Distribution

Britain on Film: LGBT Britain

Dir: various

United Kingdom (UK)

1909 - 1994

85 mins

PG

Play Dates

  • Show All
  • South East
  • London
  • Wales
  • South West
  • Scotland
  • North
  • Midlands
  • Northern Ireland

AK Bell Library

15/02/2018

- 15/02/2018

Perth

Arts Picturehouse

22/08/2017

- 22/08/2017

Cambridge

Ashford Gay Group

16/12/2017

- 16/12/2017

Aylesbury High School

19/04/2018

- 19/04/2018

Aylesbury

Barbican Centre

19/08/2017

- 19/08/2017

City of London,

London

Basingstoke Discovery Centre

17/02/2018

- 17/02/2018

Basingstoke

Bedford Central Library

27/02/2018

- 27/02/2018

Bedford

Behind The Lines

03/10/2017

- 03/10/2017

Hove

BFI Southbank

17/07/2017

- 17/07/2017

Lambeth,

London

BFI Southbank

27/06/2017

- 27/06/2017

Lambeth,

London

Body Positive

23/02/2018

- 24/02/2018

Crewe

Chapter

25/08/2017

- 30/08/2017

Excluded Dates: 26, 27, 29

Cardiff

Christian Aid Sexuality Network

19/07/2018

- 19/07/2018

London

Cine-Sister CIC

05/07/2019

- 05/07/2019

Peterborough

Cleethorpes Library

06/06/2018

- 06/06/2018

Cleethorpes

Curzon Cinema & Arts

01/10/2017

- 01/10/2017

Clevedon

Depot

08/02/2019

- 14/02/2019

Lewes

Dorset History Centre

22/02/2018

- 22/02/2018

Dorchester

Ealing Libraries

18/02/2020

- 18/02/2020

Ealing

Eden Court Theatre

19/08/2017

- 20/08/2017

Films at Shadforth

24/09/2017

- 24/09/2017

Shadforth

Friends of The National Archives

13/06/2018

- 13/06/2018

Richmond

Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Fest

18/11/2017

- 18/11/2017

Hackney,

London

Gosport Discovery Centre

21/02/2018

- 21/02/2018

Gosport

Gosport Discovery Centre

15/02/2018

- 15/02/2018

Gosport

Gosport Discovery Centre

20/02/2018

- 20/02/2018

Gosport

Hebden Bridge Picture House

08/08/2017

- 08/08/2017

Hebden Bridge

Hull Independent Cinema

25/07/2017

- 25/07/2017

Into Film Festival

17/11/2017

- 17/11/2017

London

Islington Museum

08/02/2018

- 08/02/2018

London

JW3

07/11/2017

- 07/11/2017

Camden,

London

L Fest

23/07/2017

- 23/07/2017

Loughborough

Leeds Queer Film Festival

16/09/2017

- 16/09/2017

Leeds

Levflix

19/08/2018

- 19/08/2018

Manchester

Ludlow Assembly Rooms

16/06/2018

- 16/06/2018

Ludlow

National Library of Scotland

14/02/2018

- 14/02/2018

Glasgow

National Maritime Museum Cornwall

14/02/2018

- 14/02/2018

Falmouth

Northampton Filmhouse

21/10/2017

- 21/10/2017

Northampton

Ofcom

09/11/2017

- 09/11/2017

London

Oswestry Film Society

18/10/2017

- 18/10/2017

Oswestry

Perton Library

14/02/2018

- 14/02/2018

Perton

Queen's Film Theatre

16/08/2017

- 16/08/2017

Belfast

Reading Central Library

24/02/2018

- 24/02/2018

Reading

Screen 84

03/11/2017

- 03/11/2017

London

Senate House Library

08/05/2018

- 08/05/2018

London

Sheffield Central Library

21/02/2018

- 21/02/2018

Sheffield

Somerset Film

17/05/2018

- 17/05/2018

Bridgwater

South Gloucestershire Council

05/02/2018

- 05/02/2018

Yate

South Yardley Library

21/02/2019

- 21/02/2019

Birmingham

Surrey Heritage

22/02/2018

- 22/02/2018

Woking

Swansea Central Library

24/02/2018

- 24/02/2018

Swansea

The Diversity Trust

25/02/2018

- 25/02/2018

Yate

The Diversity Trust

20/05/2018

- 20/05/2018

Yate

The Dukes

05/09/2017

- 05/09/2017

Lancaster

The Forum (Hexham)

23/03/2019

- 23/03/2019

Hexham

The Harris

05/02/2020

- 05/02/2020

Preston

The Keep Archives

29/02/2020

- 29/02/2020

Brighton

The Lexi Cinema

30/07/2017

- 02/08/2017

Excluded Dates: 31,1

Brent,

London

The Showroom (Gallery)

