People’s History Museum is hosting an evening event to mark the 40th anniversary of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM); an organisation that played a unique role in the events of the 1984 to 1985 miners’ strike. Taking place on Thursday 27 February, from 6pm to 9pm, as part of a programme of events for LGBT+ History Month, Solidarity Forever: 40 Years of LGSM features speakers who were part of the events, the LGSM archives and a chance to see some objects for the first time since they’ve been a part of PHM’s collection.

The first steps in the creation of LGSM came after Mark Ashton and Mike Jackson attended a talk by a striking miner, which made such an impression that they subsequently organised a strike fund collection at Gay Pride in June 1984. LGSM was officially formed a month later and would continue to fundraise for mining communities throughout the strike.

The focal point of the PHM event will be when Jonathan Blake, an HIV activist and campaigner as well as LGSM member, and Mike Jackson join PHM’s Collections Assistant Jaime Starr in conversation to explore the solidarity between the LGBTQIA+ community and the National Union of Mineworkers, and discuss key moments in the organisation’s history, including the iconic Pits and Perverts fundraising gig held in Camden’s Electric Ballroom.

The events of 1984-1985 were made into the film Pride (2014), and copies of the accompanying book will be available to purchase at the event. Attendees will also be able to visit PHM’s archives, where the LGSM collection is held. Materials include the minutes of the first LGSM meeting, correspondence and a range of publicity material from fundraising events. On display for the first time, and only for this event, will be a photographic exhibition made by LGSM for Gay Pride in 1985. Presenting on the exterior as a simple black suitcase, it is actually a custom-made travelling exhibition that LGSM members shipped around the UK to tell their story as a fundraising effort to pay jailed miners’ legal fees.

Tickets for Solidarity Forever: 40 Years of LGSM are £20 (£10 Concession) and bookable in advance here. The event is suitable for ages 16+ (under 18s must have an accompanying adult). A PHM blog post titled What was LGSM?, written by Jaime Starr, is here.