Under the Rainbow
Documents and Artefacts From Five Decades of LGBTQ+ Struggle and Liberation
An Exhibition at Broadway Cinema
25/07-04/08 2024 – Free Event
In the face of aggressive marginalisation, LGBTQ+ people in Nottingham fought for themselves and stood shoulder to shoulder with others. In doing so, they created their own narratives and built their own support networks.
The documents and artefacts produced in these struggles continue to be an inspiration. They show how people organised themselves and created their own defiant media and spaces.
Born of resistance, it is all the more striking that these items are such vivid and positive depictions of culture, life and love, of a community that not only survived, but thrived.
Once again supported by Peoples’ Histreh and very kindly hosted by Broadway Cinema, the Sparrows' Nest is excited to share items from their rich collections of donated LGBTQ+ materials, complemented by pictures by local photo journalist Alan Lodge.
The exhibition is connected to the upcoming release of CJ DeBarra’s major new work on local LGBTQ+ history, to be published in early 2025 by Five Leaves, based on years of extensive research and over a hundred oral history interviews.
Please feel free to widely share this article and the promo leaflet!
Browse hundreds of local LGBTQ+ documents in our free Digital Library, no paywall, no registration!
Opening times etc.
Thu 25-Jul
7-9pm: Join us for our opening event in the Broadway Gallery (enter through Broadway’s main entrance or via Heathcote Street).
We are much looking forward to David Edgley opening the exhibition with one of his excellent talks: "Some milestones along a bumpy Nottingham LGBTQ+ road".
David has been part of local LGBTQ+ struggles for decades and continues to be involved with some of Nottingham's independent LGBTQ+ publications.
CJ DeBarra will also introduce their LGBTQ+ history project.
Please note that Nottingam Central Library will also display some materials from this date (organised by CJ DeBarra and the Local Studies Library ), notably the Nottingham panels of the UK Aids Memorial Quilt. Free to access, donations encouraged.
Fri 26-Jul
Midday-5pm: Free entry to the exhibition.
Sat 27-Jul
Midday-7pm: Free entry to the exhibition. Please note: Longer opening hours during Pride Weekend!
Sun 28-Jul
Midday-7pm: Free entry to the exhibition. Please note: Longer opening hours during Pride Weekend!
2pm: Free guided history walk 'Agitating the Lawless Rabble' around the City Centre, exploring the role of independent radical publications in local struggles. Starts at the Left Lion, ends at the back of Broadway Cinema. Duration c1 hour, route wheelchair accessible. No fee, no need to book, just turn up!
After the walk arrives at Broadway Gallery, CJ DeBarra will do a short reading from their upcoming book on local LGBTQ+ history.
Mon 29-Jul
Midday-5pm: Free entry to the exhibition.
Tue 30-Jul
Midday-5pm: Free entry to the exhibition.
Wed 31-Jul
Midday-5pm: Free entry to the exhibition.
Thu 01-Aug
Midday-5pm: Free entry to the exhibition.
6.30pm-9pm: CJ DeBarra will give a talk at Nottingham Central Library - Notts Queer History Archive talk: 1960-2020. They will take you on a journey through the milestones, struggles, and triumphs of the LGBTQ+ community in Nottingham. From the first club to be licensed for LGBT+ people in the UK, to trans life in the 1970s to queer 'superclubs' of the 1990s/2000s. Learn more about the queer archive and how you can take part in recording LGBT+ history. Follow the link to secure tickets!
Fri 02-Aug
Midday-5pm: Free entry to the exhibition.
Sat 03-Aug
Midday-7pm: Free entry to the exhibition.
Sun 04-Aug
Midday-7pm: Free entry to the exhibition.
2pm: Free guided history walk 'Agitating the Lawless Rabble' around the City Centre, exploring the role of independent radical publications in local struggles. Starts at the Left Lion, ends at the back of Broadway Cinema. Duration c1 hour, route wheelchair accessible. No fee, no need to book, just turn up!
After the walk arrives at Broadway Gallery, CJ DeBarra will do a short reading from their upcoming book on local LGBTQ+ history.
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Supported by
Also featuring photographs by
