People

My name is Ellie (she/her), I became interested in W.Y.Q.S because, having only officially come out within the last two years myself – bi/pan, still working on the label thing- I’m really interested to find out more about others experiences in the lgbtq+ community. It’s really important to document the voices of those who have been over looked, dismissed and hidden throughout history, not just for the sake of having the documentation but for people to learn from and relate to. During my time with W.Y.Q.S I will be conducting and transcribing interviews for the archive and for future generations.

Na then… Taking part in this project has helped me accept myself. The interview helped me to reflect on aspects of my cross-dressing over my life and to be grateful that I can now be more open and less nervous about being ridiculed by others. I think of gender as a spectrum and I am at the feminine end. I have had a mostly happy life but the last twenty years, with supportive partners and friends, has helped me to be who I am. I hope by sharing my experience others can be more confident with their identity.

I became involved with the West Yorkshire Queer Stories project through contact with Rachel Larman, whom I knew through family. Having recently graduated with a Masters in politics, I was eager to keep the skills I’d gained during my time at university sharp, and when Rachel proposed some voluntary research for the project, I eagerly accepted.

Having grown up on the autistic spectrum, I strongly believe in the value of history as told from the margins of society. My role in the project has been minimal, but I’m proud to help bring these stories into the light.

I really enjoy living in Leeds at the moment, partly thanks to the WYQS project. As soon as I heard about it I wanted to be involved. It has been a fun and interesting way to get to know and learn about the queer community in Leeds and to understand more of its history. I’ve currently carried out two interviews, transcribed one and volunteered at various events – all of which I have thoroughly loved.
In my free time I love to get out onto the moors or the dales with friends or to head to Hyde Park Picture House.

Hi; this is Nāgakuśala (currently genderfluid (the “fluid” is itself fluid!), pronoun they/them). I like the West Yorkshire Queer Stories as it is an explicitly LGBTQ+ project, at a time when various reactionary forces are seeking to split us apart. Imperfect we may be, but we are stronger together. I am a interviewer for the project, having done two with another couple on the way.

Tom moved to Leeds in 1990 to begin work as a outreach worker with MESMAC, (MEn who have Sex with Men – Action in the Community) a new sexual health programme based with Leeds AIDS Advice. He is the Chief Executive of Yorkshire MESMAC. He is the founder and chair for ten years of Leeds LGBT Pride.

I grew up in Northampton, and moved to Leeds (via South Wales) in 2015. As a Community Curator I carry out and record interviews with individuals who put forward their stories for the project. As a queer woman, I’ve always been interested in the idea of ‘secret histories’, and that our perception of the past is predominantly shaped by history’s victors. That’s why I volunteer with the WYQS project – to help ensure that the voices of LGBTQ+ individuals do not continue to get lost to history.

As a feminist, socialist, lesbian and parent, I am an activist committed to improving the lives of women and girls. This has included: working with women trade unionists to achieve more rights for women at work and co-authoring a book called ‘Feminizing the Unions’; addressing issues of gender inequality in employment and service provision in job roles in Leeds City Council; working internationally on human rights for women, disabled people and LGBT+ in Argentina and Myanmar. I hope our herstories will inspire others to continue the struggle to achieve basic human rights for all and true equality for women across the globe.

My name is Lauren and I’m a gender historian, currently studying for my PhD at the University of Leeds. I was drawn to this project due to my own lengthy struggles with finding queer voices in historical archives.

I have conducted a number of oral history interviews for WYQS and have loved every minute. The stories I have heard during my involvement with this project have been inspiring, heart warming, and at times heart breaking.

Hi I’m Tami, I’m really excited to be volunteering with WYQS. In Leeds I’m part of a feminist DJ collective called Equaliser which helps empower and enhance the talent of those not fully represented in the electronic music scene. I also work for a community DJ school and run DJ workshops for cis women, trans and non-binary people. Volunteering with WYQS has enabled me extend my queer activism outside of the club world. My first interview for WYQS is in Hebden Bridge this month!

I’m a current postgraduate student in York and my research focuses on LGBT+ representation in modernist literature. WYQS combines all my favourite things: storytelling, local history and everything queer! So far I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some lovely interviewees, sharing stories over many cuppas and helping out at events during LGBT+ History Month. My next plans are to fit in a couple more interviews before concentrating on the transcribing and hopefully some more exciting events.

I came to Leeds in 1969 to do a teacher-training course. While I was there I made many friends and discovered my sexuality, so when I left I decided to make the city my home. In early 1972 I joined Leeds GLF (Gay Liberation Front) and thus began my lifelong commitment to LGBT politics, and eventually trade union activism and party politics. In 1988 I was the first openly-gay candidate to stand for the City Council and in 2001 the first to get elected. I’m still active on the left of the Labour Party and in the trade union UNITE.

