Gay News Archive Project
@gaynewsarchive.org
A project to digitise early editions of the UK's pioneering LGBT+ newspaper Gay News: https://gaynewsarchive.co.uk/
Reposted by Gay News Archive Project
Let's take a ride... My next book is coming out with @faberbooks.bsky.social. Tales of the Suburbs: LGBTQ+ Lives Behind Net Curtains will be published March 12 2026. Preorder links in profile, and lots more on the book and the remarkable stories people told me to come over the next few months...
October 28, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Let's take a ride... My next book is coming out with @faberbooks.bsky.social. Tales of the Suburbs: LGBTQ+ Lives Behind Net Curtains will be published March 12 2026. Preorder links in profile, and lots more on the book and the remarkable stories people told me to come over the next few months...
Reposted by Gay News Archive Project
Switching between two books, at the moment, Ben Thompson's account of the comically po-faced Mary Whitehouse correspondence to the great and good, Ban This Filth!, and @brianbilston.bsky.social comically un-pofaced Diary of a Somebody ("woof"!)
June 13, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Switching between two books, at the moment, Ben Thompson's account of the comically po-faced Mary Whitehouse correspondence to the great and good, Ban This Filth!, and @brianbilston.bsky.social comically un-pofaced Diary of a Somebody ("woof"!)
June 11, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by Gay News Archive Project
And that's it. My little Mastodon instance, tbs.social, is gone, thanks to the Online Safety Act 2023. I had literally no way to comply with the (highly contradictory) 'advice' given by the UK government or Ofcom on how to age gate it. £18 MILLION fine for getting it wrong. It was only a bit of fun.
March 16, 2025 at 2:51 PM
And that's it. My little Mastodon instance, tbs.social, is gone, thanks to the Online Safety Act 2023. I had literally no way to comply with the (highly contradictory) 'advice' given by the UK government or Ofcom on how to age gate it. £18 MILLION fine for getting it wrong. It was only a bit of fun.
A drag stalwart. Sleep well, David. x
Britain's oldest drag queen dies as emotional tributes pour in
Maisie Trollette, Britain's oldest drag queen and one of the oldest in the world has died at the age of 91 it has been announced in an emotional statement
www.mirror.co.uk
March 12, 2025 at 1:57 PM
A drag stalwart. Sleep well, David. x
Reposted by Gay News Archive Project
The final week! Order by Friday to receive a 100+ page Rediffusion book (£10) or the #ITV70 pack with the book and four pieces of reprinted ITV ephemera (£20) in March!
Tell your friends!
Tell your friends!
Rediffusion 55-25
Celebrating 70 years of Rediffusion, London's weekday ITV 1955-1968 | Check out 'Rediffusion 55-25' on Indiegogo.
www.indiegogo.com
January 26, 2025 at 12:43 PM
The final week! Order by Friday to receive a 100+ page Rediffusion book (£10) or the #ITV70 pack with the book and four pieces of reprinted ITV ephemera (£20) in March!
Tell your friends!
Tell your friends!
Reposted by Gay News Archive Project
It's here! Our 2025 print project: a 100+ page softback book of Rediffusion publicity and internal material (£10), or the book PLUS four reprints of ATV, Rediffusion and Thames ephemera from the 1950s, 60s and 70s (£20).
On sale worldwide until 31 January, delivery in *March*.
On sale worldwide until 31 January, delivery in *March*.
Rediffusion 55-25
Celebrating 70 years of Rediffusion, London's weekday ITV 1955-1968 | Check out 'Rediffusion 55-25' on Indiegogo.
www.indiegogo.com
January 1, 2025 at 11:50 AM
It's here! Our 2025 print project: a 100+ page softback book of Rediffusion publicity and internal material (£10), or the book PLUS four reprints of ATV, Rediffusion and Thames ephemera from the 1950s, 60s and 70s (£20).
On sale worldwide until 31 January, delivery in *March*.
On sale worldwide until 31 January, delivery in *March*.
ISSUE 63
30 January – 12 February 1975
Legalising homosexuality in New Zealand would lead to an epidemic of VD and breakdown of order and discipline, apparently. The Inner London Education Authority sack a teacher after a pupil saw him at a CHE rally.
30 January – 12 February 1975
Legalising homosexuality in New Zealand would lead to an epidemic of VD and breakdown of order and discipline, apparently. The Inner London Education Authority sack a teacher after a pupil saw him at a CHE rally.
