1. Napoleons in Manchester was opened as an LGBT bar & club in 1941 l
It was first prosecuted for ‘men’ dancing together in the 1950s,
In 1979 Chief Constable James Anderson (later of the infamous quote; homosexuals are “swirling in a human cesspit of their own making” (1986)…
It was first prosecuted for ‘men’ dancing together in the 1950s,
In 1979 Chief Constable James Anderson (later of the infamous quote; homosexuals are “swirling in a human cesspit of their own making” (1986)…
https://twitter.com/sally_hines/status/1759342315598946576
2. … had Napoleons raided when the shutters & windows were opened one hot night. The Police took names & address of everyone as they left. But a group of Trans women & crossdressers refused & started to goad the officers saying things like “if you can pick me up, I’ll leave” …
3. … & “I need a big one to come & get me”. After a standoff the police finally left as they simply could not enforce their order.
The raid led gay man Terry Waller who worked at the Town Hall of book a room for a meeting to address the issues.
Instead of a ….
The raid led gay man Terry Waller who worked at the Town Hall of book a room for a meeting to address the issues.
Instead of a ….
4. … dozen people turning up as he thought, at most, would arrive, over 600 people turned up & the meeting had to be transferred to the Great Hall (which is decorated with Ford Madox Brown's Murals illustrating the history of the city)
That was the start of today’s Gay village.
That was the start of today’s Gay village.
5. But in the 1950s & 60s the Gay Bars & clubs were situated between the Oxford Road Odeon Cinema’s Long Bar (w/ a very convenient under-street public convenience in the street outside) & the Knott Mill end of Deansgate
There was even a Gay club with primarily Black patrons; …
There was even a Gay club with primarily Black patrons; …
6. … the Picador or Piccadilly where struggling actor Mjka Scott, later an early main stay of Press For Change, worked in the bar along with my friend Patsy (who was later the House Forewoman at @ManMetUni ‘s Gaskell Building when I was a PhD student)
The change to Canal St …
The change to Canal St …
7. … came when the Council agreed to improve street lighting between Napoleon’s & thr Union Pub, after many attendees at the ‘79 meeting spoke of being robbed.
Sometimes it was by a person they had agreed to have sex with down 1 of the area’s dark alleys, but mostly on the …
Sometimes it was by a person they had agreed to have sex with down 1 of the area’s dark alleys, but mostly on the …
8. … walk between pub & club
Many of us took to running a 100yd dash, as a group, to stay safe
The first gay bar I went into was the Union
It was like coming home.
There was a trans woman, known as Mother, lip synching on a tiny stage, there were men in chiffon shirts…
Many of us took to running a 100yd dash, as a group, to stay safe
The first gay bar I went into was the Union
It was like coming home.
There was a trans woman, known as Mother, lip synching on a tiny stage, there were men in chiffon shirts…
9. … & scarves, & dykes still in their bus or ambulance driver uniforms
I remember asking what they would do if a neighbour or workmate walked in
The answer was nothing - if they walked in they were one of us, we were all there for the same reason, it was safe to be …
I remember asking what they would do if a neighbour or workmate walked in
The answer was nothing - if they walked in they were one of us, we were all there for the same reason, it was safe to be …
10. … whoever we were.
None of it was perfect but it was ours
The village is now not just LGBTQ+ but it is still a safe space where no one worries about who is using the toilets, so long as they are using them & not the doorstep.
@threadreaderapp unroll
None of it was perfect but it was ours
The village is now not just LGBTQ+ but it is still a safe space where no one worries about who is using the toilets, so long as they are using them & not the doorstep.
@threadreaderapp unroll
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