Karim was born in a society where homosexuality is a birth sin, in a country where it’s punishable by death sentence or life long imprisonment. I was leading a dual life but not for long. As soon as my sexual identity was identified my family disowned me, society hated me and extremist groups chased after me seeking blood. I had the privilege to fly in the UK and seeking for a safe life. But I left many same-minded friends behind where they counts every day of their life.

I was born at Cross Roads cum Lees near Howarth and began my gay life when my family were living in York in the mid-fifties. My boyfriend and I would go to Leeds on Saturday nights, and in 1958 we moved to Huddersfield for two years before I came to London. It was a delight to discover West Yorkshire Queer Stories because of the many adventures I had at a time in LGBT history when we young ones were covertly pushing the boundaries, growing increasingly intolerant of the prejudice we faced, which we openly challenged in 1970 through the Gay Liberation Front.

Growing up in a strict black household with religion at the helm, I found it hard to fit the pre-packaged formula I was brought up in and expected to live by. I wanted to share my story because representation and visibility is important to me, specifically, I want to help eliminate erasure of LGBTQIA+ in the black community. I am here; a black, bi/gay (fluid) woman. I am Vanessa.

I heard about WYQS from my friend Ross, and I have contributed to the project by transcribing several interviews that Ross and Ray have conducted. I gained experience in transcription through my time researching a PhD about Disney movies, which included running focus groups that I then had to transcribe. I’m currently self-employed as a proofreader and copy editor, primarily for academic clients, and I am continuing to write a series of reference books about Disney. I live in Leeds with my husband and spend my free time at the cinema, theatre and with friends. www.jamesdoes.co.uk

David is a founder of Happy Valley Pride. He writes: ‘My late husband Aram was diagnosed with prostate cancer and he was given 6 months to live. We knew our time together was precious so asked ourselves where in the world would we like to live – it was Hebden Bridge. Had Aram lived, my life path would have been different. Happy Valley Pride would not have happened. Maybe some form of Gay Pride under a different name would have come into existence but it wouldn’t have been the same. Happy Valley Pride has a conscience, a heart and people care about it! It belongs to everybody.’

As a trans & queer person who grew up in Keighley, I often feel like my experiences of small-town Yorkshire queerness aren’t a part of larger queer narratives in the UK. I was over the moon when I discovered this project at Leeds LGBTQ+ Literature Festival in 2018, and was keen to get involved in building an archive of queer history in West Yorkshire. It’s wonderful to think that queer people growing up now in West Yorkshire might have an easier time of it, and it feels like home to hear others’ stories!

Oliver has been with TransLeeds since it was founded and is currently the organisation’s director. The group supports people who are transgender and/or non-binary and are over 18.

My name is Jonathan Cookson and I have worked for Yorkshire MESMAC for over 10 years. My interest in contributing to the West Yorkshire Queer Stories Project stemmed from noticing Bradford Pride change and evolve over the years. It started out as a very small, discreet event that was held in almost hidden locations to a huge visible city centre celebration of the LGBT+ community. I’m sure it will continue to grow bigger and better every year.

Now in my 30s, I hold an MA in journalism from the University of Leeds, work full-time at the BBC as an Assistant Producer. I take an active part in British life and culture but also embrace my heritage be this through celebrating Eid, observing Ramadan, watching Hindi films, cooking Asian food and connecting with other British Asians on social media.

Craig Burton, born 1965 in Leeds, runs a recruitment business in Leeds and across the north of England. Craig was the first openly Gay President of a Rotary club in the UK; he is a trustee of Leeds community foundation and currently assistant governor for all the rotary clubs in Leeds. Craig founded “Friends of Dorothy” a social group combating loneliness and isolation amongst older LGBTQ people. Already this has national and international interest in the way in which it pulls together volunteers and entertains, informs, educates, befriends and cares.

Wieke has been CEO and Artistic Director of Yorkshire Dance since 2007, where she leads a talented team of people to support independent artists to develop their practice, to create excellent dance experiences for people who are least engaged and to support the development of the dance sector across Yorkshire. Previous experiences include audience development at Sadler’s Wells and Director of Learning and Access at Northern Ballet. Wieke trained and worked as dancer and choreographer and has an MA from the University of Surrey. Wieke is driven by the transformational power of dance and its potential as catalyst for change in contemporary society.

