26/05/2017
A blue heritage plaque has been unvieled to honour the young man who initiated the 1980's campaign group Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners, which brought together the gay scene and striking miners in opposition to the government of Margaret Thatcher, and whose story is commemorated in the hit film “Pride”. Mark Ashton, who sadly was to die in February 1987 from an AIDS related illness, was Secretary of the Young Communist League and active in left wing politics, as well as in gay campaigning, and he helped bring the left round to supporting LGBT equality at a time when there were still pockets of homophobia in left wing circles. The communist daily newspaper the Morning Star reports that Ashton sought the help of the famous bookstore Gay's The Word, which is still serving the gay communities from its premises in Marchmont Street, Bloomsbury. The blue plaque to commemorate Ashton and his friends was unvieled at the bookshop on Friday. Speaking with the Morning Star, LGSM cofounder Mike Jackson said:
“To this day, Mark’s loss remains deeply felt by so many family members and friends.
“Driven, principled and charismatic, Mark would have achieved so much more if he had not died so young.
“We are so proud to now be installing a permanent memorial to our lost friend. Solidarity forever!”
https://yclbritain.wordpress.com/
https://www.communist-party.org.uk/
