The Black Lesbian and Gay Centre (BLGC) was a community centre in London that ran from 1985 to 2000.^[1] The centre was founded by members of the Gay Black Group in response to "the overwhelming whiteness of the 'mainstream' LGBTQ+ scene, racism from within and outside of the scene, and the difficulties of coming out to families, who generally perceived homosexuality as a 'white' issue."^[1] It was first set up in Haringey with funding from the Greater London Council, and later moved to Peckham. A rainbow plaque in Peckham commemorates the BLGC.^[2][3]

The Gay Black Group were a collective of Black lesbians and gay men, who organised under the banner of political Blackness.^[4] In 1982 they approached the Greater London Council to set up the drop-in centre, with plans to provide advice, information, and a helpline. The GLC awarded funding to the project three years later in 1985.^[5] At the time it was founded, it did not have a permanent premises.^[2] This changed in 1992 when the centre moved to Peckham and took up residence in a former railway arch.^[2]

The centre closed its permanent space in 1995.^[3] However, the last published bulletin is dated winter 2000 and stated their address as Westminster Bridge Road.^[6][7]

The group worked to provide a range of services and supported a number of actions, including: advice, counselling, and a telephone helpline;^[5] a library of relevant and specific material and a social space, even when they did not have a permanent venue.^[1]

The BLGC organised the Fifth International Lesbian and Gay People Conference, the first time it was held outside of North America.^[5]

The magazine Blackout was published from 1986 for Black lesbians and gay men to share events and resources.^[1] A newsletter for the "Black Lesbian & Gay Centre Project" was also printed.^[8][9]

The centre supported a boycott against the Black magazine The Voice about their treatment of out gay footballer Justin Fashanu.^[5]

In 2014 filmmaker Veronica McKenzie made a documentary about the Black Lesbian and Gay Centre titled Under Your Nose.^[10] The film was low budget and, reportedly, a labour of love, with McKenzie describing using her 'small savings' and having voluntary crew working for expenses.^[11] The film covered the history of the centre and surrounding political history, interviewing original members such as Dorothea Smartt, Dennis Carney, and Femi Otitoju.^[12]

McKenzie went on to found the Haringey Vanguard Archive in 2018. Held at the Bruce Castle museum in Tottenham, it prominently features the documents of the BLGC.^[13] The archive features oral history accounts from BLGC members Dennis Carney, Amber Djemal, and Savi Hensman.^[14]

On 18 February 2024, a rainbow plaque commemorating the centre was unveiled opposite 83 Bellenden Road in Peckham. The unveiling was held with a special screening of Under Your Nose at Peckhamplex Cinema with a Q&A with former members. The project was supported by Studio Voltaire, and the London LGBT Forums network.^[15]

Collections related to the BLGC are held by the Bishopsgate Institute, London.^[1] Material is also held at the Feminist Library, London.^[7]