David was born in Wales in 1930. He worked in industry there until 1965 before he moved to Yorkshire to work for a large international company until he retired in 1985. He then worked part-time as freelance writer and photographer, concentrating on rural life and landscape. He is a book-lover and has over many years collected modern British painting, including young Yorkshire landscape artists. He has been a keen walker in the Yorkshire Dales. His civil partner, Roy, died in 2010.

Lesley Pattenson lived in Leeds from 1973-74 then 1976 to 2003, and came out there in 1978. She was a founding member of Leeds Lesbian Line and made the jumpers and display boards now included within the WYQS collection of objects donated to Leeds Museums. After moving to Birmingham, she worked with what eventually became the LGBT Centre, applied for Heritage Lottery Funding and secured the grant to undertake the Gay Birmingham Remembered project which she then project-managed.

I’m Hari, an archivist with a keen interest in recording and revealing hidden histories. I moved to Leeds shortly before Queer Stories started so being part of the project has been a great way to meet people, share stories and get to know more about West Yorkshire.

I’m a genderqueer lesbian who sings music about gender and sexual identity under the moniker ‘The Bleeding Obvious’. I spent much of my youth growing up in a single-sex school during the era of Section 28, and finally came out in my late 30s in what I can describe as a massively traumatic experience. I now live with my wife Helen and several of our collective children in Wakefield, and use my experiences to hand-hold and provide support to others struggling with their identity.

Hello, I’m Nicola a forty funf year old dyke from Leeds. I have been involved in the West Yorkshire Queer Stories project and been out to interview various people. I am particularly keen to make sure that the project includes stories from working class queers like myself. Through the interviews I have conducted for WYQS I have felt humbled, honoured and inspired by listening to various women sharing their stories; I loved hearing about everything from lesbian discos in 1980s Harehills to naked performance art in basements in Woodhouse.

33-year-old bisexual cis male originally from East Leeds. Was involved in the founding of the Leeds Hunters and is the archivist for the club. Also a volunteer for the Leeds Bi Group, where he helps the group run stalls at local LGBTQ+ events. He has an MA in Military History and works as a Dispensing Optician; also used to be a co-host on ‘The Greatest Events in Sporting History’ podcast, with Leeds Rhinos being his main sporting love.

I was born and raised in Iraq, settled in the UK in 2005, and have lived in Yorkshire for the last two years. My father and my mother met here in the UK; my father came from Iraq and met my mother at university. I don’t feel conflict about being gay and Muslim at all. Being gay is not a choice, it’s something you’re born with.

Hi, I’m Joe. I’ve been in Leeds now for four years. I studied here at uni and stuck around because Leeds is my second home. Over the years, I’ve become more ingrained with Leeds as a city. A lot of that has been due to Leeds Student Radio, which has allowed me to create something of my own, rather than just sort of being a part of something – my own little subsection, which is quite exciting to have.

Becca is a psychological researcher, bi activist and lover of all dogs and the outdoors. Becca is passionate on diversity and inclusion at work, and sees the lack of queer stories and narratives in research and science. She’s loves WYQS mission to collect, display and preserve the histories of queer people in Yorkshire because otherwise these stories will be lost. Becca has volunteered as a community curator for WYQS and researches sexual harassment of queer people in science and research fields.

If you’re interested in getting involved with her work, please get in touch: rbrunk@lincoln.ac.uk

I’m Charlie (they/them), I’m from Leeds and I’m a performance poet. I got involved with WYQS because I think it’s important to record our stories for LGBTQ+ people in the future. I’ve enjoyed interviewing different people, with a focus on trans voices. We are stronger together and I’m glad that POC, Trans, Bi and Lesbian voices are being better represented. I’m glad to be playing my small part in such a great project.

I’m Phoebe, a second year student at the University of Leeds. I have taken part in WYQS as a Community Curator because I wanted to get involved in a project outside of my university, with WYQS being a particularly exciting and important project to be a part of.

Hello! My name’s Addie. I wanted to take part in the Queer Stories project as I’ve been part of the Leeds Queer community since the mid-nineties and it was a wonderful opportunity to talk about some of the fabulous things that I’ve had a privilege to be a part of! From the Victor/Victoria balls to Gay Abandon choir, lesbian a cappella group The Deep C Divas, to performing stand-up as my alter-ego Clitty RubQuick. The hardest bit was stopping as there’s so much to say! Thanks for inviting me to take part!

