These days, more often than not, we protest about something by signing an online petition. We demonstrate our frustration and horror by sharing a link, contributing to a fundraiser or writing something in an angry tone on our social channels. In general, it’s all very safe and detached. But it wasn’t always like this.

Back in February 1988, there was such outrage at the Conservative Government’s introduction of the infamous Section 28, a piece of legislation which banned ‘the promotion of homosexuality in schools or by local authorities’, that 28,000 people grabbed placards and took to the streets of Manchester. It remains one of the UK’s largest LGBTQ demonstrations.

I was one of the people marching that day. And while some issues do still propel people into the real world to shout, demonstrate their opposition and protest, in the 1980s marching against something was what we did.

Now, IAP:MCR has created a new arts and heritage project called PROTEST! – Documenting Dissent. From producer David Martin and artist Jez Dolan, it will launch its public-facing elements in early 2026. Until then, there’s a lot to do. Let’s start with the basics.

Northern Soul: Tell us about IAP:MCR and what the company does.

David and Jez: We’ve been working together as IAP:MCR since April 2012. In fact, the company was formed specifically to make a piece of work called Polari Mission, which was a collaboration between Jez and Joe Richardson. Although this project was ostensively focused around an investigation of Polari – the lost language of gay men – we undertook a series of oral history interviews that explored many facets of queer life prior to and during the 1960s. It led to a series of artists’ commissions, including a new play, a Polari iPhone app, and visual art. This work ignited a long-term fascination with the hidden history of LGBTQ+ people over the last 50 years and led to two further projects, one that explored the history of drag in Manchester and another that was concerned with the aftermath of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967 – what actual difference did it make to the day-to-day lives of ordinary queer people in the North of England?

All three of these projects were supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and they have delivered a wealth of individuals’ testimony from this time that is now publicly available in Archives+ at Manchester Central Library. Since 2011, we’ve commissioned and performed four new original plays, premiered a film in Reykjavik, Iceland, exhibited new visual art, and staged a series of related events. We’ve even produced a digital queer walking tour of the city centre.

NS: What drew you to making this project about protest?

D&J: The seeds of this project came from the stories we were told as part of Legacy of ’67. The 70s and 80s were a time of great change and a degree of unrest in the LGBTQ+ community. We heard stories of blatant discrimination and prejudice, with people undergoing medical procedures such as electroconvulsive therapy to ‘cure’ them of their homosexuality. Paradoxically, there was an increase in the prosecution of gay men after the legislation of 1967 [which partially decriminalised homosexuality], there was the shadow of the worldwide AIDS epidemic which dominated and decimated our communities, and, of course, in 1988 there was the imposition of Section 28 of the Local Government Act which prevented local authorities from intentionally promoting homosexuality, publishing material that promoted homosexuality, and affected schools from promoting homosexuality and an acceptable ‘lifestyle’. Mrs Thatcher’s government wanted nothing to do with our ‘pretend families’.

Many people we interviewed during Legacy of ’67 told us of their outrage and their protest at this time and we thought that this subject merited further exploration. The continuing support of the Heritage Lottery has led to PROTEST!, our biggest project to date.

NS: The stories you recorded (which, in some cases, date back to the 1950s) talk about the prejudice that gay men in particular faced then. Do you think there are parallels between those times and the treatment of minority groups today? 

D&J: The most striking parallel is the current demonisation of trans people and the prejudice that they are facing. I remember when there was major disquiet about gay men in particular concerning their relationship with children that may be perceived as being sexually predative. The idea that LGBTQ+ people could be trusted to either teach kids or, even worse, adopt them, was considered as being utterly beyond the pale. Gay men could not be trusted to form mature relationships with their peers who were under the age of 21, meaning that a couple, one of whom may be 21 and the other 20, were liable to be prosecuted. It was a time when homosexuality was considered to be a medical impairment, and we were all subject to suspicion and discrimination. The stories we hear today from our trans friends and colleagues would suggest that this othering of people has not gone away, only the target has shifted.

NS: What kind of things might we be able to see over the next 18 months?

D&J: Our priority at the moment is to attract volunteers. We want to hear from people who believe that they have stories to tell us, or would like to be trained as oral historians who will collect and record these stories for Archives+. With this in mind, we’re holding an open day – a village fete – in Manchester on February 1 to recruit people and inform them about the project. Watch our website for details. We’ll be collecting stories over the next 12 months.

We’ll also be running a series of events in association with Manchester Art Gallery, Central Library and their equivalents in Trafford. These will range from performances, talks, concerts, and even quiz nights. We’re working closely with Manchester Art Gallery to explore their permanent collection that is associated with protest and people will be able to experience the results of this collaboration in early 2026.

By Robert Martin

Main image: © Photography – Manchester Libraries

 

If you want to get involved, you can contact IAP:MCR via the website: https://www.iapmcr.co.uk/protest