Catalogue Number
NMLH.2012.17
Object Name
Banner
Title
'North West Campaign For Lesbian And Gay Equality. Never Going Underground. Lesbian And Gay Out And Proud.'
Place
Manchester, UK
People
Chris Fox, Terry Waller, North West Campaign For Lesbian And Gay Equality
Events
Section 28, Anti-Section 28 Manchester rally
Date
c.1990?
Creator(s)
Description
A banner with a central logo in the style of the London Underground's red and blue circular logo, with the words 'Never Going Underground'. Text above the logo says 'North West Campaign For Lesbian And Gay Equality'. Below the logo says 'Lesbian And Gay Out And Proud' in blue writing.
The banner was created in response to the passing of Clause or Section 28 of the Local Government Act in 1988 which prevented organisations which received government funding (including schools, museums, and some healthcare settings) from 'promoting homosexuality'. The message on the banner - 'Never Going Underground' was a defiant slogan insisting that the prohibition of discussion of LGBTQIA+ identities wouldn't remove LGBTQIA+ people from public life. The banner was used during the anti-Section 28 rally in Albert Square, Manchester. This rally, on 20th February 1988, attended by over 20,000 people, was the largest civil disobedience demonstration in the 20th century, with speeches from LGBTQIA+ activists including Sir Ian McKellen and Peter Tatchell.
Section 28 was in place from 1988 until 2002 in England and Wales, preventing a generation of LGBTQIA+ people receiving information or support in schools. It also prevented open discussion of safer sex for LGBTQIA+ people at the height of the HIV epidemic.
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