26/09/2017

- 26/09/2017

London

Theatr Clwyd

06/09/2017

- 06/09/2017

Mold

Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure

14/02/2018

- 14/02/2018

Ilford

Walkley Community Centre

10/02/2018

- 10/02/2018

Sheffield

Waltham Library

13/07/2018

- 13/07/2018

Waltham

Winchester Discovery Centre

15/02/2018

- 15/02/2018

Winchester

AK Bell Library

15/02/2018

- 15/02/2018

Perth

Ashford Gay Group

16/12/2017

- 16/12/2017

Aylesbury High School

19/04/2018

- 19/04/2018

Aylesbury

Basingstoke Discovery Centre

17/02/2018

- 17/02/2018

Basingstoke

Bedford Central Library

27/02/2018

- 27/02/2018

Bedford

Behind The Lines

03/10/2017

- 03/10/2017

Hove

Body Positive

23/02/2018

- 24/02/2018

Crewe

Christian Aid Sexuality Network

19/07/2018

- 19/07/2018

London

Cleethorpes Library

06/06/2018

- 06/06/2018

Cleethorpes

Dorset History Centre

22/02/2018

- 22/02/2018

Dorchester

Ealing Libraries

18/02/2020

- 18/02/2020

Ealing

Films at Shadforth

24/09/2017

- 24/09/2017

Shadforth

Friends of The National Archives

13/06/2018

- 13/06/2018

Richmond

Gosport Discovery Centre

21/02/2018

- 21/02/2018

Gosport

Gosport Discovery Centre

15/02/2018

- 15/02/2018

Gosport

Gosport Discovery Centre

20/02/2018

- 20/02/2018

Gosport

Hull Independent Cinema

25/07/2017

- 25/07/2017

Into Film Festival

17/11/2017

- 17/11/2017

London

Islington Museum

08/02/2018

- 08/02/2018

London

L Fest

23/07/2017

- 23/07/2017

Loughborough

Leeds Queer Film Festival

16/09/2017

- 16/09/2017

Leeds

Levflix

19/08/2018

- 19/08/2018

Manchester

National Library of Scotland

14/02/2018

- 14/02/2018

Glasgow

National Maritime Museum Cornwall

14/02/2018

- 14/02/2018

Falmouth

Ofcom

09/11/2017

- 09/11/2017

London

Oswestry Film Society

18/10/2017

- 18/10/2017

Oswestry

Perton Library

14/02/2018

- 14/02/2018

Perton

Reading Central Library

24/02/2018

- 24/02/2018

Reading

Screen 84

03/11/2017

- 03/11/2017

London

Senate House Library

08/05/2018

- 08/05/2018

London

Sheffield Central Library

21/02/2018

- 21/02/2018

Sheffield

Somerset Film

17/05/2018

- 17/05/2018

Bridgwater

South Gloucestershire Council

05/02/2018

- 05/02/2018

Yate

South Yardley Library

21/02/2019

- 21/02/2019

Birmingham

Surrey Heritage

22/02/2018

- 22/02/2018

Woking

Swansea Central Library

24/02/2018

- 24/02/2018

Swansea

The Dukes

05/09/2017

- 05/09/2017

Lancaster

The Harris

05/02/2020

- 05/02/2020

Preston

The Keep Archives

29/02/2020

- 29/02/2020

Brighton

The Showroom (Gallery)

26/09/2017

- 26/09/2017

London

Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure

14/02/2018

- 14/02/2018

Ilford

Walkley Community Centre

10/02/2018

- 10/02/2018

Sheffield

Waltham Library

13/07/2018

- 13/07/2018

Waltham

Winchester Discovery Centre

15/02/2018

- 15/02/2018

Winchester

Arts Picturehouse

22/08/2017

- 22/08/2017

Cambridge

Cine-Sister CIC

05/07/2019

- 05/07/2019

Peterborough

Depot

08/02/2019

- 14/02/2019

Lewes

Barbican Centre

19/08/2017

- 19/08/2017

City of London,

London

BFI Southbank

17/07/2017

- 17/07/2017

Lambeth,

London

BFI Southbank

27/06/2017

- 27/06/2017

Lambeth,

London

Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Fest

18/11/2017

- 18/11/2017

Hackney,

London

JW3

07/11/2017

- 07/11/2017

Camden,

London

The Lexi Cinema

30/07/2017

- 02/08/2017

Excluded Dates: 31,1

Brent,

London

Chapter

25/08/2017

- 30/08/2017

Excluded Dates: 26, 27, 29

Cardiff

Theatr Clwyd

06/09/2017

- 06/09/2017

Mold

Curzon Cinema & Arts

01/10/2017

- 01/10/2017

Clevedon

The Diversity Trust

25/02/2018

- 25/02/2018

Yate

The Diversity Trust

20/05/2018

- 20/05/2018

Yate

Eden Court Theatre

19/08/2017

- 20/08/2017

Hebden Bridge Picture House

08/08/2017

- 08/08/2017

Hebden Bridge

The Forum (Hexham)

23/03/2019

- 23/03/2019

Hexham

Ludlow Assembly Rooms

16/06/2018

- 16/06/2018

Ludlow

Northampton Filmhouse

21/10/2017

- 21/10/2017

Northampton

Queen's Film Theatre

16/08/2017

- 16/08/2017

Belfast

Britain’s LGBT history is the inspiring subject of our fourth Britain on Film on Tour programme. With films spanning 1909 to 1994, it documents a century in which homosexuality went from crime to Pride, via decades of profoundly courageous activism, and the shifting attitudes to LGBT people and their rights across the board throughout a time of explosive social change.