Issue 63 - 1975 - Gay News Archive Project
A project to digitise early editions of the UK's pioneering LGBT+ newspaper Gay News
gaynewsarchive.co.uk
December 24, 2024 at 12:04 PM
ISSUE 63
30 January – 12 February 1975
Legalising homosexuality in New Zealand would lead to an epidemic of VD and breakdown of order and discipline, apparently. The Inner London Education Authority sack a teacher after a pupil saw him at a CHE rally.
30 January – 12 February 1975
Legalising homosexuality in New Zealand would lead to an epidemic of VD and breakdown of order and discipline, apparently. The Inner London Education Authority sack a teacher after a pupil saw him at a CHE rally.
ISSUE 62
16–29 January 1975
The managers of the Father Redcap are fined £100 with £40 costs each for allowing men to dance together. Tricky Dicky was conditionally discharged for a year. Magistrates noted the public hadn't complained – the operation was entirely one generated within the Met Police.
16–29 January 1975
The managers of the Father Redcap are fined £100 with £40 costs each for allowing men to dance together. Tricky Dicky was conditionally discharged for a year. Magistrates noted the public hadn't complained – the operation was entirely one generated within the Met Police.
Issue 62 - 1975 - Gay News Archive Project
A project to digitise early editions of the UK's pioneering LGBT+ newspaper Gay News
gaynewsarchive.co.uk
December 23, 2024 at 11:59 AM
ISSUE 62
16–29 January 1975
The managers of the Father Redcap are fined £100 with £40 costs each for allowing men to dance together. Tricky Dicky was conditionally discharged for a year. Magistrates noted the public hadn't complained – the operation was entirely one generated within the Met Police.
16–29 January 1975
The managers of the Father Redcap are fined £100 with £40 costs each for allowing men to dance together. Tricky Dicky was conditionally discharged for a year. Magistrates noted the public hadn't complained – the operation was entirely one generated within the Met Police.
Seems unobjectionable to us.
December 21, 2024 at 3:19 PM
Seems unobjectionable to us.
Issue 61
19 December 1974 – 15 January 1975
The BBC were going to make Don’t Leave Your Love[r] Lying Around (Dear) by Steve Elgin record of the week on David Hamilton’s Radio 1 show… but changed their mind. The crackdown on gay saunas continues with 12 men arrested in a police raid in Kensington.
19 December 1974 – 15 January 1975
The BBC were going to make Don’t Leave Your Love[r] Lying Around (Dear) by Steve Elgin record of the week on David Hamilton’s Radio 1 show… but changed their mind. The crackdown on gay saunas continues with 12 men arrested in a police raid in Kensington.
Issue 61 - 1974 - Gay News Archive Project
A project to digitise early editions of the UK's pioneering LGBT+ newspaper Gay News
gaynewsarchive.co.uk
December 21, 2024 at 3:17 PM
Issue 61
19 December 1974 – 15 January 1975
The BBC were going to make Don’t Leave Your Love[r] Lying Around (Dear) by Steve Elgin record of the week on David Hamilton’s Radio 1 show… but changed their mind. The crackdown on gay saunas continues with 12 men arrested in a police raid in Kensington.
19 December 1974 – 15 January 1975
The BBC were going to make Don’t Leave Your Love[r] Lying Around (Dear) by Steve Elgin record of the week on David Hamilton’s Radio 1 show… but changed their mind. The crackdown on gay saunas continues with 12 men arrested in a police raid in Kensington.
ISSUE 60
5–15 December 1974
The IRA impacts on Switchboard as a bomb explodes nearby. The general secretary of CHE resigns after a year. GLF object to the art film It Is Not The Homosexual Who Is Perverse But The Situation In Which He Lives so much they have stolen the director’s only copy.
5–15 December 1974
The IRA impacts on Switchboard as a bomb explodes nearby. The general secretary of CHE resigns after a year. GLF object to the art film It Is Not The Homosexual Who Is Perverse But The Situation In Which He Lives so much they have stolen the director’s only copy.
Issue 60 - 1974 - Gay News Archive Project
A project to digitise early editions of the UK's pioneering LGBT+ newspaper Gay News
gaynewsarchive.co.uk
December 20, 2024 at 6:54 PM
ISSUE 60
5–15 December 1974
The IRA impacts on Switchboard as a bomb explodes nearby. The general secretary of CHE resigns after a year. GLF object to the art film It Is Not The Homosexual Who Is Perverse But The Situation In Which He Lives so much they have stolen the director’s only copy.
5–15 December 1974
The IRA impacts on Switchboard as a bomb explodes nearby. The general secretary of CHE resigns after a year. GLF object to the art film It Is Not The Homosexual Who Is Perverse But The Situation In Which He Lives so much they have stolen the director’s only copy.
