page_title: Minorities Research Group
section_title: Group politics
hierarchical_section_title: Minorities Research Group / Group politics
caption_attribution_description: The Shakespeare's Head on Carnaby Street in London, March 2007 Fluffball70 19:43, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
context_page_description: The Minorities Research Group was the first organisation to openly advocate the interests of lesbians in the United Kingdom. It was founded by four women who got together in response to an article that was published in the magazine "Twentieth Century". The group published the Minorities Research Group Newsletter, and went on to publish its own lesbian magazine called Arena Three that provided a lifeline to remote lesbians around the country.
  The aims of the MRG were quoted as to "collaborate in research into the homosexual condition, especially as it concerns women; and to disseminate information to those genuinely in the quest of enlightenment". Esme Langley, one of the groups key founders, was insistent that it should focus on research and be inclusive of heterosexuals and supportive of lesbian individuals. As well as lesbians, its members included social workers, psychiatrists and writers such as Iris Murdoch.
context_section_description: At one of the group debates in August 1964, a record 70 women turned up to discuss 'the freedom of dress'. This took place in a room above the Shakespeare's Head in Carnaby Street. Many of the women had been objecting to some women wearing the 'butch' attire of a suit and tie to meetings. This eventually led to long-term social divisions within the group where Butch women became excluded.
  The Shakespeare's Head also had another function as the home of the MRG lending library and reading group. Much of the lesbian literature of the time was not available through book stores and public libraries, so the MRG library was an invaluable resource of largely donated books and publications. This library was eventually passed to Kenric in 1966.
  The Minorities Research group had an active relationship with the American equivalent of the time period, Daughters of Bilitis.
  Some of the MRG members wanted to steer away from research to improve the social aspects of the group. They went on to found the still running lesbian social network Kenric, in 1965.
caption: The Shakespeare's Head on Carnaby Street - March 2007
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