Page published on 15th March 2024
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To coincide with LGBT+ History Month in the UK in February 2024, IP Out was thrilled to be able to continue its series of events hearing from individuals who have been important in the fight for LGBT+ rights in the UK. Isobel Barry from host firm Carpmaels and Ransford (and IP Out committee co-chair) reflects on an event with guest speaker Michael Cashman. Click here for details of the event, or watch the recording if you missed it or would simply like to be inspired again!
Isobel writes:
When Darren Smyth, my co-chair on the IP Out committee, suggested he could invite Michael Cashman (Baron Cashman of Limehouse) to speak to IP Out, I have to confess I didn’t know a great deal about Michael’s work. This was entirely an oversight on my part, and I quickly caught up by listening to his audiobiography (highly recommended). Leaving aside a successful acting career, Michael has been an activist, founded Stonewall, was an MEP for 15 years, and has been a member of the House of Lords for 10 years. He worked tirelessly to progress change in those roles. It was fascinating to hear about how the failure to stop Section 28 becoming law led to the foundation of probably the most successful LGBT+ rights organisation in the world, and how the changes in legislation (from the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967 to the introduction of civil partnerships in 2003) had very real impacts on his life over seven decades. He also talks frankly about appalling experiences he had as a child exploited by unscrupulous adults, but also movingly about the love within his family and his parents’ acceptance of him.
In person, Michael was a fantastic speaker, as one might expect from an accomplished actor: moving and inspiring. His stories were larger than life – how many people can talk about being match-made by Barbara Windsor or popping round to Ian McKellen’s house with the idea for Stonewall? – but many were very down to earth, as he spoke about his love for his partner of 31 years, Paul Cottingham. The packed room was rapt, laughing and shedding the occasional tear. Those of a certain vintage remembered how groundbreaking it was to see Michael on-screen as a gay man in Eastenders in the late 1980s, and younger (though not that young) attendees were shocked to hear that the “first on-screen gay kiss” that caused so much outrage was a peck on the forehead! After speaking and answering questions for about an hour, Michael generously stayed for longer to chat to attendees over drinks and canapes.
What will stick with me from this event was Michael’s emotive call to arms at the end of his talk. He had come from a day in the Lords debating legislation banning conversion therapy, an abhorrent practice, and emphasised the strength of the movement pushing back against the rights that minority groups have won over recent decades. He emphasised that the current “culture wars” against trans people are moving towards other LGB and women’s rights. It is vital to stand with our trans siblings for themselves, but worth keeping in mind that if we don’t, we might be next in the cross hairs. Michael’s message was ultimately hopeful – appropriate for someone who has seen first-hand what motivated people can do to advance equality – but a rallying cry to inspire us all to keep pushing for change and for empathy for those with different life experiences to our own.
It was fantastic to see so many people in person. IP Out will continue to run hybrid events so that those who cannot attend in person don’t miss out, but there really is something different about connecting without a computer in between, so do make sure you come along to the next event if you can! Keep an eye on the IP Out webpage for updates on all our activities.