On the Sense of belonging- PRIDE-film- Why on earth would we find that weird?

The sense of community vs the sin of isolation

J. Donne quote:

• No man is an island entire of itself; 

• every man is a piece of the continent,

• a part of the main;

• ... because I am involved in mankind. 

• BIT1.    The miners' strike drama  Pride   has scooped the outstanding debut award at the Bafta Film Awards.

The film portrays an alliance between gay rights' campaigners and pit workers during the 1984 and is largely set in the Dulais Valley in south Wales.

The odds:
1) The men's sense of self-respect has been eroded anyway
during the strike by their increasing reliance on their womenfolk
2) the idea that they are now dependent on financial support from lesbians and gays is too much for many of them to stomach.

• "They don't want to take our money because we're poofs,"

is how one of the gay characters starkly sums it up.

WRITER Stephen Beresford and producer David Livingstone received the award at the ceremony in London on Sunday night (09/02/2015).

Bit 2. The TV crew has appeared. 

They’re interviewing CLIFF (74 y-o).

CLIFF: The gays and the lesbians have been
      magnificent. There’s no other word for it -
TV WOMAN: 

      You must have found it a bit weird?
       A load of gays and lesbians
       descending on you like that?
CLIFF: (Dry, dignified) 
       Why on earth would we find that weird?

The TV WOMAN shrivels. Still smiling. 

BIT-3. News.   

Striking coal miners in the UK in 1984 found an unlikely ally in lesbians and gays, who were grappling with their own challenges 1984. The year of Orwell’s big brother and the year homosexuality was decriminalised in New South Wales. It was the year that Culture Club and Frankie Goes to Hollywood filled the airwaves. 

On the other side of the world, 1984 was also the year of the strike. Margaret Thatcher was beating miner’s into submission for having the audacity to stand up for better working conditions.

BIT- 4. DAI's speech: 

If you’re one of the people who’s  put money into these buckets - 
if you’ve supported LGSM - thank you.
Because what you’ve given us is more than money. It’s friendship.
And when you’re in a fight as bitter and as important as this one,
against an enemy, so much bigger,  so much stronger than you - well.
To find out that you have a friend you never knew existed -
It’s the best thing in the world.

BIT 5. Togetherness.

Above: Dancing in Dulais 1984 ... The dance scene in Pride 

is based on this photograph. Blake is seen wearing check trouser, clapping

Bit 6. Two reviews

a) highly recommended:Its appeal lies not just in its humour but in its joyous celebration of: decency, tolerance and consensus at one of the most divisive times in recent British social history.B) In 1984. Soon, pit closures and AIDS/HIV would change both groups’ way of life. Acknowledging those looming transformations, the film still manages to end on an uplifting note. It’s a (mostly) true story that climaxes with a handshake that will make even the most stoic coalminer reach for a hankie. 

For a context on UK politics, Thatcher and 
 the life of miners over these 365 days...
read here: STILL the enemy within (2014)

CODA: Rewrite in your own words:

• The film portrays an alliance between gay rights' campaigners and pit workers.
• Striking coal miners in the UK in 1984 found an unlikely ally in lesbians and gays.
• it brings to life two marginalised groups who formed an unholy alliance that empowered one another to stand tall in the most challenging times.

PS: Thirsty years ago... 

where was Laurent Stefanini? and you?

In September 1985, at the Labour Party Conference, a motion was tabled to enshrine Gay and Lesbian rights into the party’s official manifesto. Although the motion had been raised many times before, this time it was carried without objection.