| Admin Biographical History | The Campaign for Homosexual Equality has its origins in the North-Western Committee of the Homosexual Law Reform Committee (NWHLRC), which was founded in Manchester by Allan Horsfall to support the campaign for the decriminalisation of homosexuality. The first meeting was held on 4 June 1964, but the formal launch took place with a semi-public meeting on 7 Oct of the same year. NWHLRC was renamed the Committee for Homosexual Equality in 1969, and became the Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE) in 1971. Throughout the 1970s, CHE was the main British homophile organisation, growing from 100 members in 1969 to 2, 800 members and 60 local groups by 1972. Its activities included canvassing for further law reforms, providing educational material for use in schools, and attempting to influence the provision of medical, psychiatric and social services.
The central body of the organisation was the Executive Committee, whose General Secretary maintained contact with local groups, individuals and other organisations. The Executive Committee was directly elected by the whole membership. Members also had input into CHE policy through the National Council, a consultative body made up of delegates from CHE local groups which met quarterly at different venues through the country. Annual conferences were also held. The CHE local groups were active throughout England and Wales, retaining a high level of autonomy and often producing regular newsletters giving details of social and campaigning activities. Following reorganisation in 1982, the short-lived Gay Community Organisation took control of these local groups. From 1969-1971, CHE produced a newsletter, which became the CHE Bulletin (1971-1976) and eventually the CHE Broadsheet (October 1977-July 1982). A newspaper known as Out was produced from October/November 1976-June/July 1977. CHE set up a magazine working party in 1971, which produced the magazine Lunch from 1971-1974. It also created the counselling group Friend, which later became independent. |
| Description | Papers of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE), 1940-1996, notably Annual Reports, 1973-1983, 1986; Executive Committee minutes, 1971-[1996], and election papers, 1971-1977; Executive Committee papers, 1970-[1996], including reports, abstracts, leaflets, conference papers and circulars; minutes of the Management Committee, 1975-1977; papers of the National Council, 1971-1981; material relating to CHE publications, 1969-1982, including copies of the Bulletin, 1970-1974, the Broadsheet, 1975-1980, and Out magazine, 1976-1977, as well as numerous newsletters and financial files relating to sales; administrative correspondence of the CHE Executive Committee, 1970-[1996], including the Chairman, the General Secretary, the Administration Officer, and the Information Officer; correspondence relating to membership of CHE, 1970-1976; correspondence with local and national gay organisations, 1970-1981; general correspondence, 1970-1987, on subjects including the media, discrimination, police harassment, homosexual law reform; CHE financial papers, 1965-[1996], including committee papers, account books and invoices; substantial numbers of papers concerning the activities of local CHE groups, 1970-[1996], from throughout the UK; material relating to the organisation of CHE conferences, 1972-[1996]; subject files compiled for CHE working parties and campaigns, 1970-[1996], mainly relating to homosexual law reform, discrimination, the women's movement, the media, education, the homosexual age of consent and AIDS; reports compiled by CHE, 1976-1981, relating to gay rights; leaflets and pamphlets, 1970-1982, of CHE and other gay organisations; material collated by CHE regarding other organisations, 1960-[1996], notably the Gay Activists Alliance, the Gay Liberation Front, Outrage!, Outright Scotland, the National Lesbian and Gay Health Foundation and the Lesbian and Gay Switchboard; general papers, 1940-1987, including posters, newsletters, conference papers, National Council papers, CHE accounts, and material concerning gay student groups; papers of the Discrimination Commission, 1976-1980, including chairman's papers, treasurer's documents, case files, reports, conference papers and press cuttings.
Additional accessions:
M3630 (unlisted): Annual reports, publicity and campaign materials. Includes audio tapes and photograph albums
M3651: material relating to the Derek Oyston CHE Film Award, including DVDs of submissions. Also includes a 45rpm record of 'Glad to be Gay' and 'The Gay Switchboard Jingle'.
M3662: file from Ian Buist: mainly CHE News and annual reports 1986-2002.
Some duplicate material from other organisations has been removed from the HCA/CHE collection. In addition, some journals from other organisations have been added elsewhere in HCA if they complete a set. This explains some of the gaps in the HCA/CHE numbering, but should be more useful for readers. |