The Islington’s Pride project officially concluded in 2022, but the legacy of our work continues. A number of our Pink Plaques are yet to be installed, and over the coming months and years we hope to find homes for each of them. Islington’s Pride is a council resource available to local people, visitors and as a tool to promote a more equal borough for our residents. Explore the Islington’s Pride Heritage map here and look out for new entries as it continues to expand. The Islington’s Pride Archive, including our oral histories, is available to access from the Islington Local History Centre.
During LGBT+ History Month 2024 we presented Terrence Higgins Trust with their Pink Plaque, recognising the great work they have done to support people living with HIV and their work to reduce new HIV transmissions across the UK.
Terry Higgins was the first named person in the UK to die of an AIDS-related illness after collapsing at gay nightclub Heaven back in July 1982. Terry’s partner Rupert Whitaker and their close friend Martyn Butler set up a charity in his name to humanise the epidemic and save lives.
After becoming a registered charity in 1984, their first office was a single room at Panther House on Mount Pleasant in the neighbouring borough of Camden. THT then had two offices on Gray’s Inn Road, which connect King’s Cross and Chancery Lane, and have been based on Islington’s Caledonian Road since 2020.
Chief Executive Richard Angell said: ‛Terrence Higgins Trust began in London and we’re proud to have supported Londoners living with affected by HIV for the last 40 years. It is a real honour to be presented with a pink plaque to celebrate our place in LGBTQ+ history, which we’ll display with huge pride at our home on Caledonian Road.’
Seán McGovern, Heritage Project Manager at Islington Council, said: ‛There’s a rich history between our borough and the LGBTQ+ community, which we’re rightly proud of. It’s absolutely right to honour Terrence Higgins Trust with one of our pink plaques in recognition of its huge impact in raising awareness of HIV and fighting for so much of the progress we see today. We’re proud that Terrence Higgins Trust has done and that it has made its home in Islington.’