12. Gay Liberation Front, Highbury Fields, Islington

On a Friday night in the autumn of 1970, Highbury Fields became the meeting point for 150 riled up members of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF). The uprising was the first of its kind in Britain and saw the queer community unite with torches and candles, openly kissing and holding hands in public. The group was seething about the mistreatment of gay people, especially Louis Eakes, who insisted he was merely looking for a light for his cigarette when he was arrested by police in a sting operation for importuning, a criminal offence. Although homosexual acts had been decriminalised for men over 21 in private three years prior, public attitudes towards homosexuality were still very much behind and gay people were still a target of police hostility. A man who smiled, winked or was flirtatious with another man could be booked and this led to a pattern of arrests with little evidence.

Print is 20 x 25cm, unframed, signed, numbered and comes with the above accompanying text.