Roy took part in WYQS in the final months of his life, sharing a long life story from his photographic memory. His friend Susan writes: ‘Roy was a kind and generous man; he was thoughtful, considerate and humble. He stood up for what he thought was right and challenged injustice when he saw it. I’ve been transcribing Roy’s life story – it takes an age but I’ve found it fascinating. As well as all the shenanigans Roy and John got up to, he shares the difficult sides of his life – the sexual abuse he experienced as a child and his pleasure at seeing his abuser tried and imprisoned. Roy didn’t want a funeral, but he has been buried beside John in Doncaster as he wished.’

Hi, my name is Harvey [pictured right] and I am a gay man living in Todmorden, West Yorkshire. I have had a long-term relationship of 38 years. We met in the 60s while we were both working in theatre. Our closeness and love have always been unshakable and still goes on as strong as always to this day, although I lost my partner, Alan [left], in 2005 due to a heart attack. When we met we were classed as illegal although the law had changed for consenting adults over 21. We were under that age group. We saw many changes over the years, right up to being on the threshold of both gay marriage and adoption. We hope you enjoy our story.

Adam Jaffer is Curator of World Cultures for Leeds Museums and Galleries. He is responsible for the research, display and interpretation of objects from Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, and some material from Europe.

Prior to this, Adam worked at the People’s History Museum in Manchester and was part of the team responsible for delivering the 2017 exhibition ‘Never Going Underground: The Fight for LGBT+ Rights’.

Adam is interested in cross-cultural approaches to gender and sexuality and has over 10 years’ experience of community engagement, collections research and delivering exhibitions.

Originally from South Shields, I moved down to Huddersfield to do my degree at Huddersfield Polytechnic and never went back. Since that time I’ve worked in Halifax, Huddersfield and Leeds. I was approached to be interviewed for this project and agreed because I hate to disappoint! Also, I believe oral history is very important and am glad to be able to make a contribution. Being interviewed brought forth memories I hadn’t thought about in years – and made me more than a little nostalgic!

My name is Ryan and I’ve been volunteering with the WYQS project since late 2018. I have had a few of interviews that have been particularly interesting; one with an organiser of Bradford’s first Pride, another with a couple of LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, and another with a queer Muslim activist. I also work on some LGBTQ+ older peoples projects with MESMAC in Bradford and for me equality, diversity and respect for our communities is at the heart of everything I do.

ACT UP Leeds were a direct action group raising AIDS awareness in Leeds and beyond in the 1990s. Three of their former members – Mick Ward, Gill Crawshaw and Jude Boyles – have recorded a group interview for WYQS, while Gill has made huge contributions as a volunteer and advisor, and Mick allowed his talk about the group’s history to be filmed and included on this website.

Char March is an award-winning poet and playwright for radio, stage and screen. She was born disabled because of an experimental drug her Mum took while pregnant. Char worked on Disability Rights Issues for 18 years in Equal Opportunities Units in 3 different Councils and a Housing Association. She’s a lifelong lesbian, and was keen to tell WYQS tales of working in various places in West Yorkshire during the AIDS crisis, and the Clause 28 marches, in the 1980s. To buy her books, visit http://www.charmarch.co.uk

I grew up in Lancashire – but my parents and family were from Leeds, and Leeds United has been a huge part of my life since childhood. As a gay man I was delighted to help set up Marching Out Together the Leeds United LGBT+ fan group with some other amazing fans. So proud of the support from the club, and its fans, for the work the group does to help ensure everyone is welcome at Elland Road – in a city that celebrates diversity.

Jacqui Ong came to Leeds as a student and became involved in the Leeds Queer Film Festival. She currently performs as a drag king in London.

I’m a non-binary trans man who’s lived in Leeds since 2017. As a queer person who researches queer history, feeling a sense of community with the past has always been really important to me – and being involved with WYQS, first as a volunteer community curator and then as an interviewee, feels like an important step towards connecting with that past and preserving it for future generations of queer people. I also coordinate the Rainbow Plaques project, and have run some plaque-making sessions with WYQS, helping to make personal queer histories visible in cities across Yorkshire.

Bruce Rimell is a visual artist, whose vivid work explores dynamics of the visionary, ethnographic, cognitive, queer and mythical. He keeps a website of his work at www.biroz.net and the central theme of his work and life is Beyond-The-Self Exploration. He is based in Leeds and Bradford, where he lives with his husband Chris, delightfully in love.

“I am human, and I am an artist. This is the most astounding thing, an experienced question which I will spend my whole life discovering. Every single day of my life, it is a mind-blowing joy.”

