Homosexuality was decriminalised in the UK.
Philip Jones was councillor for South Hornsey from 1978-1997, becoming Deputy Leader of the Council from 1987-1991. He was Haringey's first openly gay councillor in an era of national campaigning for gay and lesbian rights.
Haringey Council grants funding to the newly-opened 'Reading Matters' bookshop in Wood Green, which stocked a wide range of material promoting free speech and free thought.
Haringey nightclub owner Nicky Price launched the UK's first gay one-nighters in straight clubs. Called Bolts, it started in the Lazer Club on Green Lanes, Harringay. Bolts became the launch for some well-known names from the ‘80s pop world – a young George Michael.
The book 'Jenny Lives with Eric and Martin' by Susanne Bösche was published in English in 1983. The book told the story of a girl living with her dad and his partner.
Gay rights became part of the Labour Party’s manifesto. At the time, Haringey was one of 10 councils who pitched in to donate more than £600,000 to gay projects and groups.
Campaigning for lesbian and gay rights stepped up in this year. The group called Positive Images was formed.
The Labour Party won control of Haringey Council in May 1986, with lesbian and gay equality being an important part of their manifesto. Vince Gillespie was one of the newly-elected councillors. He had been encouraged to stand as a councillor on account of his commitment to gay rights. When Vince was selected to stand for Bruce Grove ward, on his election address he was named as a gay and lesbian rights candidate - the first candidate to describe themselves as openly gay. As a result, Vince was targeted by anti-gay campaigners.
The Haringey Lesbian and Gay Unit was launched by the council - the first of its kind in the country - to highlight the rights of LGBT people. Pioneering campaigner Femi Otitoju was part of the unit, which was within the council's Equalities team.
A copy of the book 'Jenny lives with Eric and Martin', was available to school children in Haringey. A group of local parents complained - sparking protests on the streets of Wood Green, for and against gay rights. The news caused public outcry across the country with national newspapers criticising local authorities for promoting 'homosexuality propaganda' to children at the tax payer’s expense.
In reaction to the growing anti-gay sentiment, the Haringey Lesbian and Gay Unit commissioned a banner that was used regularly on marches to ensure visibility.
This news report covers one of the gay rights protests outside the Civic Centre in Haringey.
The Positive Images Campaign and Haringey Black Action group joined forces to organise the first UK demonstration ‘Smash the Backlash’ on 2 May 1987 to protest against racism and bigotry, highlighting the lives of black lesbians and gay men. The demo marched from Duckett’s Common to Bruce Castle Park via The Roundway in Tottenham, with 3,500 people taking part.
Tottenham MP Bernie Grant became the first member of parliament to voice opposition to Section 28 in government. The clause became law a year later in 1988.
The Department of Education and Science expressed concerns to Haringey Council’s education team about the “promotion of homosexuality”. It came after the council's Lesbian and Gay Unit wrote to the borough’s head teachers, urging them to share positive views of homosexuality with pupils.
On 23 May, the night before Section 28 became law, four protestors, including Haringey’s Booan Temple stormed the BBC 6 O’Clock news, handcuffed themselves to equipment and shouted ‘Stop Section 28’.
