Tatchell, Peter, 1952-....

Peter Tatchell was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1952. In 1972 he emigrated to Britain to avoid being drafted to the Vietnam War, which he had actively opposed. He worked freelance in design and display whilst studying for a BSc in Sociology at the Polytechnic of North London; 1974-1977. During this period, Tatchell attended meetings of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) and soon became actively involved in gay politics. He acted as the GLF delegate to the World Youth Festival in East Berlin in 1973.

Following his graduation in 1977, Tatchell became a social worker with the North Lambeth housing agency in Waterloo. In 1978 Tatchell founded the UK AIDS Vigil Organisation, the first group to campaign for the civil liberties of those with AIDS. This was followed in 1989 by his creation of the London Act Up (AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power). In the year 2000, Peter Tatchell stood unsuccessfully as an Independent candidate for the new Greater London Assembly.

Outrage! was founded in May 1990 by Martin Corbitt, Simon Watney, Peter Tatchell and other gay rights activists. The group uses non-violent, direct action tactics to challenge hypocrisy and anti-gay discrimination and to promote the discussion of queer issues. Outrage! has staged publicity stunts to highlight repressive policing of gays and lesbians and has led a campaign to out closet homosexuals in public life. The Church of England has been a key target for Outrage!. In 1994 Outrage! named ten Bishops and asked them to 'Tell the Truth' about their sexuality.

Other famous Outrage! publicity stunts included the Queer Valentine Carnival, Kiss-in, Queer Wedding and Queer Remembrance Day. Outrage! also helped to organise solidarity campaigns with queers suffering persecution in other countries including Romania, Zimbabwe, Iran and South Africa.

From the guide to the Peter Tatchell Papers, 1971-1999, (Labour History Archive & Study Centre)