it was about the Lesbian Group and the
National Association of Youth Clubs. I had to hide, disguised, from the
press and the show had to be cancelled. It hadn’t occurred to me that
it would be a problem so it was quite dramatic!!!!"
Contributed by: Trisha McCabe, 51