Lesbian and Gay Community Centre, Aston
September 1984 to September 1987
The Lesbian and Gay Community Centre Aston opened in September 1984 at 291 Corporation St , opposite Aston University.
The centre was 'a voluntary, non-profit making organisation run by homosexual women and men, whose aim it is to promote the welfare and benefit of those who are homosexual or bisexual'.
After months of planning and preparation the Centre opened its doors on 29th September 1984 when the coffee bar was opened during the day and there was a cheese and wine party in the evening.
The Lesbian and Gay Community Centre Aston was officially opened a year later, by Tom Robinson in a ceremony on Wednesday October 16th 1985. There were also speeches by Christine Crawley MEP and by the Chair of the West Midlands County Council Race Relations and Birmingham City Council's Equal Opportunities Committee.
download the first centre newsletter from September 1985
The Centre produced the Lesbian and Gay Community Centre newsletter during 1984 - 5.
Unfortunately the Centre struggled to keep up with the running costs. Although a substantial grant was agreed by the West Midlands County Council in 1987, immediately before its abolition, the money passed to Birmingham City Council who, because of a combination of a legal challenge, lobbying by fundamentalist Christians, media fuelled hysteria and the negative attitude of Councillor Leader Sir Dick Knowles, never actually handed over the money, which was believed instead to have funded the Birmingham Christian Centre. The Lesbian and Gay Community Centre Aston therefore had to close in 1987 due to lack of funds to keep up with the running costs.
In spite of having found a perfect solution to their problem, of joining forces with the Peace Centre and taking over the former Communist Party Star Club in Essex Street, the money did not materialise and the attempt to open a third Lesbian and Gay Community Centre in Birmingham never came to fruition.
The Lesbian and Gay Community Centre Aston had to close in 1987 due to lack of funds to keep up with the running costs.
The centre often held alternative social events.
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