Solidarity and Sexuality: Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners 1984-5

Abstract

In March 1984 British coalminers began a national strike against pit closures that would last for twelve months, with networks of support organizations established throughout the country. Often at the heart of these networks were traditional elements of the labour movement -trades councils, trade unions and Labour Party branches, for example, were all highly active. At least two elements, however, appeared more novel. The first was Women Against Pit Closures -a national network of women's organizations, based primarily in mining areas and often composed of women from mining families -which has subsequently been the focus of much work.

Historicising geographies of solidarity

“…Such work continues: From MayDay Rooms in London to the Spirit of Revolt in Glasgow, important efforts have been made to archive histories of dissent (P. Griffin, ; MayDay Rooms, ). Not only does this make it possible for historical geographers to use archives in recounting solidarity, this archival activism can itself form part of the narrative (Kelliher, ).…”

Do More Strikes Mean a Stronger Working Class's Agency: A Comparative Study in Post-Socialist China

“…How tolerant and embracing of other oppressed and marginalized groups is an important indicator in showing how much political strength a social group or class has, in terms of gathering support for a wider social movement and transformation. In the United Kingdom, the miners’ strike in the 1980s mobilized to gain broad social support, including the gay and lesbian community, and ultimately contribute to a change of government (Kelliher ). Similarly, the African American civil rights movement succeeded in the United States because they were politically efficient in building solidary and alliances with a broader spectrum of social groups, such as women and ethnic minorities (Platt and Fraser ).…”

Thinking the crisis politically: lineages of resistance to neo-liberalism and the politics of the present conjuncture

“…Such solidarity actions were part of broader transnational cultures of solidarity, intersecting with diverse struggles such as the miners' strike and movements for solidarity with struggles in Nicaragua and El Salvador (see Featherstone, 2012;Hirsch, 2013;Kelliher, 2014). These solidarities were productive experiences in various ways.…”

“…It also emphasizes that the formation of neo-liberal political and economic strategies in the 1970s and 1980s took place against a backdrop of, and partly as a response to, the power and assertive presence and activity of various labour and social/political movements. Indeed, the involvement of Chilean exiles in support groups emphasizes that the Miners' Strike was defined by innovative alliances and solidarities which sought to renew left politics rather than just to construct a "defensive" position (see Kelliher, 2014;Massey & Wainwright, 1985).…”