Attitude Pride Award winner: ‘Pride’ inspiration Jonathan Blake

Jonathan Blake is one of the men who inspired the movie Pride. As an original member of Lesbians and Gays Support The Miners, he was part of a group who offered generosity and warmth to the miners of south Wales during the strike of 1984-1985, and in doing so created a beautiful legacy of cross-community support. We’re proud to award Jonathan one of our inaugural Attitude Pride Awards in tonight’s ceremony, in association with Delta Air Lines. Watch Jonathan tell his incredible story below:

Jonathan Blake was diagnosed with HIV in 1982, and had every reason to believe he would soon die. He decided to find purpose in whatever life he had left, and striking up a bond with his politicised partner Nigel, the pair were co-founders of LGSM – extending a hand from the gay community to the striking miners, both of whom were effectively deemed enemies by the Thatcher government. The two groups formed a curious and unique bond which provided temporary relief for the miners, and in the long run, encouraged the mining unions to push for gay rights in the Labour party manifesto; the rest is history. The story was made into a vibrant and beautiful film in 2014 by Matthew Warchus and Stephen Beresford in which Jonathan was played by Dominic West – in all his community hall, disco dancing glory. Jonathan is a true survivor.

You can read more about Jonathan and the rest of our wonderful Attitude Pride Award winners in the new issue of Attitude, in shops now. You can download the mag from Pocketmags.com/Attitude or order a copy from newsstand.co.uk/Attitude.