Working Class Movement Library

This week we visited The Working Class Movement Library (WCML), a short bus ride from Manchester city centre.

The WCML is a collection of books, periodicals, pamphlets, archives and artefacts, relating to the development of the political and cultural institutions of the working class in Salford.

In 1953, two bibliophiles, Eddie Frow and Ruth Haines, met at a Communist Party Summer School. In 1956, they set up home together and the merger of their book collections was the beginning of the Working Class Movement Library.

They spent their spare time and money travelling around Britain, gathering new items for the collection. By 1960, the collection was being consulted by historians and academics, and they had attracted the support of other collectors of labour movement material.

By the mid 1980s, the collection had filled their semi in Trafford. Salford City Council agreed to support the library and, in 1987, gave the WCML, and the Frows, a new home in a former nurses’ home, Jubilee House, situated near the University of Salford.

Thanks to Nathan who guided us around the building. We also visited the Old Fire Station café next door for teas and coffees.

More photos can be seen here.

Japan

A man is suing the Japanese government after a judge barred him from wearing rainbow-coloured socks to a court hearing on same-sex marriage last year.

Ken Suzuki, a School of Law professor at Meiji University, was wearing the rainbow-patterned socks when he attempted to observe the same-sex marriage trial in Fukuoka District Court in June 2023. He says he was told by court officials to hide the rainbow pattern ahead of the trial, and was only admitted after he folded the pattern inward, obscuring it.

He’s now joined two other individuals who were ordered to change or hide clothing before attending other unrelated cases in a case before the Tokyo District Court seeking 3.3 million yen (approximately £17,000) in damages. 

Suzuki claims that the court overstepped its authority to maintain order by requiring that he remove the socks, as they did not disrupt the court proceedings. He also says the order was inconsistent, as he was able to wear the socks without issue while attending a different same-sex marriage trial at the Tokyo District Court. 

Furthermore, the professor said that during bag checks at the building entrance, he was told to “conceal” a strap reading “Love & Peace” in rainbow colours on his bag.

Several courts across Japan are weighing the rights of same-sex couples. Five of six lower courts that have heard same-sex marriage cases have ruled that the ban on same-sex marriage violates the constitution, as have two superior courts that have heard challenges. Further court hearings are expected in superior courts, and eventually at the Supreme Court. 

Photography project

Poppy, a Queer photographer, currently studying at Manchester Metropolitan University is undertaking a photography project on the LGBTQ+ community in Manchester.

She would love to get involved with the older generation of the community to document and celebrate your amazing contributions over the years and hear your stories!

If interested, the project would include taking some portraits and a short interview.

This opportunity is unpaid but she can offer printed or digital copies of the photos she takes!

Come to our meeting on Thursday, 28 November from 2.00pm to 4.00pm at Cross Street Chapel, 29 Cross Street, Manchester M2 1NL to find out more.

Research Project

Jason, a 48 year old gay man, is studying a BSc in Psychology at Arden University in Manchester.

He is undertaking his final major researching project and will be completing it on “Gay Men and their use of Gay Dating Apps” with a focus on the experience of users and the pros and cons they may have identified.

Part of the project involves recruiting participants that are aged over 55 for a brief interview about their experience either face to face or online. The project will have full ethical approval from the university and a Participant information sheet, consent form and debrief form will all be provided.

The aim of the study is to help identify the benefits and drawbacks of these apps and the importance of having social opportunities for older gay men in the community.

If anyone would be happy to participate, please contact us here.

Celebrating HIV Activism

The Lineup

4.00pm	Welcome from George House Trust and ACT UP PIN UPS Nathaniel Hall, Paul Fairweather, Tony Openshaw
4.10pm	Screenings and Q+A of Nathaniel’s films – HIV+Me and GHT’s Pioneers of Progress
4.30pm	HIV Activism Quiz
5.15pm	Recording our stories from ACT UP Manchester, Section 28 and iconic queer protests
6.00pm – 8.00pm	Calendar signings, food and DJ’s

Get tickets here.

World AIDS Day event in USA – your help is needed

Scott Hale from the Institute of Human Viralogy at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA, is looking for short written accounts (just a paragraph or two) by people who have been affected by HIV or use PrEP as prevention. Written accounts can remain anonymous.

There will be a presentation of the stories, to inspire and promote awareness of people living with HIV, on Thursday 5 December 2024 with medical director, Dr Natalie Spicyn, presenting some background information.

Please send to us here and I will forward them on.