Southwark honours Peter Tatchell with blue plaque

Peter Tatchell, one of the UK's most prominent campaigners for human rights, has been honoured with a blue plaque in Southwark. 

His blue plaque was voted for by the people of the borough last year in Southwark Council's blue plaque scheme, which has been going for over seven years.

It was unveiled by actor Sir Ian McKellen.

His plaque will join the ranks of other iconic Southwark landmarks and famous figures such as Henry Cooper, Charlie Chaplin, The Rose Theatre, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Borough Market.

Born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1952, Peter Tatchell began campaigning for human rights in 1967, aged 15. His first campaign was against the death penalty, followed by campaigns in support of Aboriginal rights and against the Australian and US war in   Vietnam.

After moving to London in 1971, he became a leading activist in the Gay Liberation Front (GLF), organising sit-ins at pubs that refused to serve homosexuals, and staging protests against police harassment and the medical classification of homosexuality as an illness. After playing a prominent role in the London chapter of the AIDS activist group ACT UP, in 1990 he and 30 other people founded the radical lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) direct action movement OutRage!

43 years after first beginning his human rights campaigns, Peter Tatchell continues to support the struggles for democracy, social justice and human rights in countries around the world, including Uganda, Somaliland, Iran, Palestine, Russia, Balochistan, West Papua and Saudi Arabia.

He also campaigns in Britain in on issues like civil liberties, LGBT equality, environmental protection, anti-racism, miscarriages of justice and the human rights of prisoners and asylum seekers.

Peter Tatchell said: "It is a big honour. I am very grateful to the people who voted for me, especially since there were so many other notable, worthy and deserving nominees. I hope my receipt of this award will encourage others to campaign for human rights and social justice. I have lived in Southwark most of my life and I am very proud to be part of its long, illustrious history of distinguished authors, playwrights, scientists, inventors and social reformers."

Councillor Veronica Ward, cabinet member for culture, leisure, sport and the Olympics at Southwark Council, said: "Our blue plaques scheme has been going strong for seven years now and the roll of honour shows what a rich heritage we have in this borough. On behalf of the people who voted for him, I'm delighted to add Peter Tatchell's name to the list of recipients of these plaques."

Sir Ian McKellen also paid tribute to the campaigner, adding: "We're very lucky to have Peter with us - what he asks for is no more or less than freedom, and I couldn't be a stronger supporter of him. He's my hero, and to honour heroes is a good thing to do. It's absolutely sensational that there is a Blue Plaque here."

More information

Peter Tatchell was among the ten winners of the 2008/2009 voting round, which also included Bermondsey Abbey, Charlie Drake, East Street Market, Father Nick Richard, Keib Thomas, Kenny Sansom, Nunhead Cemetery, Sam King MBE and St Giles's Door Summer House.

The Southwark blue plaques scheme is run by Southwark Council and is a joint initiative of the council, Southwark News and the Southwark Heritage Association.

Find out more information about the blue plaques scheme.