PUBLIC CONSULTATION

on new wording for the Rainbow Plaque commemorating Anne Lister

In July 2018 we (York Civic Trust, The Churches Conservation Trust, York LGBT Forum and York LGBT History Month) unveiled a plaque to celebrate the life and actions of Anne Lister. The plaque was universally welcomed in principle; the wording on the plaque proved controversial and we immediately undertook to review that wording.Following meetings of the four partners, we now wish to put a suggested re-wording of the Anne Lister plaque to public consultation.

The original wording on the plaque was:

Anne Lister

1791-1840

Gender-nonconforming entrepreneur

Celebrated marital commitment, without legal recognition,

to Ann Walker in this church

Easter, 1834

Our suggested alternative wording is:

Anne Lister

1791-1840

of Shibden Hall, Halifax

Lesbian and Diarist

Took sacrament here to seal her union

with Ann Walker

Easter 1834

The plaque is intended to be a positive celebration of the union of Anne Lister and Ann Walker at Holy Trinity Goodramgate, Easter 1834.

The four partners have consulted historians and experts on the works of Anne Lister and have developed the alternative wording based on the following principles:

The plaque is a commemoration of Anne and Ann which is directly related to the taking of sacrament at Holy Trinity Church.

It reflects as accurately as possible Anne Lister’s own view of herself as evidenced in her diaries and letters.

We have clearly identified and agreed a process to allow the four partners to make the decision between retaining the original plaque or replacing it with the alternative plaque. This public consultation is an important part of that process. If the decision is have a new plaque, we will have this in place by Spring 2019. The existing plaque will remain as a place holder until after this public consultation and the four partners’ decision has taken place.

We welcome your views on this decision. Please register them on this Survey Monkey poll, which will close on Sunday 25 November 2018.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/AnneListerPlaque

With thanks for your interest,

York Civic Trust

The Churches Conservation Trust

York LGBT Forum

York LGBT History Month