Catalogue Number
NMLH.2019.100
Object Name
T-Shirt
Title
Defend Susan Shell / Gay Rights at Work
Place
SHREWSBURY
People
Susan Shell
Date
around 1981
Description
Red t-shirt, text reading 'DEFEND SUSAN SHELL GAY RIGHTS AT WORK' are printed in black on the front of the t-shirt.
In 1981, Susan Shell was sacked from her job as a residential care assistant for being a lesbian. While she had the support of her union, NUPE, the law offered no protection at the time. A campaign sprang up to defend Susan Shell and push for LGBT rights to be enshrined in law- it also saw NUPE affiliate to the Labour Campaign for Lesbian and Gay Rights, becoming the first trade union to do so.
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