FilmWorks United International Working Class Film & Video Festival
Directed by Matthew Warchus (UK)
The unity of workers and oppressed minorities is the story of Pride. In a successful effort to break the miners’ union, former Prime Minister Thatcher decided to force the National Union of Miners out on strike during 1984-1985. This movie encapsulates that strong support the miners and their families had from the people of the UK. The Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) was an alliance of lesbians and gay men who formed in support of the striking British miners during the yearlong UK miners strike. Despite initial and difficult efforts to break through the socially conservative miners’ communities they finally joined together in a common struggle for workers justice and human rights. By the end of the strike there were eleven chapters throughout the UK, and the miners ended up leading London’s Lesbian and Gay Pride parade in 1985. This powerful story, through comedy and real history, tells us how we can build working class unity.