On this day, 15 July 1984, the group which became Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) held their first meeting at founding member Mark Ashton's flat on the Heygate Estate in South East London. The meeting was advertised in the newspaper Capital Gay, and called for lesbians and gay men "interested in solidarity work… to set up an organisation" to support a nationwide strike of mineworkers in opposition to a pit closure programme of the Conservative government. The meeting began at 4 PM, and was attended by 11 people. The group would go on to grow significantly around the UK, raise huge amounts of money for the miners, and build lasting links between the working class movement and the LGBT+ community in Britain. Their work ultimately resulted in the official trade union movement, and subsequently Labour Party policy, declaring their support for gay rights, and the London Pride parade in 1985 was headed by a column of miners. Learn their inspiring story in our podcast episodes 27-29, in conversation with participants: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e23-25-lesbians-gays-support-the-miners/ You can follow them at @lgsmpride

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