| Our museum and archives record some of the stories of LGBT people who were British Red Cross volunteers. In looking for their stories, we have found that those who are documented were predominantly upper class, and often famous, lesbians and gay men who enjoyed flamboyant lifestyles.
Sadly, the vast majority of lesbians and gay men from ordinary backgrounds had to hide their sexual orientation from a homophobic society, particularly before 1967, when to be openly homosexual risked imprisonment.
We would like to celebrate the contribution that LGBT volunteers have made to the Red Cross over the years.
If you would like to share stories of some of these volunteers, past or present, please contact the Museum and Archives at enquiry@redcross.org.uk
LGBT volunteers in the past
During the First World War, Somerset Maugham, who had relationships with both men and women, became a Red Cross volunteer. The successful author and playwright was too old to enlist when the war broke out so he became one of almost 91,000 people to volunteer during this time. Maugham served in France as an ambulance driver, and carried on with his literary work during quiet periods. He was later recruited to work with British intelligence in Europe and Russia.
The socialite Marion Carstairs, usually known as Joe, loved motorboat racing and won many trophies, including the Duke of York's Trophy in 1926. She quickly established herself as the fastest woman on water.
In 1933 she bought Whale Cay Island in the Caribbean. In the 1940s she spent six weeks captaining a ship round the windward islands, helping the Bahamas Branch of the British Red Cross, which had begun in 1939 as an Overseas Branch, administer medical treatment. She also established a summer camp for underprivileged children. Each summer, for the rest of Joe’s time on the island, a yearly camp was held for boys and girls.
LGBT volunteers and staff today
In late 2006, the Red Cross created a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender network group to create a supportive network for LGBT staff and volunteers. This was the first time that the needs of the LGBT community were formally identified. The group works to develop a safe environment for staff and volunteers, informs the Red Cross about LGBT issues and holds regular meeting and social events.
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