Not your cup of tea? Experiences with political alliances across class barriers and protest milieus

Organised by NaturfreundeJugend BerlinFilm screening "Pride" (2014) & discussion with Ray Goodspeed (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners, London) and representatives from Care Revolution Berlin, Forced Eviction Prevention and Kotti & Co. "PRIDE" (GB 2014, 120 min) The film tells the story of an unusual political alliance in Margaret Thatcher-ruled Great Britain. During the year-long miners' strike in 1984/85, gay and lesbian activists from London show solidarity with the striking workers and their families. As the group "Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners" (LGSM), they organised fundraising campaigns and wanted to provide direct support on the ground. When the London group finally travelled to Wales to meet the strikers, they were met with open rejection. The film tells of the irritating beginnings, of prejudices and confrontations, with which solidarity across class boundaries and gender constructions is finally achieved together. DISCUSSION WITH RAY GOODSPEED (LGSM) AND REPRESENTATIVES OF CARE REVOLUTION, PREVENT FORCED SPACE AND KOTTI & CO. Based on the experiences of LGSM activists and striking miners and their families, we would like to discuss the possibilities and challenges of political alliances beyond the usual left alliances. What experiences are there with current and past solidarity struggles across class barriers and protest milieus? The encounters between labour culture and LGBT activists in 1984 in particular raise the question of how many differences and conflicts have to be endured, ignored and accepted in order to become politically active together. We would like to talk to Ray Goodspeed about the political conditions at that time and ask whether the past protests can be a model for today's political practice. To this end, we have invited representatives of the care movement and the initiatives Prevent Eviction and Kotti & Co. to share their experiences of cross-class solidarity. What challenges does solidarity bring and what obstacles can be overcome together?

City: Berlin
Location: Mehringhof (meeting room), Gneisenaustr. 2A
Topic:
Time: 5 pm film and 7:30 pm discussion