Jamie is a Film and Theatre Director and Musician based in Leeds, UK. Her work is multi-disciplinary, queer, bold and entertaining and definitely not afraid to take risks. She has her own production company ‘Jamie Fletcher & Company’ and works independently with a range of artists, performers, dancers, writers and musicians as well as theatre and film production companies. Visit: jamiefletcher.co.uk

I was born in Sheffield, went to uni in Bradford, then followed a well-worn path of other Bradford graduates to Leeds! I first heard about the project when I was at the LGBT History Month event at Leeds City Museum in 2018. I was really excited about getting involved, because I feel it’s so important for a record to be made of LGBTQ+ history and presence in West Yorkshire. I was one of the first volunteers to be trained to carry out interviews back in July 2018. So far, I’ve interviewed two people and been interviewed myself too!

Ross Horsley comes to the project from an archives background, having managed the Local and Family History department of Leeds Central Library from 2015 to 2018. He’s passionate about bringing new perspectives into historical debates, uncovering untold stories from the past, and sharing these via events and online. At the library, he ran workshops, talks and tours using all sorts of resources (although old local newspapers were always his favourite). Working for West Yorkshire Queer Stories has put him at the heart of a busy and creative history-gathering project, where he’s supported a large and diverse team of volunteers and worked alongside local museums, all with the aim of empowering local LGBTIQ+ people to see themselves as part of the rich and colourful history of their region.

Hi. I’m Val. I’ve been involved as a volunteer in West Yorkshire Queer Stories since its inception as a pilot project in November 2014. I’ve also been interviewed. As an older lesbian (67) who came out to some extent in my early 30s, LGBT+ social history gives me a context, visibility and contributes to my personal and social identity.

My name is Lauren Whitehouse, I am a gay woman, I use the pronouns she/her and I am a research student. My role as a volunteer with WYQS project involves interviewing individuals about their stories and experiences. I am particularly interested in interviewing individuals identifying as lesbians or non-binary about their stories and experiences. My interest in the WYQS project stems from both my personal interest in LGBTQ+ history, to educate others of an area of history frequently undocumented, and my academic background in LGBTQ+ research specifically researching the historical and current issues faced by LGBTQ+ individuals within a sporting context.

My name is Ibrahim from Africa. I flew from my own country seventeen years ago to save my life as a gay man. It was quite challenging and frustrating when the Home Office refused my asylum claim, not believing I am gay. Thank you to West Yorkshire Queer Stories which restored my hope and aspiration by taking the time to listen to me. They give me a voice and have allowed me to use their platform. I know there are many guys out there with a similar situation.

I am Bobby, a 69-year-old gay man born and bred in Leeds. I became aware of my asexuality in the early Sixties, thinking I was the only gay man in the world! Totally ignorant at the time but became aware that I was not the only one after hearing about the law being changed regarding homosexuality; went on the scene in the Seventies in Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield. I think things have now changed for the better. Hope the younger generation will find out through WYQS just what things were like in the past .

I was involved in the first incarnation of Queer Stories and am active in LGBT+ communities in Leeds, especially concerning the issues facing older LGBT+ peoples. I am active in Leeds LGBT+ Mapping Group (action research, overview and networking of LGBT+ groups), SAGE (reducing isolation of older LGBT+ people), Project Freedom (multigenerational and extra-care housing and LGBTQ Centre) as well as being part of a lesbian mothers/carers’ network and a foster carer having children to stay for short breaks. I love gardening and sing in Gay Abandon. My pre-retirement life? I can’t remember! but I have listening, group-work and training skills.

Hi, my name is Nifemi, I’m currently a Masters research student at the University of Leeds with interests in queer theory and black feminist thought. I got involved with West Yorkshire Queer Stories, because I loved the fact the project was archiving queer cultural history and making it accessible. In the project so far I have assisted with a few events and hope to do even more interviews bringing more qtipoc stories to the project.

I’m 23, trans/nonbinary, I use he/him pronouns and I am demi-sexual. I’ve recently moved up north from London and wanted to learn more about/meet my local queer community, this project is just perfect for me. I am a masters student with a BA in history, queer history has always been an interest of mine, so joining an oral history project like WYQS is just fab! Being a young disabled person, the project has already helped me get out and meet new people I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.

Stevan Alcock is a published author. His debut novel, ‘Blood Relatives’ (4th Estate) is a gay coming-of-age novel set in Leeds during the Yorkshire Ripper years.

I’m Vicky Grindrod, Archivist at the Leeds office of the West Yorkshire Archive Service (WYAS). WYAS is a partner organisation in the West Yorkshire Queer Stories project and I’ll be permanently preserving the physical and digital archives that are generated as part of this fantastic project.

