Section 28 Manchester

From the collection of

North West Film Archive at Manchester Metropolitan University
Established in 1977, the North West Film Archive preserves moving images made in or about the North West of England for the education and enjoyment of the region’s people. Part of Manchester Metropolitan University Library’s Cultural Collections, and based within Manchester Central Library’s Archives+ partnership, we are a specialist resource dedicated to saving and growing our region’s rich filmed history.

Section 28 Manchester

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An Act of Injustice - Manchester voices its resistance to a divisive and discriminatory piece of legislation.

Section 28 was a controversial piece of legislation introduced by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government in 1988. Section or Clause 28 of the Local Government Act was designed to "prohibit the promotion of homosexuality by local authorities", in effect stifling discussion of the subject in schools, leaving LGBT+ pupils even more isolated than before, and preventing councils from funding local initiatives to help their gay and lesbian residents. The legislation remained in force until 2000 in Scotland, and 2003 in the rest of the country. There was ferocious resistance to it, and in this documentary film, speakers from Manchester Council and other organisations relate how they set about tackling and ultimately defeating it.

A report on Manchester's response to Section 28, legislation introduced by the Conservative government in 1988 which aimed to "prohibit the promotion of homosexuality by local authorities". Representatives from the city council and other organisations talk about the effects the legislation had in practice and how it was eventually repealed.


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From the collection

Workers' Film Association

Explore the diverse and exciting work of the WFA, a Manchester institution for over 40 years, training generations of filmmakers and producing videos out of an old Edwardian warehouse in Hulme.
The Workers’ Film Association (WFA) was an educational co-operative based in inner-city Manchester, working with activists, educationalists, independent film-makers and the voluntary sector for over 40 years. Established in 1975 in North London, it moved to Manchester in 1979, taking over a derelict Edwardian warehouse in Hulme, just south of the city centre. WFA provided media training alongside equipment and facilities hire, and had its own production unit, actively working with local, national and international people and campaigning organisations. Over those years, the WFA filmed many important events in the North West - events which often get hidden in history. They helped ordinary people to find their voice, and showed them the strength and value of their lives and actions in bringing about change to the benefit of the many and against the narrow interests of the few. The WFA collection consists of projects and commissions, student productions, and records of events in and around Hulme, Manchester, and the wider region from the 1980s to the 2010s. The WFA finally closed the doors of its Manchester headquarters - the WFA Media & Cultural Centre - in February 2017 with the retirement of the remaining two founding members.

36 videos in this collection

1

A-Z of Film-making

2

A Brighter Future

3

The Faiths of Manchester

4

People First

5

A Tale of Two Cities

6

A Day in the Life of the Deansgate Sax Man

7

Proportional Representation Has Landed

8

Magical Art Mystery Tour

9

The Lowry

10

Refugee Exodus to the Northwest

11

What a Fine Day for a Skate

12

A Day in the Life of an Environmental Activist

13

State of Independents

14

Section 28 Manchester

15

A Big Slice of Mrs Cakehead

16

Teenage Kicks

17

Night and Day

18

Contact

19

Darren Pritchard - A Portrait

20

A Day in the Life of a Criminologist Part-subtitled

21

Sure Start - Rochdale 2004

22

Palace Court Live Work Arts Scheme and Art Exhibition

23

Contribution Vs Exclusion

24

A Tribute to a Lost Soulster

25

The British Art Show in Manchester 11 Nov 1995 - 4 Feb 1996

26

FFLAG

27

Ancoats and Miles Platting Regeneration Issues

28

The North West People's March

29

Portrait of Hulme

30

Birch Hill: End of an Era

31

Children Act Now

32

One Day in the Corn Exchange

33

Community Charge [Poll Tax]

34

Welcome to WFA

35

Cultural Sites of Manchester

36

Where's my... Phantom Dog?

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