Actor who played EastEnders’ Colin Russell and shared on a British TV soap opera first same sex kiss celebrates start of LGBT+ History Month at St Thomas’ Hospital
An actor who shared TV’s first gay kiss has celebrated the start of LGBT+ History Month at a hospital he praised for the care it gave his late husband.
Activist, actor and politician Lord Michael Cashman, pictured above, made history with the first same sex kiss on a British TV soap opera on EastEnders in the 1980s when he played Colin Russell.
He went on to co-found the charity Stonewall with Sir Ian McKellen, become an MEP and now sits in the House of Lords.
The event also celebrated a year since St Thomas’ Hospital launched the NHS Rainbow Badge.
The Guy’s and St Thomas’ LGBT+ Network hosted two events to show support for staff and patients of all sexualities and gender identities.
The network formed more than 10 years ago to represent LGBT+ staff at key Trust meetings and to offer support and advice in the workplace.
LGBT+ Network co-founder Jayne King said: “It was wonderful for Lord Michael Cashman to attend our LGBT+ History Month event at St Thomas’. Our LGBT+ Network gives a voice to our LGBT staff and patients and to be joined by Michael, who has been doing the same for the whole country throughout his career, was a source of great pride.
“Having Michael with us is a great reminder of the incredible progress that has been achieved, while keeping us motivated to ensure that staff and patients of all sexualities and genders feel represented.”
Lord Cashman praised doctors and nurses at Guy’s and St Thomas’ who treated both him and his late husband Paul Cottingham. Lord Cashman also met staff and patients and signed copies of his new memoir One of Them, which were donated by his publisher Bloomsbury.
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ
