Alan Dobbie, councillor for Noel Park ward, became the first openly gay mayor of Haringey.
Wood Green arts charity Wise Thoughts was established, helping to address social justice issues and the needs of Haringey’s LGBT and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.
From 1999 to 2001 the London Mardi Gras Festival was held in Finsbury Park, following the London/ Gay Pride Parade.
Equalisation of the age of consent for gay men nationwide.
UK’s Adoption and Children Act allowed same sex couples to adopt.
MP for Hornsey and Wood Green Barbara Roche, who was Minister for Social Exclusion and Equalities, spoke in support of civil partnerships, saying there was a strong case for allowing same-sex couples to register their relationships.
Section 28 was repealed.
On 21 December 2005 at 9am, Colin Ward and Ric Sajor became pioneers, leading the way to make history by becoming the first Civil Partnership couple in Haringey. Although they had already been together for 15 years, their journey to that day was long, including having to work with the Stonewall Immigration Group to change same-sex immigration laws.
On Saturday 29 March, the first gay couple to marry in Haringey were Subodh Rathod and Niranjan Kamatkar. The couple tied the knot at 9.15am at the Civic Centre in Wood Green. The couple were also the first gay Indian couple to marry in the UK under the new marriage equality legislation.
Creative grooms Benjamin Till and Nathan Taylor wrote and staged their entire wedding as a musical - including sung vows, sung readings and show-stopping ensembles from the congregation. 'Our Gay Wedding: The Musical' was staged at the Alexandra Palace Theatre and shown on Channel 4.
The Molly Spoon Archive project and exhibition was launched at Bruce Castle Museum. It explored the radical LGBTQ+ history of Haringey and created a collection of oral histories from activists who campaigned for lesbian gay rights during the 1980s.
Haringey Council began work to make the council a more LGBTQ+ friendly place, with support from Stonewall.
January - The LGBTQIA+ Community Network was formed, consisting of 15 organisations from across the borough working with and championing the needs of the LGBTQIA+ population.
February - Cabinet reinstates its commitment to the LGBT+ population with a new action plan.
June - The Haringey Vanguard Project, a flagship 2-year heritage partnership and project between Bruce Castle Museum and Archive and London Metropolitan Archives, led by the project officer Veronica McKenzie and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund - began collecting archives, oral interviews and histories of black, Asian and minority ethnic LGBTQ+ communities and activism in the borough for the period 1970s-1990s.
July - Leader of Haringey Council, Cllr Joseph Ejiofor signed the Stonewall ‘Come Out for LGBT’ pledge, vowing to continue to battle for LGBT+ equality. Haringey Council staff attend the Pride in London parade during LGBT Pride Month.
September - The Haringey Has Pride project, led by Jacksons Lane, recreate a 1989 Haringey Pride Festival that had started at Wood Green. Residents enjoyed artistic performances and a vibrant mini parade on Ducketts Common. The project was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and was part of the wider project 'Haringey Has Pride', celebrating and investigating Haringey’s rich Heritage in LGBTQ+ activism.
November - GFEST, the annual LGBTQI+ arts festival led by Wise Thoughts, celebrated its ten year anniversary with the theme ‘Have LGBTQI+ people achieved full equality now?’
Haringey Council joins Pride in London parade and launches HarinGAY t-shirts.
Wood Green Business Improvement District (BID) with partners came together to create a day event called 'Haringey Pride' to celebrate LGTBQI+ communities in Haringey. The Festival continued in 2021 and is planned for 2022.
February - During the second national lockdown during the pandemic, the flagship project Haringey Vanguard was celebrated with the virtual launch of the Project website and exhibition 'We Have Always Been Here' and screened online to great acclaim.
On Saturday 30 October Haringey Council unveiled the first LGBTQ+ commemorative plaque in the borough at The Roundway (west arm) on the Tottenham and Wood Green border. The plaque commemorates the Smash the Backlash march of 2 May 1987 organised by the Positive Images Campaign and Haringey Black Action group. The plaque is positioned alongside the third rainbow crossing in Haringey.
Haringey marks LGBT+ History Month each February and holds events throughout the year where you can learn, enjoy and be inspired by Haringey’s LGBTQ+ community and history.
We’ll keep fighting for LGBTQ+ equality and inclusion. To get involved, look for advice or connect with local groups, do get in touch with Haringey's LGBTQIA+ Community Network.