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It’s over 30 years since the men and women of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE) noted that a lot of people contacting them were looking for help and support - so they set up a helping, befriending organisation and called it Friend.
Always quick off the mark, in Bradford, Tom, Robert and Barbara started Bradford Friend back in 1973 - and it’s been continuously available ever since.
‘Of course,’ says Eric Smith of the organisation, ‘things have moved on from the days when, until 1967, a man could be imprisoned for having sexual contact with another man, and when society did its best to make women and men feel guilty about falling for someone of the same sex. Isolated gay, lesbian and bisexual people would ring Friend to find out whether there were others “like me” and where they could meet them.’
Bradford Friend now has fewer calls asking for information or for confirmation that ‘it’s OK to be gay’; but they’ve noted that more people are calling in the hope of finding a listening ear and a supportive voice; people who have reached a difficult part of their gay/lesbian lives and feel that friends and family just wouldn’t understand.
The organisation is very grateful to Bradford Council for Voluntary Services wholet them operate from their premises, and to the many generous well-wishers in the area who’ve made sure they’ve had enough funds to pay their way.
‘But we are short of one thing,’ says Smith. ‘Men and women to staff our phone.’
If you think you have a listening ear and a supportive voice and are free on Monday and/or Wednesday evenings from 6.30pm-8.45pm and would like to train with them, they’d love to hear from you - see the advert on page six for contact details.
‘Or,’ adds Smith, ‘if you think we’re worth a little donation, we’d receive it gratefully.’
Stories from the magazine this month:
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