I am Ruth, a Danish piano vocalist from Oxenhope. I love the outdoors, work as a dog walker and teach music. After a long term (straight) relationship 2 years ago (2017), I began to explore my attraction to women and embraced my androgynous nature. I am now part of Keighley & Craven LGBT and run a Games Group in Haworth. I feel very privileged to contribute to West Yorkshire’s queer history.

My involvement in disability art and culture, and the disabled people’s movement, led to an invitation to join the advisory group of WYQS. This is such a brilliant, important and exciting project, preserving queer history with creativity and respect. I also volunteer for WYQS as part of the crew of Community Curators, working with the staff team to collect a diverse range of stories and memories. I’ve been on both sides of the voice recorder, as I’ve shared stories from my years as a member of ACT UP Leeds in the 1990s. ACT UP fought injustice around HIV and AIDS with direct action and protest.

My name is Dominic and I am currently studying for a Masters degree in Art Gallery and Museum Studies, at the University of Leeds. I am interested in social history and how people’s stories are recorded and used in exhibitions.  I have had the pleasure of interviewing a few people so far for the project, and I have really enjoyed being able to facilitate the recording of these stories. I am enjoying being part of a project that will tell the queer stories of the people of Leeds. I hope that these stories will help people find their queer history and community.

Hi I’m Kathryn and I’m volunteering as an interviewer for WYQS. I thought this project sounded fun because I’m dead nosy and love chatting with people I haven’t met before. I also thought it would be a good opportunity to hear the experiences of some people outside my usual circles. I live and work in Leeds & I enjoy tending to my allotment.

Hi, I’m Nic. I moved to Leeds in 2004 for university. It was here where I got involved with LGBTI+ activism to overcome attitudes on campus and succeeded to such an extent that Leeds University Union’s LGBT assembly was awarded the first NUS LGBT group of the year award 2005/6. When I saw the advert for the project looking for interesting pieces of local history, I thought it’d be good to take along the assembly portfolio to it and share what I’d done since, which involves working at HMP Leeds, being a LGBTI+ staff network lead and improving the service’s LGBTI+ work.

E-J is a curator, academic and queer cultural producer. His current portfolio focusses on community-led museology that aims to disrupt the dominant narratives surrounding groups who have historically been misrepresented in the heritage sector. His projects include the Museum of Transology, Queer & Now, Queer the Pier (Brighton) and, in 2018, he wrote the National Trust’s Prejudice & Pride podcast series, which he co-presented with Clare Balding.

Emily is a bisexual activist living and working in Leeds, West Yorkshire. She is the founder and chair of Leeds Bi Group, a social support group for people attracted to more than one gender which has been running since 2014, Leeds LGBT+ Book Club and Leeds LGBT Literature Festival. Emily was excited to be part of this project.

So… I first came out as lesbian, and then bisexual, and then I came out as trans, and then, and then I came out as a gay man after being trans – after coming out as being trans, and then came out as a pansexual gay man. So my sexual identity has gone through a lot of evolving, and I’m happy for it to evolve more in the future if it wants to. That’s fine! I definitely feel very attached to my queer identity. I wouldn’t want to let go of it, so it would, I think it would be a challenge to be straight, but you know, if that happens it happens, but… I don’t see it happening to be honest! … I feel like it’s my whole life, my queer identity. I feel it’s a big part of me personally… and it’s a connection to my, my community, the gay and trans community.

Jessica joined us at West Yorkshire Queer Stories as a placement student from the postgraduate module ‘Making History: Archive Collaborations’ at the University of Leeds. She assisted at all levels of the project, from admin and curatorial tasks to interviewing and transcribing, and deservedly received a high first for her work on the course!

My name is Yvette and I am 47 and married. I went to Kitson College in 1989 and was involved in establishing the 1st Lesbian and Gay officer for the Student Union at that college in that year. I was also involved in a homophobic attack in the 1990s which left me disabled. I wanted to get involved to document things that have happened in West Yorkshire LGBT history.

I work for Unite the union and, previously, was a Councillor on Wakefield Council where I was the LGBT+ Champion for the District. I was keen to be part of the WYQS project as I think that a lot of younger people aren’t fully aware of the challenges that were faced by the LGBT+ community just a couple of decades ago. There is a growing rise in LGBT-phobic incidents and projects such as WYQS will help to provide a lasting record that serves as a reminder as to the struggles that people have faced, as well as the ongoing fight for equality.

Jane Edwardson is an award-winning and renowned choral conductor and arranger, who has been inspiring singers and audiences for over 30 years. She leads local choirs and health and wellbeing singing groups. Her work has taken her to a variety of iconic concert halls including the South Bank, Munich Gasteid, the Berlin House der Kulturen and the Sidney Opera House. Jane founded Gay Abandon, West Yorkshire’s LGBT choir, in 1997 and is proud to be the longest serving music director of an LGBT choir in the UK and Ireland.

