The cens suggted people the Essex district were six tim ls likely to be gay than those the East Ssex cy
Contents:
- WHY IS ROCHFORD ENGLAND’S STRAIGHTT PLACE AND BRIGHTON S GAY PAL?
- BRIGHTON: THE LGBTQ+ HISTORY OF THE 'GAY PAL OF UK'
- BRIGHTON IS 'GAY PAL'
WHY IS ROCHFORD ENGLAND’S STRAIGHTT PLACE AND BRIGHTON S GAY PAL?
Unr nstctn durg the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815), ’s unrstood that the flux of soldiers to Brighton durg the years cis wh the first rerd LGBTQ (Lbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgenr and Queer) history the muny. In the 1930s, gay and lbian bars and pubs spread throughout the cy – and after World War II, whispers of Brighton’s unique diversns spread to others lookg for a safe space to explore their sexualy. Today, ’s thought that 11-15% of all adults Brighton intify as gay, lbian or bisexual.
Brighton and Hove, for s England’s unofficial gay pal, n now wear the official crown. One 10 people aged over 16 the cy intified themselv as lbian, gay, bisexual or “other sexual orientatn” the 2021 cens.
It was exactly le wh the s-old timat based on the works of the 1940s US profsor Aled Ksey who ntend homosexualy was far more wispread than officialdom ntrast, the district of Rochford Essex was shown as the straightt place England.
BRIGHTON: THE LGBTQ+ HISTORY OF THE 'GAY PAL OF UK'
6% of the populatn there said they were LGB+, suggtg that those livg the largely ral, somewhat nservative area near Southend-on-Sea are six tim ls likely to be gay than those Brighton and Hove. Unlike Rochford, Brighton has a long history of pneerg gay rights, om s bars and clubs to s annual Pri ftival. Last year the cy said farewell to the self-proclaimed “olst gay the village”, Gee Montague, who died aged 98 after s of mpaigng.
BRIGHTON IS 'GAY PAL'
“Brighton has a huge amount of LGBT+ venu and muny support anisatns that mak a very very attractive place for LGBT+ people to live, ” said the gay rights mpaigner Peter Tatchell. Dpe the generally more gay-iendly atmosphere there is still a problem wh gay-bashg attacks.
Wh the largt number of lbian, gay and bisexual people England, Brighton has gaed a reputatn over the s as beg the unofficial “gay pal” of the UK.
Wh homosexualy beg illegal at the time, many LGBTQ+ people also faced vlent attacks. Several pubs wh a lbian or gay clientele began to thrive durg this time, cludg the now-closed Star of Bnswick and Pigott’s bar at the St Jam Tavern Maira Place.