Cheek-to-cheek Dancing Posters ‘heterosexist’ (Press, 19 December 1984)
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Summary: Cheek-to-cheek Dancing Posters ‘heterosexist’ (Press, 19 December 1984)
On 19 December 1984, a London council, specifically the borough of Brent, faced scrutiny over the traditional representation of couples in dance event advertisements. The council's chairwoman, Angela Brittain, expressed concern that the existing posters, which depicted only men dancing with women, promoted an exclusively heterosexual image. She advocated for a broader representation that included same-sex couples as well. Brittain highlighted the need for the advertising to reflect contemporary social realities, stating that she did not believe depictions of women dancing with women or men dancing with men would cause any offense. The proposal aimed to modify the promotional materials for both Saturday night dances and Tuesday afternoon tea dances, allowing for a variety of dance partnerships while still including traditional pairings. This push for change stemmed from guidelines issued by the Labour-controlled council to combat sexist, racist, and heterosexist stereotypes within its publications. Ellen Reynolds, the council’s women’s officer, underscored the importance of representation, noting that gay individuals are part of the community and contribute to local taxes and services. Therefore, their visibility in council-sponsored events and advertisements was deemed essential. However, not everyone agreed with the new direction. Conservative council member Sam Greenaway voiced his opposition during the approval process for the updated posters. Although he acknowledged the existence of various forms of dancing, he found the idea of promoting same-sex dancing through posters inappropriate. His stance reflected a more traditional view that contrasted with the council's progressive initiative. Overall, this situation highlighted the ongoing discussions in British society regarding LGBTQ+ visibility and representation within public life during the mid-1980s.
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