I’m Ro, an English and History graduate interested in sharing stories from a variety of experiences in the LGBTQ+ community. I’m particularly interested in sharing the stories of those most traditionally underrepresented in the community such as black, trans and ace folk so that their experiences can be heard and understood by more people. I’m bit of a history nerd and believe that it is important to preserve queer history for years to come so that people’s lives and experiences aren’t forgotten.

Ahmed comes from a country in Southeast Asia where homosexuality is criminalized. Fighting for the rights of LGBT community, some of his friends made the supreme sacrifice. He lost home. He believes in keeping their memories alive and the West Yorkshire Queer Stories project gave that opportunity.

Ray Larman’s interest in LGBTIQ+ history developed when she volunteered for the original Queer Stories pilot project in 2015-16 and recorded stories of LGBTIQ+ life in Leeds. Following this she became involved in organising Leeds Queer Film Festival, volunteered for Feminist Archive North and helped to organise LGBT History Month events at Leeds City Museum. Ray has previously taught literacy to adults with learning disabilities, worked in disability services at two universities and worked at the Mental Health Museum. She sees WYQS as an opportunity to give LGBTIQ+ people a voice, and recognises the importance of reaching people in marginalised communities so that their histories are captured.

Hello, I am a very old woman, happy to say a lesbian and a trans woman. My experience is not the same as cis women but faced the same prejudice and discrimination. My biggest fight was against Section 28 because at the time I was a teacher, responsible for relationship/sex education within a Health and Social care department of an FE college. Unfortunately the same ugly reactions are reforming but as always I am ready to fight for all LGBTQ+ rights. Happy to be here and queer! (Secretary of Keighley and Craven LGBTQ support group.)

I came to Yorkshire to study and stayed for the sense of community. I found my queer identity here over the years and started working in sexual health outreach with gay men at risk of HIV. This developed into work with LGBT young people, asylum seekers, Trans communities and other marginalised queer identities through Yorkshire MESMAC. I’m from a multi-ethnic multi-religion background and I became passionate about propelling the voices of those intersectional communities who would never have a platform to do so. I’ve never been particularly great about talking about my experiences.

Terry Wragg is a founding member of Leeds Animation Workshop, a women’s co-operative established in 1978. Set up to produce and distribute animated films on social issues – such as equality, gender and sexuality, family crises, prison, disability, global justice, and climate change – the Workshop also offers regional resources for film exhibition, education and training, and remains an independent, not-for-profit co-operative. It has made around 40 films that are distributed throughout the UK and around the world. See: www.leedsanimation.org.uk

Leeds Frontrunners are a friendly all-inclusive club, welcoming anyone who identifies as LGBT, their friends and even people who just love running and are happy to look beyond labels. Their members range from recreational joggers, maybe aiming for a 5k parkrun, to competitive longer distance runners, including off-road marathon runners.

Rob was the chair of the Leeds City Council LGBT+ Staff Network, having picked up the mantle to refresh, refocus and relaunch it from 2015–2019, which provided a strong foundation for increasing partnership work on developing Leeds as an LGBT+ inclusive city. In addition to the work within the council Rob also has a strong interest in community development & support, having founded The Bad Mittens badminton & The Leeds Hunters RUFC LGBT+ led sport groups along with The Angels of Freedom LGBT+ community safety & support organisation. Rob also took over management of the Yorkshire Relish LGBT+ Dining Group in 2013, a social group that has been running in Leeds since 1994.

I’m Kate and I’m from Liverpool but I’m currently going into my final year studying BA History at the Uni of Leeds! I’m an Aries and I love dogs, sweets, and colours! I’ve got a big interest in queer history and I think that the work that WYQS is doing is vital in ensuring that the histories of normal LGBTQIA+ people are distinguished from mainstream history and remembered as important in their own right. It’s been a pleasure to help out!

My real name is Emma, and I was not named after Baby Spice despite being born in 1996. I usually go by the nickname “Mini”, because Emma is a common name, and the only obvious distinguishing feature between me and other Emma’s is the wheelchair; not many people are comfortable saying “Wheelie Emma” even though I don’t mind it too much. My blog (diaryofadisabledperson.blog) is biographical, which I hope to keep light-hearted and slightly comedic, but which I also hope will allow readers to develop an empathy for those with a disability, and particularly wheelchair users.

