CAGS Home Page - Croydon Area Gay Society

CAGS (Croydon Area Gay Society) is a society for lesbians and gay men in and around Croydon. We have nearly 100 members. The Society was founded in 1971, as "London Group 7" of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE).

Older gay people

CAGS has instituted a monthly lunch club for gay people over 50, and is working with Age Concern Croydon to increase the range of services for older LGBT people in the Borough.

Special events

As well as our social events, we put on events from time to time for a wider audience.

In February 2007 we celebrated LGBT History Month with play readings at the Warehouse Theatre, and our History Month event for 2008 was a celebration of same-sex relationships in English History, including a re-run of our re-enactments of ancient church ceremonies for blessing same-sex couples.

We had a stall at Brighton Pride in August, and in November we took part in Expo100 and the South Norwood Winter Festival.

CAGS and the Community

CAGS supports Aurora, Croydon's LGBT Police Consultation Group, and is a member of:

SLAGO - the Surrey and London Association of Gay Organisations
the Consortium of LGBT Voluntary & Community Organisations.
CVA —Croydon Voluntary Action.
ILGA — the International Lesbian & Gay Association

CAGS is currently working with the CVA and other local groups on the launch of Crocus, Croydon's LGBT Network, and is helping to promote a local group for lesbian and gay 20s and 30s.

Croydon LGBT Survey

CAGS supports Crocus's LGBT Survey, to find out more about the needs and wishes of LGBT people in Croydon.

Tennis

We have a very active Tennis Group, playing on Sundays throughout the year. More about the Tennis Group ...

CAGS in the News

Recent press coverage has included an interview with our Secretary in the Pink Paper. You may also have seen reports of our play reading at the Warehouse Theatre for LGBT History month in February last year, and our dramatic increase in membership numbers. Our news page has full details, plus links to the text of our press releases.

Campaigning

We campaigned for the passing of the Civil Partnership Act by re-enacting ancient church same-sex union ceremonies.

We have organised letter-writing by our members on various issues affecting gay people, and we are currently working on a number of campaigning issues. More about our campaigns ...

Downloads

CAGS leaflet (.pdf: 945k)
Sample Newsletter (.pdf: 450k — a fairly recent copy, with some names and phone numbers blanked out. To receive a full copy you will need to join the Society).
Membership Application form (html: 12k)
Croydon LGBT Survey form (.pdf:117k)

CAGS — Croydon Area Gay Society

Social events