Uncovering a largely hidden past: Aspects of Southampton’s LGBT history with Dr Clifford Williams

Presented by: Southampton Cultural Services

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0	SOUTHAMPTON: City Art Gallery - LECTURE THEATRE
P	Saturday 5th November, 2022
N	1:55pm

Event information

Explore the themes of Lucy Ash’s exhibition, Invisible Portraits, at a fascinating talk with Dr Clifford Williams.

LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans) history is sometimes referred to as a hidden history. This is because so much history went unrecorded or was erased at a time when being lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans (LGBT) was seen as sinful, shameful and even criminal. It is only in very recent times, largely since the 1960s, that some people have made great efforts to record what was previously missing from many history books and archives.

Dr Clifford Williams has delved extensively into the archives to unearth some of Southampton’s LGBT history. Learn about the gay Southampton barber who ended up being recorded in a pamphlet written by a condemned man in 1750; hear about the year the city council welcomed the Campaign for Homosexual Equality Conference after other cities and towns refused them a venue; discover how, compared to Portsmouth and much of the UK, Southampton in the mid 1970s was comparatively a good place to be gay/lesbian. The talk will look at some of the documents and photographs associated with the city’s LGBT past.

Dr Clifford Williams is an author and researcher. His books include A history of women policing Hampshire and the Isle of Wight 1915-2016 (HCHS 2016) and Courage to Be: Organised gay youth in England 1967-1990 (The Book Guild Ltd. 2021). He is currently researching police and gay men 1950-2010.

This talk will last around 45 minutes to an hour.

In the unlikely event of our having to cancel a session, we will offer a full refund. Unfortunately tickets are otherwise non-refundable. Please contact us if you wish to transfer your ticket to a friend if you cannot attend for any reason.