They gathered at a secret location under the cover of darkness. Total confidentiality had been maintained, even between friends who embraced each other as they arrived to discuss gay rights. But this was not some socially conservative society under the thumb of a repressive regime. Nor was it a secret society in Victorian London. It was London in 2019.
Discretion had been essential because when homosexual people declare themselves to be attracted to the same sex, as opposed to the same gender, they risk being attacked and shamed as transphobic bigots.
The caution was wise; the fall-out following the inaugural meeting of the LGB Alliance last week has been unforgiving. Social commentators and policy advisers were outraged. Even the name was condemned. While trans people happily emphasise the T, LGB people were denounced for focussing on their own three letters.
“First they came for the T,” announced publisher Linda Riley to her 75,000 Twitter followers, in an absurd echo of Martin Niemöller.
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