Stand Up to UKIP was incredibly pleased to receive this message of solidarity from original members of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM), alongside actors from the brilliant film, Pride, and its screenwriter.
Pride (in cinemas now) tells the true story of an inspiring episode in history, when lesbians and gay men provided solidarity to striking miners, threatened with pit closures in the mid-1980s. In return, miners and their families supported LGBT people in their fights against discrimination.
This message will be read out at tomorrow’s demonstration outside UKIP’s conference in Doncaster, a town hit hard by Thatcher’s pit closures:
The film Pride is inspiring audiences everywhere with its humorous and moving message of love, friendship and solidarity. We are members of the original group Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners. We are ex-miners and others from the mining community in South Wales which they supported. And we are actors and film workers who have helped to tell this important historical story through the film Pride. Together, but speaking as individuals in a personal capacity, we would like to convey a united message of support to those who are protesting today against the vicious, racist and homophobic UKIP party. We congratulate everyone for coming on the demonstration.
Back in the 1980s, the struggle against our common enemy – the Thatcher government – led us to look beneath the tabloid headlines and the lies and prejudice that circulated about gay people and about the strike. LGSM and the striking miners refused to blame one another for what was wrong with the world, and united to build a wall of resistance. Although the strike was lost, the solidarity remained. UKIP is trying to divide us once again with lies about gay people, about Muslims, disabled people, people on benefits and migrant workers. It is trying to appeal to people who are desperate because of unemployment, cuts and the housing crisis, by pretending to offer a solution based on myths, scapegoating and bigotry. We call on everyone everywhere to reject UKIP’s message of hate and put this nasty organisation back where it belongs – in the dustbin of history. We send you all the message of Pride: and that message is one of love, friendship, unity and solidarity. Good luck and best wishes to you all.
Signatories:
Sȋan James MP, ex-South Wales Miners’ Support Group
Stephen Beresford, Pride scriptwriter
Dai Donovan, ex-NUM member, friend and comrade of LGSM
Jayne Headon-Meldrum, miner’s daughter and ex-South Wales Miners’ Support Group
Carwyn Donovan, ex-NUM member
Pride actors:
Kyle Rees
Lisa Palfrey
Joshua Hill
Karina Fernandez
Jack Baggs
Nia Gwynne
Chris Overton
Dyfan Dwyfor
Liz White
Jessica Gunning
Faye Marsay
Original members of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners:
Mike Jackson
Jonathan Blake
Gethin Roberts
Catherine Booth
Andy Matheson
Reggie Blennerhassett
Clive Bradley
Rob Cooper
Nicola Field
Wendy Caldon
Davy Marzella
Ray Aller
Keran James
Bruce Currie
Michael Phillips
Dave Lewis
Jeff Cole
Colin Richardson
and our friend, Ashtar Alkhirsan, founder of the Mark Ashton Trust
