GayLib

GayLib was a British political organisation that campaigned for lesbian and gay rights. Formed in the autumn of 1970, it is often considered the first organisation in the UK to campaign openly and specifically for gay rights, rather than primarily social or homophile objectives.

GayLib emerged from a series of meetings and discussions within the London Gay Liberation Front (GLF), specifically disagreements regarding the GLF's political strategy and organizational structure. Members who felt the GLF was becoming too focused on radical socialist politics and neglecting specifically gay concerns formed the GayLib group.

Key aims of GayLib included:

• Law reform: Advocating for changes to laws that discriminated against homosexuals, including decriminalization of consensual sexual acts between men.
• Social acceptance: Working to challenge negative stereotypes and promote understanding and acceptance of gay people within society.
• Equal rights: Campaigning for equal rights in areas such as employment, housing, and access to services.

GayLib differed from the GLF in its more moderate and pragmatic approach, focusing on working within existing political structures to achieve its goals. It sought to build alliances with other organizations and political parties, and to engage in public education campaigns.

While GayLib achieved some successes in raising awareness of gay rights issues, it was a relatively short-lived organization. By the mid-1970s, internal disagreements and a lack of resources led to its decline. However, GayLib played an important role in the early gay rights movement in the UK and paved the way for later organizations. Its emphasis on pragmatic politics and building broad-based support influenced the strategies of subsequent gay rights groups.