Leeds pays tribute to city's trans rights pioneers
The UK's first ever conference organised for trans people by trans people has been commemorated; honouring the timeless struggle to end discrimination
HALF a century ago the UK's first conference organised by trans people for trans people was held in Leeds in West Yorkshire. Now this groundbreaking event has been commemorated with a blue plaque marking its significance.
No doubt, it hasn't come at a more appropriate time, though some may feel such recognition is somewhat late in coming. However, it surely serves as a token of acceptance and inclusion at a time when the trans community finds itself the target of a resurgent, activist prejudice.
The conference, held in 1974, was called Transvestism and Transexualism in Modern Society, and it took place on the campus at Leeds University Union.
The plaque, commissioned by the Leeds Civic Trust, is intended to serve as a permanent symbol of the role trans people have played in the cultural fabric of the city. It was mounted inside the union building during an event held in March, exactly 50 years on from the original conference.
GossipGrrrl, a trans artist and researcher based in Leeds, lobbied for the plaque and arranged this year’s conference weekend, which followed the unveiling ceremony.
“The 1974 conference is something of an urban legend – talked about by members of the local trans community but with very little in the way of recognition for it by the rest of Leeds,” she said. “The 50th anniversary seemed like the right time to nominate this landmark event to take its place in the story of our city.”
Martin Hamilton, director of the Leeds Civic Trust, added: “This conference was of huge significance in that it was the first one on trans issues convened by trans people in the UK, bringing these issues into the mainstream.
“Many of our plaques tell the stories behind people and buildings, but events and gatherings are equally as important, and this blue plaque is a means of drawing attention to a moment in history that many people will not know about.”
The plaque was unveiled by the the city’s Lord Mayor, councillor Al Garthwaite, and LGBT+ champion, councillor Hannah Bithell.
In a speech to the crowd assembled for the unveiling, Bithell said: “Leeds is, and has always been, a beacon for our LGBT+ community. Our communities advocate and fight from the [ground] up for our rights and I am delighted that this has been a proud Leeds tradition throughout history.
Equal rights
“In the current onslaught of abuse for our trans community I love being here to unveil this plaque. Our trans history should be proudly displayed. It is incredible to think of the work that has gone into the progress of the last 50 years.
“I am grateful that Luna (GossipGrrrl) fought so hard for the plaque to be put up, and that the Civic Trust and university supported its placement. In years to come we will have more and more progress towards equal rights, and I know Leeds will absolutely be at the centre of that fight. Leeds, I am really proud of you.”
The weekend-long 1974 conference, attended by over 100 delegates, was organised by June Wilmott and Caroline Robertson.
Wilmott was a local representative of the Beaumont Society, which at the time was a support group for people who were assigned male at birth but lived and identified as female (who were referred to as transsexuals), or preferred to present as female some or all of the time (who were referred to as transvestites). Robertson was a postgraduate researcher at the university.
There were numerous talks held on that inaugural weekend, which covered a range of topics, as well as a disco which was attended by delegates, and open to students from both the University of Leeds and Leeds Polytechnic (now Leeds Beckett).
At the unveiling of the plaque, the university's executive dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, professor Paul Johnson OBE, said: “What this anniversary reminds us is that addressing discrimination against trans people required some very brave people to organise, to come together, and to start the process of pressing for legal and social change.
“It is tremendously important to remember those brave people, to mark their achievements, and to remind ourselves that society always needs such people if we are to stay on our journey towards equality and justice.”
The plaque was sponsored by the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Gender Studies (CIGS); serving as a reminder of the university’s role in facilitating what many have seen as the beginning of understanding and recognising trans rights in the UK.
"I couldn't be prouder to express CIGS's sponsorship of this blue plaque,” said Dr Patricio Simonetto, director of CIGS. “In this difficult context, in which many people seem invested in attacking the rights of the trans community, this commemoration is a message for trans youth: you will always be welcome at our university.”
So, stick that in your pipe and smoke it, JKR...
MC