ISSUE 59
21 November – 4 December 1974
It’s illegal for men to dance together, as Tricky Dicky found out when, in an efficient and entirely rational use of police time, two plain clothes policemen infiltrated one of his discos.
21 November – 4 December 1974
It’s illegal for men to dance together, as Tricky Dicky found out when, in an efficient and entirely rational use of police time, two plain clothes policemen infiltrated one of his discos.
Issue 59 - 1974 - Gay News Archive Project
A project to digitise early editions of the UK's pioneering LGBT+ newspaper Gay News
gaynewsarchive.co.uk
December 19, 2024 at 10:44 AM
ISSUE 59
21 November – 4 December 1974
It’s illegal for men to dance together, as Tricky Dicky found out when, in an efficient and entirely rational use of police time, two plain clothes policemen infiltrated one of his discos.
21 November – 4 December 1974
It’s illegal for men to dance together, as Tricky Dicky found out when, in an efficient and entirely rational use of police time, two plain clothes policemen infiltrated one of his discos.
ISSUE 58
7-20 November 1974
The Inland Revenue sack a man whose office telephone number was accidentally printed in a CHE ad instead of his home number. Glasgow City Council is to check the home life of all male workers and could fire anybody they suspect of homosexuality.
7-20 November 1974
The Inland Revenue sack a man whose office telephone number was accidentally printed in a CHE ad instead of his home number. Glasgow City Council is to check the home life of all male workers and could fire anybody they suspect of homosexuality.
Issue 58 - 1974 - Issue 58
A project to digitise early editions of the UK's pioneering LGBT+ newspaper Gay News
gaynewsarchive.co.uk
December 18, 2024 at 12:00 PM
ISSUE 58
7-20 November 1974
The Inland Revenue sack a man whose office telephone number was accidentally printed in a CHE ad instead of his home number. Glasgow City Council is to check the home life of all male workers and could fire anybody they suspect of homosexuality.
7-20 November 1974
The Inland Revenue sack a man whose office telephone number was accidentally printed in a CHE ad instead of his home number. Glasgow City Council is to check the home life of all male workers and could fire anybody they suspect of homosexuality.
Reposted by Gay News Archive Project
ISSUE 57
24 October–6 November 1974
Two men who used the Sauna 385 bathhouse in West Bromwich are prosecuted; one fined £150 with £15 costs, the other £125 and £25. Club Rokoko in Newcastle is closed by magistrates after the users of the building in daytime – a bingo club – objected to sharing it.
24 October–6 November 1974
Two men who used the Sauna 385 bathhouse in West Bromwich are prosecuted; one fined £150 with £15 costs, the other £125 and £25. Club Rokoko in Newcastle is closed by magistrates after the users of the building in daytime – a bingo club – objected to sharing it.
Issue 57 - 1974 - Gay News Archive Project
A project to digitise early editions of the UK's pioneering LGBT+ newspaper Gay News
gaynewsarchive.co.uk
December 17, 2024 at 9:46 AM
ISSUE 57
24 October–6 November 1974
Two men who used the Sauna 385 bathhouse in West Bromwich are prosecuted; one fined £150 with £15 costs, the other £125 and £25. Club Rokoko in Newcastle is closed by magistrates after the users of the building in daytime – a bingo club – objected to sharing it.
24 October–6 November 1974
Two men who used the Sauna 385 bathhouse in West Bromwich are prosecuted; one fined £150 with £15 costs, the other £125 and £25. Club Rokoko in Newcastle is closed by magistrates after the users of the building in daytime – a bingo club – objected to sharing it.
ISSUE 57
24 October–6 November 1974
Two men who used the Sauna 385 bathhouse in West Bromwich are prosecuted; one fined £150 with £15 costs, the other £125 and £25. Club Rokoko in Newcastle is closed by magistrates after the users of the building in daytime – a bingo club – objected to sharing it.
24 October–6 November 1974
Two men who used the Sauna 385 bathhouse in West Bromwich are prosecuted; one fined £150 with £15 costs, the other £125 and £25. Club Rokoko in Newcastle is closed by magistrates after the users of the building in daytime – a bingo club – objected to sharing it.
