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| The Fortune of War, Great Brighton Entertainment. Photo Copyright Janet Cameron |
During
the sixties, gay men became bold, and it was not uncommon to see two
gay guys holding hands in public. Lesbianism, however, was not "in
the closet" in the same way, and this was because it was
actually unrecognised.
This caused lesbians specific problems related to a sense of invisibility. While they escaped some of the abuse hurled at gay men and were able to co-habit in pairs without interference just as pairs of heterosexual female friends might co-habit for mutual benefit, they were not able to find assistance when needed, for example, as victims of domestic violence.
A film about this phenomenon was released across the country, although many versions were "cut." Brighton, however, was more tolerant than other towns.
The Killing of Sister George - a Lesbian Movie
Hove audiences were treated to the uncut version of The Killing of Sister George. This included a bedroom scene between two of the actors. The main protagonists in the film were Beryl Reid, puffing away at her cigar and knocking back a glass of gin, Susannah York, young, innocent and childlike, and Patricia Medina, a prostitute.
According to the The Argus, several members of the Legal and Parliamentary Committee attended a showing of the film in Brighton the previous month and were in full agreement that the show could be shown in Hove unabridgd, although it received an X-Certificate.
The Brighton and Hove Herald's Mary Richards said it took a strong stomach to take it. "The lesbian side of the story, even the controverisal love scene, is handled with what I suppose could be called good taste," she said cautiously.
Dusty Springfield, Brighton's Gay Icon
Stunning gay icon Dusty Sprngfield (1939-1999) lived in Wilbury Road in Hove, East Sussex. The husky-voiced singer was distinctive with her huge, blonde bouffant hairstyle and thick, sooty eyelashes and eyeshadow. She formed her group, The Springfields, in Wilbury Road.
She appeared at the Brighton Hippodrome at 52-58 Middle Street with Eden Kane in August, 1964 and was adored by the gay community.
In a BBC News report on 7 February 2006, a councillor, Mr. Bill Randall, proposed introducing a "pink plque" scheme to Brighton to commemorate the contribution made by members of the LGBT community to the city. Mr. Randall said he would like to create a gay and lesbian heritage trail, and he specifically mentioned Dusty Springfield as one person who should be remembered in this way.
Sources:
This caused lesbians specific problems related to a sense of invisibility. While they escaped some of the abuse hurled at gay men and were able to co-habit in pairs without interference just as pairs of heterosexual female friends might co-habit for mutual benefit, they were not able to find assistance when needed, for example, as victims of domestic violence.
A film about this phenomenon was released across the country, although many versions were "cut." Brighton, however, was more tolerant than other towns.
The Killing of Sister George - a Lesbian Movie
Hove audiences were treated to the uncut version of The Killing of Sister George. This included a bedroom scene between two of the actors. The main protagonists in the film were Beryl Reid, puffing away at her cigar and knocking back a glass of gin, Susannah York, young, innocent and childlike, and Patricia Medina, a prostitute.
According to the The Argus, several members of the Legal and Parliamentary Committee attended a showing of the film in Brighton the previous month and were in full agreement that the show could be shown in Hove unabridgd, although it received an X-Certificate.
The Brighton and Hove Herald's Mary Richards said it took a strong stomach to take it. "The lesbian side of the story, even the controverisal love scene, is handled with what I suppose could be called good taste," she said cautiously.
Dusty Springfield, Brighton's Gay Icon
Stunning gay icon Dusty Sprngfield (1939-1999) lived in Wilbury Road in Hove, East Sussex. The husky-voiced singer was distinctive with her huge, blonde bouffant hairstyle and thick, sooty eyelashes and eyeshadow. She formed her group, The Springfields, in Wilbury Road.
She appeared at the Brighton Hippodrome at 52-58 Middle Street with Eden Kane in August, 1964 and was adored by the gay community.
In a BBC News report on 7 February 2006, a councillor, Mr. Bill Randall, proposed introducing a "pink plque" scheme to Brighton to commemorate the contribution made by members of the LGBT community to the city. Mr. Randall said he would like to create a gay and lesbian heritage trail, and he specifically mentioned Dusty Springfield as one person who should be remembered in this way.
Sources:
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The Argus, Staff Reporter, 21 October, 1969.
-
Richards, Mary, "Film Review," The Brighton and Hove Herald, 21 November, 1969.
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Adapted from: Cameron, Janet, LGBT Brighton and Hove, Amberley Publishing, 2010.
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