City’s first pink plaque unveiled to recognise role of the New Foresters
NOTTINGHAM’S first Pink Plaque celebrating LGBTQ+ heritage in the city has been unveiled.
The new addition has been revealed to the community for the first time at the New Foresters on St Ann’s Street.
Members of the LGBTQ+ community reunited at the popular gay bar in Nottingham for the unveiling.
The New Foresters was publicly nominated from a shortlist of venues to be honoured with the city’s first Pink Plaque and is described as one of the most important LGBTQ+ buildings in the city.
Nottingham is home to a number of LGBTQ+ friendly venues.
Earlier this year a competition was held by Nottingham City Council’s LGBT employee network to choose the venue to display the city’s first Pink Plaque.
Three other buildings were also shortlisted - The Flying Horse Inn (now 200 Degrees), Nottingham Women’s Centre and The National Justice Museum.
Debbie Law, Landlady of the New Foresters, said: “I am very passionate about the New Foresters for always being a safe venue for the LGBTQ+ community and the history through the decades.
“I am also very proud to be able to keep the New Foresters open through the last 20 years for the LGBTQ+ community.”
Councillor Angharad Roberts, Champion of the LGBT employee network at Nottingham City Council, said: “This plaque is a great recognition of the New Foresters and its proud place in LGBT+ life in the city.
“It also celebrates and commemorates all those people who came here over the decades to find safety and a sense of community. Until very recently, this would often have been in the face of significant wider social hostility.”
Hilary Silvester, chair of the Nottingham Civic Society, said: “Nottingham Civic Society is delighted to be involved in the installation of this plaque which recognises the contribution the LGBT+ community have made to the life of the city.”