Issue 57 - 1974 - Gay News Archive Project
A project to digitise early editions of the UK's pioneering LGBT+ newspaper Gay News
gaynewsarchive.co.uk
December 17, 2024 at 9:46 AM
ISSUE 57
24 October–6 November 1974
Two men who used the Sauna 385 bathhouse in West Bromwich are prosecuted; one fined £150 with £15 costs, the other £125 and £25. Club Rokoko in Newcastle is closed by magistrates after the users of the building in daytime – a bingo club – objected to sharing it.
24 October–6 November 1974
Two men who used the Sauna 385 bathhouse in West Bromwich are prosecuted; one fined £150 with £15 costs, the other £125 and £25. Club Rokoko in Newcastle is closed by magistrates after the users of the building in daytime – a bingo club – objected to sharing it.
When we started the project to digitise the pioneering British LGBTQ+ newspaper of the 1970s, we advertised on Facebook.
When we advertised Issue 5, we got told we couldn't in future: Facebook doesn't take "adult" advertising.
When we advertised Issue 5, we got told we couldn't in future: Facebook doesn't take "adult" advertising.
Yesterday I pulled overt references of queerness off my site, my very successful store that sells my books that have queer main characters. Because a few days ago, Meta emailed saying my advertising on their platform will be restricted - my site was categorized as "sexuality and gender identity."
December 15, 2024 at 6:55 PM
When we started the project to digitise the pioneering British LGBTQ+ newspaper of the 1970s, we advertised on Facebook.
When we advertised Issue 5, we got told we couldn't in future: Facebook doesn't take "adult" advertising.
When we advertised Issue 5, we got told we couldn't in future: Facebook doesn't take "adult" advertising.
The front cover is a poem decrying the unequal age of consent that makes it clear that such discrimination means that there’s no guideline for what actually is acceptable.
Issue 5 - Gay News Archive Project
A project to digitise early editions of the UK's pioneering LGBT+ newspaper Gay News
gaynewsarchive.co.uk
September 27, 2024 at 4:07 PM
The front cover is a poem decrying the unequal age of consent that makes it clear that such discrimination means that there’s no guideline for what actually is acceptable.
Reposted by Gay News Archive Project
September 27, 2024 at 12:17 PM
Financial backer and loud supporter of Gay News Graham Chapman is interviewed in a two-page spread, which candidly notes that the latter part of the conversation is not printed because all involved were too drunk.
Issue 4 - Gay News Archive Project
A project to digitise early editions of the UK's pioneering LGBT+ newspaper Gay News
gaynewsarchive.co.uk
September 27, 2024 at 10:37 AM
Financial backer and loud supporter of Gay News Graham Chapman is interviewed in a two-page spread, which candidly notes that the latter part of the conversation is not printed because all involved were too drunk.
The paper attempts to widen its distribution, but receives the brush-off from The Edinburgh Bookshop and from WH Smith – the former even implying that the paper is litter. Meanwhile, it was Gay Pride in London.
Issue 3 - Gay News Archive Project
A project to digitise early editions of the UK's pioneering LGBT+ newspaper Gay News
gaynewsarchive.co.uk
September 26, 2024 at 1:19 PM
The paper attempts to widen its distribution, but receives the brush-off from The Edinburgh Bookshop and from WH Smith – the former even implying that the paper is litter. Meanwhile, it was Gay Pride in London.
Mainstream papers discuss whether the Sexual Offences Act 1967, which partially decriminalised male homosexuality for over-21s in England & Wales, has gone far enough… or too far. In Scotland, where homosexuality remains illegal, the question is whether it should be legalised… or clamped down on.
Issue 2 - Gay News Archive Project
A project to digitise early editions of the UK's pioneering LGBT+ newspaper Gay News
gaynewsarchive.co.uk
September 25, 2024 at 11:23 AM
Mainstream papers discuss whether the Sexual Offences Act 1967, which partially decriminalised male homosexuality for over-21s in England & Wales, has gone far enough… or too far. In Scotland, where homosexuality remains illegal, the question is whether it should be legalised… or clamped down on.
The first edition of Gay News. The editorial, of course, details the effort that went into setting up the newspaper. The cover story is about BBC Radio 1’s Speakeasy programme. International Times (IT) was before the House of Lords, having been prosecuted for publishing LGBT+ contact ads. They lost.
Issue 1 - Gay News Archive Project
A project to digitise early editions of the UK's pioneering LGBT+ newspaper Gay News
gaynewsarchive.co.uk
September 24, 2024 at 1:38 PM
The first edition of Gay News. The editorial, of course, details the effort that went into setting up the newspaper. The cover story is about BBC Radio 1’s Speakeasy programme. International Times (IT) was before the House of Lords, having been prosecuted for publishing LGBT+ contact ads. They lost.