Hope you are all keeping safe and well. I’ve got that Monday feeling:

LGBT Britain Collection – explore archive films for free

British cinema boasts a long history of carefully coded LGBT imagery, but for much of the 20th century explicit depictions of gay life in drama or documentary were more or less taboo.

Gay men were subject to vicious state-sanctioned persecution, while lesbians were socially ostracised and the transgender community ignored and misunderstood. Cinematic and small-screen breakthroughs in the 1950s and 60s played their part in the public debate.

This colourful and challenging collection of films explores screen representations of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lives over the past century.

From early glimpses of ‘queer’ characters, this collection charts the path towards the 1967 Sexual Offences Act and beyond, through responses to the AIDS crisis to diverse reflections on LGBT life today.

There are currently 42 films to watch in the free section – go to https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/collection/lgbt-britain

These include:

Being Gay in the Thirties (Gay Life)

This edition of LWT’s pioneering 1980s TV series looks at gay experience 50 years earlier. 1981 35 mins.

Gay Black Group

The Gay Black Group – reasserting culture and identity on two levels. 1983 25 mins.

Homosexual Equality

The Campaign for Homosexual Equality is given airtime in the first ever community access series on British TV. 1974 50 mins.

Lesbians (Gay Life)

Gay women from different generations discuss their experiences in this revealing TV documentary. 1981 34 mins.

Miss Norah Blaney

A risqué music hall ditty uncovers the pioneering gender nonconforming ways of 1930s young things. 1932 9 mins.

Portrait of David Hockney

Filmed at the time Hockney was painting Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy, this compelling study concentrates on the textures and light which surround the artist in his home and studio. 1972 13 mins.

Quentin Crisp

Join the original Naked Civil Servant in his London bedsit for a lesson on life, love and gender politics. 1970 27 mins.

 

Surviving Sabu

A budding gay filmmaker clashes with his conservative Muslim father as they work on a film about iconic Indian star Sabu.  1997 16 mins.

What Am I?

Transgender pioneer April Ashley appears in this moving look at the challenges faced by the trans community in 1980s Britain. 1980 26 mins.

What’s a Girl Like You …

Scintillating look at the 1960s drag renaissance, with a visit to London’s Royal Vauxhall Tavern. 1969 52 mins.

 

Love and Pride

Together TV is celebrating Pride Month with all things Pride – powerful interviews, specials guests and laughs a dozen in this all new magazine style show! Look out for Divina de Campo, Joe McElderry, Michael Cashman & more!

This was streamed live, but you can now watch the show on catch up! Go to: https://youtu.be/HcDYYyalo0c