Bob Mellors | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1949-10-28)28 October 1949 |
| Died | (1996-03-24)24 March 1996 Warsaw, Poland |
| Occupation(s) | Writer,Gay rights activist |
Bob Mellors (28 October 1949 – 24 March 1996) was a British gay rights activist.
In 1970 Mellors went to New York and became involved with theGay Liberation Front (GLF)[1][2] becoming friends withAubrey Walter[3] during demos outside the Women's House of Correction in New York. Meeting up with theBlack Panthers helped to crystallize their ideas ongay liberation and they decided to create a London version of the GLF.[4]
As Mellors was working in theLondon School of Economics (LSE) he booked the room for the first meeting of the London GLF in theClare Market building owned by the LSE, on 13 October 1970. Also taking part in that meeting were David Fernbach] (author and Aubrey's partner), Richard Dipple (involved in theAlbany Trust), Bill Halstead (LSE student) andBev Jackson (later running for college office with the slogan "Bev the Lez for Prez"),[5] Tom Gowling (language student at Central School London) & Fernley Thompson (architecture student at NE London Poly)[6]
A tiny spark can cause a prairie fire.[7]
— Bob Mellors, unveiling a plaque at theLondon School of Economics for the 20th anniversary of the founding of theGay Liberation Front
During the 1970s Mellors came to knowCharlotte Bach, a writer and teacher. Charlotte left Bob her library and Bob wrote her biography but never had it published.[8][9]
When the British GLF faltered in 1974 Bob Mellors helped in the formation of more specialized lesbian and gay community groups.
Mellors never made any money from his writing and in London survived by art school modelling and working in the box office of the Electric and other cinemas.
In 1991 Mellors moved to Warsaw "for the company of Polish youth".[10] He taught English to Polish telecommunications staff. He was preparing an article on young Polish sexual identity for the gay journal Perversions[11] just before his death.
Mellors was found stabbed to death at his home in Warsaw on 24 March 1996.[10] This was the result of a burglary at his flat. He is buried inNottinghamshire.[12][13][14]
