Plaque unveiled for pioneering gay politician
A blue plaque has been unveiled commemorating the life and legacy of a councilor believed to be the first openly gay politician elected in the UK.
Councilor Sam Green was a psychiatric nurse who made history in 1972 when she was elected to the now-abolished Durham City Council for her Crossgate ward as a Liberal councillor.
Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey unveiled the plaque in front of a house on the Avenue where Green, who died in 1999, lived.
Durham City Parish Council, which installed the plaque, said Green was a “much loved” figure in the area and was a “one-off”.
Plaque identifies Sam Green as an advocate for diversity in public life [BBC]
Green was 31 when he was elected, unseating an incumbent councilman of 18 years.
The Gay Liberation Front member had failed to be elected twice before.
Richard Hussey, professor of modern history at Durham University, said Green lived in a time when there was a lot of prejudice and was sometimes “attacked on the street because of her sexuality”.
Prof Hussey added: “He did very bravely by being open with voters about this and managed to convince them that he was the right councillor.”
A crowd gathered at Sam Green’s former home for the opening ceremony [BBC]
The parish council said Mr Green was an active member of the Gay Equality Campaign.
The statement said: “Sam’s election to the city council clearly broke a glass ceiling at a time when social views on homosexuality were not what they are today.
“Sam is described as a one-off by those who know him in Durham.
“Although he was a much-loved figure in Durham City, he moved away around 1980 and little information can be found about him from this time.”
Councilor Susan Walker said she hoped “brave” Green’s story would be more widely known [BBC]
Ward councilor Susan Walker said she hoped the plaque would inspire Mr Green’s story to be told more widely.
He said: “His story is such an important part of Durham history but it’s not that well known.
“Commissioning the plaque and hanging it here helps us tell the story; it’s so important for diversity; he was a very brave man.”
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