Cinema firsts

First sympathetic portrayal of gay men

The film Anders als die Andern (Different from the Others) was released in 1919. It was one of the first sympathetic portrayals of gay men in cinema.

The film is a silent German melodrama intended as a polemic  against the then-current laws under Germany’s Paragraph 175, which made homosexuality a criminal offence.

The film’s basic plot was used again in the 1961 UK film Victim, starring Dirk Bogarde.

The first same sex kiss

The first same sex kiss in film history (or at least one of the earliest known ones) took place in the 1927 film Wings – the first and only silent film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. 

Buddy Rogers and Richard Arlen star in the film, playing two combat pilots who vie for the affection of the same woman (Clara Bow). That’s the storyline. But neither shows as much love for her … as they do for each other.

First pro lesbian film

The film Mädchen in Uniform (1931), a love story between a teacher and student in Germany, is widely recognised as the first pro-lesbian film.

It was banned by the National Socialists, but it opened the way for pro-lesbian film production and was followed by films such as Acht Mädels im Boot (1932), Anna and Elisabeth (1933) and Ich für dich, du für mich (Me for You, You for Me, 1934). 

Moving forward …

It wasn’t until 1977 that San Francisco hosted the world’s first gay film festival.

Derek Jarman Pocket Park

Manchester Art Gallery and Pride in Ageing at LGBT Foundation have worked in partnership to create the Derek Jarman Pocket Park, situated at the Mosley Street entrance of Manchester Art Gallery. This community garden space has been designed and planted by a volunteer group of green-fingered LGBT+ over 50s.

The Volunteer Gardeners have released an updated version of the garden zine, a digital version of which can be found here. Its release has been supported by the University of Manchester. It’s a fantastic document of the garden’s creation and launch.

Bridgewater Hall

We’re delighted to advise that The Bridgewater Hall has offered Out In The City members 12 FREE tickets to 23 performances from the International Concert Series, BBC Philharmonic and Manchester Mid-day Concerts Society at The Bridgewater Hall from 30 September to the end of May 2024.

The first seven concerts are listed below. Please let us know which ones you are interested in (just list the dates). The tickets will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Please contact us here.

The remaining concerts will be added to the website soon. 

Saturday 30 September 2023 7.30pm

BBC Philharmonic – Janáček and Tchaikovsky

John Storgårds conductor

Janáček Sinfonietta
Alma Mahler arr. Colin and David Matthews Six Songs
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 in B minor, ‘Pathétique’

Monday 2 October 2023 7.30pm

Basel Chamber Orchestra

International Concert Series 

Shostakovich, orch. Barshai Chamber Symphony Op.110a in C minor
Mozart Piano Concerto No.14 in E flat major, K449
Heinz Holliger Eisblumen (Ice Flowers)
Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Bach Piano Concerto in D minor BWV 1052

Saturday 7 October 2023 7.30pm

BBC Philharmonic – Beethoven’s Fifth

Mark Wigglesworth conductor

Elgar Overture ‘Cockaigne (In London Town)’
Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major
Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C minor

Saturday 14 October 2023 7.30pm

BBC Philharmonic – Anna Thorvalsdottir’s ARCHORA

Eva Ollikainen conductor

Haydn ‘L’isola disabitata’ – overture
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 18 in B flat major (K 456)
Anna Thorvalsdottir ARCHORA
Debussy La mer

Tuesday 17 October 2023 1.10pm

Hugh Mackay, cello

Manchester Mid-day Concerts Society

Claude Debussy Sonata for Cello and Piano in D minor, L.135 
Gabriel Faure Romance Op. 69, and ‘Papillon’ Op. 77
Frank Bridge Sonata for Cello and Piano in D minor

Friday 27 October 2023 7.30pm

National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine

International Concert Series 

Lyatoshynsky Grazhyna
Bruch Violin Concerto No.1
Sibelius Symphony No.1

Saturday 28 October 2023 7.30pm

BBC Philharmonic – An Evening of Finnish Wonder

John Storgårds conductor

Sibelius Pohjola’s Daughter
Sofia Gubaidulina  ‘In Tempus Praesens’ for violin and orchestra
Einojuhani Rautavaara Symphony No. 7, ‘Angel of Light’