New Directions in Equality Agendas: Opportunities and Threats

Abstract

In their research into the changing politics of lesbian and gay equality in local government, Cooper et al. (2004) argue that there has been a marked shift away from conceptions of lesbian, gay and bisexual people as a class, which characterised early political movements. The political activism of the 1980s was successful in creating embryonic public spaces for lesbian, gay and bisexual people in community centres, help-lines, youth provision and support groups. Some local authorities adopted socially liberal and redistributive policies. The GLC gave financial support to emerging lesbian and gay groups: the newly opened LGB centre in London was the largest in Europe. The ensuing backlash in the form of section 28 and the accompanying cutbacks led to a retrenchment of services or served as a pretext for inaction for the most part of a decade from 1987–97. Lesbian and gay equality work was demonised by the tabloid press and local authorities were reluctant to support service provision out of fears of being labelled ‘loony left’; moreover, many saw the work as an electoral liability (Cooper et al., 2004). The legacy of the 1980s on current initiatives has been mixed. In some local authorities, it provided a foundation on which to build subsequent work; while others, notably Kent County Council, retained the provisions of section 28 or otherwise demonstrated their reluctance to embrace equality by refusing to register Civil Partnerships.