Peter Scott-Presland has been active in the LGBT Movement as an activist, performer, writer and historian for the last 48 years. His history of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality, ‘Amiable Warriors’, covers the campaign for LGBT rights from 1954 to 2010. At the moment volume one has been published which goes up to 1973. He has researched many local CHE groups, including Leeds.

Sue Pascoe combines a highly successful business career as a chartered accountant and management consultant with extensive life experiences and a focus on seeing our society, communities and organisations become more inclusive. She also happens to be a woman with a trans past. Sue is 59 and has two lovely sons. She lives in North Yorkshire. Having worked with Channel 4 helping them become a more Creative Inclusive Organisation she is now a general council member of LGBT+ Conservatives and sits on the party’s working group for better engagement with minorities. Sue is also a trustee of Yorkshire MESMAC. Sue worked her way up and out of a very difficult deprived background to get to the top of her profession. She then gave that all up to become Sue, her true self. This took her back to the bottom of society. Today she has found the preciousness of being authentic with herself and the world around her and the joy of helping others succeed.

I’m a Yorkshire lesbian in my early 50s, passionate about equality, improving the lives of those who are disabled, and generally improving my own and others’ wellbeing through creative and political action. Writing fictionally and of life experiences has been valuable self-directed therapy for me! I trained as a mental health nurse in the mid-1980s where I struggled but came to accept and be proud of my sexuality. I’ve been involved in ‘Stop the Clause’, AIDS awareness, the Lesbian and Gay Switchboard and other campaigns. Recently I’ve been supporting young asylum seekers, facilitating writing sessions for the homeless, and worked with Ilkley Literature Festival. I spotted an opportunity for WYQS and Sage to collaborate on a project where older and younger ‘queer’ people shared experiences around things like coming out, political activism and parenting. An amazing afternoon led to a zine, ‘Trailblazing Stories’, by Kirsty Fife, available from WYQS.

I’m Melissa! I joined the project in December 2018, as a student placement with the University of Huddersfield. I’ve loved spending time working on the project and getting as hands on with I can with all that’s going on, including a interviews and local events. Working on the project has been a brilliant opportunity to learn more about the queer history of West Yorkshire and those who represent it. I’ve met excellent members of the community who have brilliant, important stories to tell. I’m excited to keep learning more everyday!

My name is Axelle and I’m a 22 year old black queer woman. I took part in the project because I believe that it’s time for QTIPOC (queer &/trans &/intersex people of colour) to take up space in the LGBTQ+ community. Historically we have been erased. This lack of representation and visibility made it harder to accept my queerness growing up and so I hope being visible gives queer black kids something I never had: empowerment. I also run a QTIPOC group for people in Leeds. Email us at: qtipocleeds@gmail.com

Hannah Wilk, queer wrestler and nurse: “I was born in London. My parents moved there from New York … just before I was born. I came to Leeds for Uni and then I never left. That was ten years ago.”

Stuart (pictured right) is an award-winning Ballroom & Latin dancer, teacher, choreographer & coach, who has represented Britain in the Gay Games and EuroGames. He grew up in West Yorkshire but now lives in Brighton.

An escapee from boring Berkshire, Richard Morris helped provide a queer alternative to the mainstream gay scenes in Leeds and Wakefield with the club nights Violator, Ice Cream, Eat Yr Make Up, and Dirty Shame between 2004 and 2012. Although now mired in his less exciting late 30s, Richard remains a fixture at Leeds’ queer epicenter, Wharf Chambers, and is immensely proud of the city’s queer culture and activism.

I am a lesbian, who has lived and worked in West Yorkshire for over two decades. I’m constantly amazed at what has changed for us in that time, and also at what hasn’t. I wanted to be involved in the project to record what life is like now, for future generations.

Steven is a member of Unite the Union’s northern LGBT committee. He lives in York, is a father, and enjoys taking part in podcasts about classic films, including ‘Reel Britannia’ and ‘Attaboy Clarence’.

I’m Rosie, and I’m a 27-year-old cis lesbian. I have been involved in the queer community in Bradford and Leeds for the last 5 years, and a major part of that is seeing how people grow when they are supported and surrounded by their community. We have so many horror stories in our history, and I really believe that we need local stories that shine a light on the amazing movements that have created positive changes to our lives now. WYQS is a fantastic way to show young LGBT+ people our history, and to have the voices of those so often unheard, recorded and preserved.

I’m a writer, poet and teacher based in Leeds. ​I spend much of my week working from home or in schools, libraries and other venues within Yorkshire. I write poetry mostly, though I’ve had stories, memoirs and, as a journalist, many articles published in newspapers and magazines. (www.jamesnash.co.uk)