Author: s.lawsonwelsh

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LGBTQ+ History Month events: ‘Being Gay in Thatcher’s Britain: Panic, Policy and the Struggle for Acceptance in the Time of AIDS’

Next week, Dr Alice Brumby and Dr James Cooper will be delivering a lecture entitled, ‘Being Gay in Thatcher’s Britain: Panic, Policy and the Struggle for Acceptance in the Time of AIDS’ to mark LGBTQ+ History Month. This will take place on Wednesday 26th February 4-5.30pm both online and in person. The outline for the talk is below, and also the Eventbrite link.

2025 marks the fortieth anniversary of AIDS becoming a household name in the UK. From the death of well-loved actor Rock Hudson to the introduction of the first HTLV-III antibody test, society was waking up to the reality of a serious epidemic. Whilst the LGBTQ+ community had valiantly rallied together to fight the disease, ignorance and misinformation, it was clear that more needed to be done, to counter the panic in the mass media which labelled the disease the “gay plague.” The Government responded with the “Don’t Die of Ignorance” public health campaign in the mid-1980s. However, this campaign – including its motivations, messaging, craft, and response – must be viewed in the context of the stigmatisation and moral panic surrounding people living with AIDS in Thatcher’s Britain.

This talk will introduce new research about how the government responded to the moral panic of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, and how politics and public policy emphasised the marginalisation of Britain’s LGBTQ+ community. Set amongst the backdrop of the struggle for equality, the AIDS epidemic would eradicate the little gains this community had so carefully fought for, once again setting ‘gayness’ alongside ‘disease’ in the minds of the British public.

Book here: Upcoming : LGBTQ+ HM 2025: Being Gay in Thatcher’s Britain | York St John University

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Words Matter Prize 2024

Open books

The English Literature team are recognising outstanding academic achievement by students completing the first year of their degree in both single honours and joint honours cohorts through this year’s Words Matter prizes. This year’s winners are English Literature student Evie Lane and English Literature and Creative Writing student Alice Lind-O’Mara.

Level Four co-ordinator Dr Fraser Mann says that:

‘I’m really happy for Evie and Alice. Their dedication to the subject and their participation in university life are admirable. They have made rapid and remarkable progress and deserve real recognition for this success. They are both an asset to English Literature at York St John.’

On receiving news of the award, a delighted Alice said:

‘I was ten when I decided what I was going to study at university. I’d fallen in love with English. I wouldn’t learn to love school for another few years yet, but English truly captured my heart. When asked about my future plans, I always knew what I would say: “I’m going to study Creative Writing at university!” And time and again, people told me to “be realistic.” Passion was one thing; practicality was another. I almost gave up on that dream entirely, until I took English Literature at A-Level. There, I learned just how fun analysis can be, how satisfying it can feel to pull apart a text and how much you can learn from an author’s choices. Reading informs writing, after all. To now have the privilege of studying both–the dissection of literature as both its audience and creator–is a dream come true. To receive this award is so unbelievably moving, and I am so grateful to know that I am making the most of a dream I almost sacrificed. Thank you so much to everyone who encouraged me to keep going.’

Evie was equally happy and said:

‘Receiving the ‘Words Matter’ award means so much to me and I am truly moved by this incredible recognition. Studying English Literature has been both challenging and deeply

rewarding, and it is so fulfilling to see my efforts paying off. I am deeply grateful for the support and guidance of every lecturer, tutor, and peer; your encouragement has made all the difference.’ Evie and Alice will receive their awards during this year’s Words Matter Lecture. We would like to congratulate them on their success and wish them all the best for the rest of their degrees.

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York St John student writes new blog

Third year student Cameron Stewart has embarked on a regular writing post for the website Outlet Publishing. This is his first blog for them.

Blog One- Introduction
“There is material enough in a single flower for the ornament of a score of cathedrals” – John Ruskin.

What do they mean to life? They are an ever-present symbol of the great words of someone else. As a young writer, I see a quote at the start of nearly every book I read. It is almost a comfort to know, both new writers and well-established ones, use others words to give thanks to that person’s creativity with words. Quotes offer a type of anchor in life because there is a quote for everything.

I will start each blog with a quote, which I will then explore in more detail in the article. I have chosen Ruskin’s quote for this blog because he captures the small yet mighty beauty, of one flower against many colossal cathedrals. In a similar way, I am a new young writer in a sea of great writing giants. Yet, I hope to shine some literary light from an original perspective.

A magazine that I greatly admire and find much value in, is Landscape. It contains writing on nature, the seasons and crafts. It is an uplifting read and my favourite part, is the literature quotes throughout it. It is not something you see in other publications. I like to write my favourite quotes into a journal. This will be my source of quotes, and I hope you find these inspiring. The beauty of writing is that anyone can do it. The only key ingredient needed is imagination. If you have that, the writing becomes limitless with opportunities. In my blogs, I hope to capture what life as a young writer is like.

Some days ideas for a piece of writing can flow fast, and I scramble to get them into a type of order. Other days, the reservoir of ideas is dangerously close to drying up. Looking at quotes can help to boost the creative thinking process. After all, every writer has slow days or even weeks. My aim for this blog is to invite you to muse, ponder and reflect what a young writer is today. Going back to Ruskin’s flower- there can be great beauty in small objects as well as the grand. Indeed, each young writer has that individual flourish to share and this is mine.

The next blog will examine how the falling leaves of Autumn, can be like the falling of words onto the page. Should be good. Do not quote me on that!!

Work Cited-
1- Photo- Indrapradja, Frans. “developingsuperleaders”. Developingsuperleaders.Wordpress.com. Accessed, 26th September 2024.developingsuperleaders.Wordpress.com/author/tiardjaindrapradja/.
2- John Ruskin quote- May edition of Landscape magazine.

If you would like to read more from Cameron please go to

https://blog.outletpublishinggroup.com/

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Professor Sarah Lawson Welsh’s Inaugural Lecture by Cameron Stewart

Review by Cameron Stewart

It was fantastic to attend Sarah’s lecture, and learn more about her career and her area of study. I found it fascinating to see how Caribbean culture was of deep interest to Sarah, from being a child. The event had a chronological order through life, from child to student then an academic. It was incredible how Sarah had a passion, to write about Caribbean culture and teach it. I enjoyed the literature aspect, of seeing her favourite authors through her years of research.

The underlining theme was interruptions. The planned and unplanned interruptions, of the pizza delivery halfway through the lecture, and technology slowness, was both humorous and very apt. I felt I could relate to the Covid interruption, as it was something everyone collectively went through. It was moving how Sarah discussed both personal, collective and academic interruptions, that can be faced. It was a powerful point of how an interruption, gives a moment to pause, reflect and re-evaluate what is most important in life.

The evening was peppered with jokes, interesting academic research and a life of interest, to share Caribbean cultural perspectives. The event was a celebration of Sarah becoming a professor and by attending, it was a way to support her, in great thanks for all the support she gives her students.

You can watch Sarah’s inaugural lecture here on YouTube.