Including some of the earliest known representations of LGBT people on screen, the collection includes a 1925 film on ‘Cutie Cattaro’, a boxer more interested in flirting than fighting and a drag queen, ‘Percy’ competing for a prize in 1909. Exploring the struggles and identity politics of the ‘80s and ‘90s, the films cover early AIDS victims recounting their painful experiences; the formation of the Gay Black Group, an early instance of intersectional thinking; and the 1980 fight for transgender rights in the European Court.

It’s a moving and fascinating collection, a social document encompassing both the collective public fight for basic rights and equality and more personal, intimate and psychological ones: the shedding of shame and the ability to be open about one’s most private self; the claiming of the right to love and to say publicly, proudly: this is who I am.

Please note: the programme contains a sequence of flashing lights which might affect audience members with photosensitive epilepsy.

Play Dates

This title is no longer available for booking from the ICO

Films in the programme

Battling Bruisers: Some Boxing Buffoonery (1925), part of LGBT Britain

Battling Bruisers: Some Boxing Buffoonery (1925)

‘Cutie Cattaro’ is the nicest man in boxing, with his elegant walk and camp gestures leaving us in no doubt that we are watching one of the earliest representations of gay men in British cinema. The kisses he and his opponent exchange as they enter the ring may read as a greeting – but the cumulative effect of hints on screen reveal a pair of boxers more interested in each other than the fight.

This Week: Homosexuals (1964), part of LGBT Britain

This Week: Homosexuals (1964) & This Week: Lesbians (1965)

In 1964, This Week produced a truly ground-breaking programme which gave a voice to gay men three years before homosexuality was legalised in the UK. The following year, they turned their attention to lesbianism. Despite the disparaging comments of the interviewer, many of which would be unthinkable on television now, the interviewees respond with both articulate and moving stories.

Hints and Hobbies No.11 (1926)

The Hints and Hobbies series amused and enlightened 1920s cinemagoers with invaluable advice which, we can only hope, few actually tried at home. This extract – Hints to the Ladies on Jiu-Jitsu – is a highlight of the eleventh edition, and perhaps a long-lost chapter from the history of lesbian erotica…

Gays: Speaking Up (1978)

“What’s it like being a homosexual in modern, so-called permissive Britain?” asks presenter Llew Gardner in this Thames TV studio discussion. An ‘audience of gays’ patiently explain to Gardner – and by extension the straight world he represents – the challenges they face in coming out and the self-respect gained by acknowledging their true identity.

David is Homosexual (1978)

This Super8 educational film was made by the Lewisham branch of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE) and follows lead character David as he comes out to his family and finds new friends in the burgeoning gay rights movement. The extract includes rare footage of the 1976 Gay Pride march in London.

Gay Life (1980)

LWT’s Gay Life was the UK’s first dedicated LGBT TV series. This episode, ‘Gay Geography’ celebrates the opening of gay nightclub Heaven in central London by exploring what the contemporary clubbing scene has to offer gay men of all persuasions, with tensions between the emerging factions – ‘camp’ vs. ‘masc’, drag queens vs. leather queens – dominating the programme.

How Percy Won the Beauty Competition (1909)

Drag has a long history in British culture and was popular with gay and straight audiences alike. This is one of the earliest surviving films to feature a man in drag, with protagonist Percy entering a female beauty contest in order to win a £100 prize.

AIDS: The Victims (1985)

Current affairs series TV Eye meets two AIDS sufferers who recount their experiences of living with the disease and facing society’s suspicion, fear and misconceptions. When the programme was made 58 AIDS-related deaths had been recorded in Britain; by 2016 that figure had grown to almost 23,000.

Gay Black Group (1983)

The formation of the Gay Black Group was a landmark in black and Asian LGBT history. With regular meetings at Gay’s the Word bookshop in London, it offered a sounding board and support for queer people of colour during the 1980s. Outsiders by virtue of both their sexuality and ethnicity, the group attempted to negotiate a path through the interwoven complexities of cultural and sexual identity.

What Am I? (1980)

Broadcast as the right for transgender people to re-assign their birth certificates and to marry was being put to the European Court of Human Rights, this television report featured a range of interviews that revealed common misconceptions and assumptions of the day; in particular, the confusion between gender identity and sexuality.

Miss Norah Blaney (1932)

Norah Blaney and her partner Gwen Farrar were household names in the 1920s, with a music hall act incorporating popular songs and witty repartee combined with physical humour. Lovers from 1915 to 1931, their offstage partnership was no secret. This film captures one of Norah’s final performances, singing “Masculine Women, Feminine Men” – a popular song notable for its queer subtext.

Age of Dissent (1994), part of LGBT Britain

Age of Dissent (1994)

This documentary followed a battle to lower British legislation on the UK gay male age of consent. We see confident, colourful footage of Pride 1993, as the march makes its way through the streets of central London to the open-air festival in Brockwell Park where revellers were promised ‘the most fun you can have with 50,000 people you’ve never met’.

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