George Broadhead | |
---|---|
Born | 1933 |
Died | 2021 (aged 87–88) |
Education | Keele University |
Organization(s) | LGBT Humanists UK (co-founder); Pink Triangle Trust |
Movement | Humanism, LGBT rights |
Partner | Roy Saich |
George Broadhead (1933–2021) [1] was a humanist activist and gay rights campaigner. [2] He was co-founder, [3] in 1979, of the Gay Humanist Group (today known as LGBT Humanists) [4] [5] and later of the Pink Triangle Trust, two of the longest established gay and lesbian groups in the UK. [6]
George Alfred Broadhead [6] was born in 1933 in Douglas, Isle of Man, where his parents were proprietors of a bed and breakfast hotel. [1] [7] He attended Douglas High School for Boys and went on to study English and French at Keele University. [1] [6] He lived for much of his life in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, [1] with his partner of 57 years Roy Saich. [2]
Among the earliest members of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE), [2] [6] in 1979 Broadhead was a founding member of the Gay Humanist Group (which later became the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association, and is today known as LGBT Humanists). [4] [8] The group was launched at CHE's annual conference that year. [4] Its aims, as Barry Duke has written, were:
to make gay people aware of the gay-friendly Humanist ethical outlook; to further an awareness among heterosexual Humanists of the widespread prejudice and discrimination suffered by gays whilst encouraging their support; and to play a part in the campaign for gay and Humanist rights. [2]
Broadhead served as Secretary of the Gay Humanist Group for 25 years, and was described by fellow activist and writer Jim Herrick as 'a tower of strength'. [2] Terry Sanderson wrote that he provided 'a steady voice against the encroachment and growth of religious homophobia'. [2] Broadhead led on administration, promotion, and communication with members and other LGBT groups, [2] and acted as editor of The Gay Humanist, the magazine of the Gay Humanist Group. [9] In 1984, four years after the formation of the Gay Humanist Group, Broadhead wrote to Canadian magazine The Body Politic to offer his help to any Canadians wishing to start a similar group. [10] He was also active in the Coventry Humanist Group, including as their Press Officer. [11] In 1992, Broadhead co-founded the Pink Triangle Trust, [2] an educational charity formed for:
1. the advancement of the education of the public, and particularly of lesbians and gay men, in the principles and practice of humanism;
2. the advancement of the education of the public, about all aspects of homosexuality;
3. the assistance of particular poor persons to obtain remedies under the law where they have suffered unlawful discrimination or injustice on account of either. [12]
The Pink Triangle Trust also offered humanist affirmation ceremonies for same sex couples. [13] [14] [15] The Trust was a significant contributor to a secular school in Uganda, which today has a classroom named for Broadhead and Saich. [2] [7]
George Broadhead died in Kenilworth in 2021, aged 87. [6]
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George Broadhead | |
---|---|
Born | 1933 |
Died | 2021 (aged 87–88) |
Education | Keele University |
Organization(s) | LGBT Humanists UK (co-founder); Pink Triangle Trust |
Movement | Humanism, LGBT rights |
Partner | Roy Saich |
George Broadhead (1933–2021) [1] was a humanist activist and gay rights campaigner. [2] He was co-founder, [3] in 1979, of the Gay Humanist Group (today known as LGBT Humanists) [4] [5] and later of the Pink Triangle Trust, two of the longest established gay and lesbian groups in the UK. [6]
George Alfred Broadhead [6] was born in 1933 in Douglas, Isle of Man, where his parents were proprietors of a bed and breakfast hotel. [1] [7] He attended Douglas High School for Boys and went on to study English and French at Keele University. [1] [6] He lived for much of his life in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, [1] with his partner of 57 years Roy Saich. [2]
Among the earliest members of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE), [2] [6] in 1979 Broadhead was a founding member of the Gay Humanist Group (which later became the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association, and is today known as LGBT Humanists). [4] [8] The group was launched at CHE's annual conference that year. [4] Its aims, as Barry Duke has written, were:
to make gay people aware of the gay-friendly Humanist ethical outlook; to further an awareness among heterosexual Humanists of the widespread prejudice and discrimination suffered by gays whilst encouraging their support; and to play a part in the campaign for gay and Humanist rights. [2]
Broadhead served as Secretary of the Gay Humanist Group for 25 years, and was described by fellow activist and writer Jim Herrick as 'a tower of strength'. [2] Terry Sanderson wrote that he provided 'a steady voice against the encroachment and growth of religious homophobia'. [2] Broadhead led on administration, promotion, and communication with members and other LGBT groups, [2] and acted as editor of The Gay Humanist, the magazine of the Gay Humanist Group. [9] In 1984, four years after the formation of the Gay Humanist Group, Broadhead wrote to Canadian magazine The Body Politic to offer his help to any Canadians wishing to start a similar group. [10] He was also active in the Coventry Humanist Group, including as their Press Officer. [11] In 1992, Broadhead co-founded the Pink Triangle Trust, [2] an educational charity formed for:
1. the advancement of the education of the public, and particularly of lesbians and gay men, in the principles and practice of humanism;
2. the advancement of the education of the public, about all aspects of homosexuality;
3. the assistance of particular poor persons to obtain remedies under the law where they have suffered unlawful discrimination or injustice on account of either. [12]
The Pink Triangle Trust also offered humanist affirmation ceremonies for same sex couples. [13] [14] [15] The Trust was a significant contributor to a secular school in Uganda, which today has a classroom named for Broadhead and Saich. [2] [7]
George Broadhead died in Kenilworth in 2021, aged 87. [6]
{{
cite book}}
: CS1 maint: others (
link)