Former London Mayor candidate Brian Paddick is one of a number of high profile gay speakers expected at a series of talks in Croydon.

Mr Paddick, once the highest ranking out gay officer in the country, will be talking about his experiences at a talk organised by Croydon Area Gay Society (CAGS) on October 7.

Following that, on December 2, the speakers will be Allan Horsfall and Ray Gosling.

Ray Gosling is a well known radio and television journalist, and Allan Horsfall was one of the founders of the group that became the Campaign for Homosexual Equality.

Both have been campaigning for gay rights for well over 40 years, and continue their work on behalf of gay people to this day.

And on February 3 next year, Angela Mason OBE, once a radical campaigner and lesbian mother, later head of the Stonewall gay lobbying group, and currently a national government advisor on diversity and equality, will talk from her experience both inside and outside the establishment.

The meetings are free and open to all.

They are being held at 8 pm on the first Tuesday of alternate months, at the Brief pub in George Street, Croydon.

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