Stories - West Yorkshire Queer Stories

Marching Out Together

David and Andrew talk about making football matches more inclusive for LGBTIQ+ fans, and the history of the Leeds United supporters association, Marching Out Together. (Recorded at Leeds Pride 2018.)

A welcoming church

As a Methodist Minister, Bob describes the 2018 Trans Day of Remembrance held at Todmorden Central Methodist Church and talks about his welcoming approach to LGBTIQ+ communities.

Campaigning for change

Rosie talks about how the Stonewall Youth Campaigning Programme and a NUS LGBT conference inspired her to set up a LGBT Society at Bradford University.

How trade unions can support LGBTIQ+ people

Steven, a member of Unite The Union's LGBT Committee, outlines some of the support union officers can provide to LGBTIQ+ workers.

A night out at the Gemini

Ian remembers plucking up the courage to visit the Gemini, a gay club in Huddersfield in the 1980s, and the fashions he saw inside.

'I realised what it was to be a survivor'

JJ talks about the need for accountability in the queer DIY punk scene and how their zine 'I'm a Slut' made them realise that they were a survivor.

Kirsty's queer zines

Kirsty challenges stereotypes and celebrates all things queer via the medium of self-published zines.

Wild Lavender gay men's housing project

Andy talks about setting up and living at the housing co-op Wild Lavender, and the Gay Men's Weeks at Laurieston Hall, Edinburgh, in the 1980s.

'I'm a mother who became a lesbian'

Clare talks about coming out as a lesbian aged 50 and her teenage son's reaction.

Becoming a lesbian mum in the 1980s

Val talks about wanting a child and her journey to becoming a lesbian mum in the 1980s.

Karen and Yvette had a civil partnership but later married in 2018, after same-sex marriage was legalised. Here they describe their wedding and how it felt to be involved in making their wedding rings.

James's letters and coming out

James appeared as a 'gay teenager' in a 1988 BBC2 documentary, receiving letters of support - and criticism - as a result.

'Queer' as a term of abuse

David remembers a bullying incident at school over a new jacket in 1960s Halifax.

'Too old to be gay'?

James talks about various relationships he's had throughout his life and how, at the age of 42, he made new friends and choices, despite worrying he was too old for a 'gay' lifestyle.

Hebden Bridge in the early 1990s

Steve and Richard remember being part of an influx of gay couples moving to Hebden Bridge in the early 1990s.

'My understanding of being gay was very negative'

Ali explains how his sexuality clashed with his cultural and religious identity, causing him to suppress being gay for many years.

Following her own path

Pauline decides to take control of her life after the break-up of her marriage.

No hiding, no shame

Leeds Pride weekend in 2018 saw the soft launch of Project Freedom, which Anna founded. She talks about being out and proud, and enjoying Pride!

'Coming home' to Pride

For Dean, going to London Pride in 1994 with his sister felt like 'coming home'. (Video recorded at Leeds Pride 2018.)

'No one would believe there was such a thing as a gay policeman'

Stuart fondly remembers a mysterious relationship with a policeman when he was living in a Huddersfield bedsit in the early 1960s.

Acceptance and respect at a Buddhist retreat

Shakyapada talks about her experience of being accepted as a trans woman at a Buddhist training retreat and the need to be respectful of different viewpoints.

Introducing the Friends of Dorothy

Craig explains why he decided to set up the Friends of Dorothy, an LGBT social group aimed at older people, who meet regularly in Leeds.

The importance of finding community

After Ruth came out in 2017 she wanted to explore LGBT groups and find other lesbians. She talks about how a games group for women in Huddersfield was a starting point for her lesbian social life.

Identity and shifting terms

Robbie considers different ideas and terms around identity, having cross-dressed since the 1960s.

The need to talk about mental health

Lisa discusses removing the invisibility and stigma around mental health by talking about it.

Pink Picnic memories

Claire remembers the Pink Picnic, a precursor to Leeds Pride, which took place on Woodhouse Moor, Hyde Park.

Why Pride is important

In this video, recorded at Happy Valley Pride in 2018, human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, explains why it's as important as ever to celebrate Pride.

Ashleigh's first Pride

Ashleigh remembers how a meeting at Manchester Pride led to a wonderful friendship, in this video recorded at Happy Valley Pride 2018.

The work and aims of TransLeeds

Oliver, the director of TransLeeds, talks about supporting the trans community and living in Wakefield.

Lesbian and gay tea dances in Saltaire and Leeds

Ian reminisces about ballroom dancing lessons, holding tea dances and organising Victor Victoria balls.

Jen's coming out story

A written memoir contributed by a Leeds woman born in the 1960s, who came out later in life.

Coming out against the backdrop of AIDS

Mark recalls how AIDS gave him 'a fight to join' and enabled him to feel part of the LGBT community when he came out.

Queer Mutiny and Jean Genet

Richard remembers legendary parties organised by Queer Mutiny where he first saw queer duo Jean Genet performing, wearing 'gaffer tape on their boobs, in their pants with raccoon makeup'.

Supporting the miners and protesting at Greenham

Gill talks about her politics and activism, within and outside the Labour Party, supporting the Miners' Strike of 1984-5 and protesting at Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp.

Hiding lesbian magazines

Rachel remembers how she lied to her parents about receiving lesbian magazines through the post and how she moved away to polytechnic where she attempted to join the Lesbian and Gay Society.

Trans pregnancy and parenting in Hebden Bridge

Yuval talks about his reasons for moving from Israel to Hebden Bridge, how his pregnancies have impacted on his gender identity and how his children view their family.

'And there was this girl...'

Marvina remembers when she first met a gay black woman who was 'gay in a masculine way' and her surprise at finding out where she was from.

Challenging the idea that 'homosexuality is unAfrican'

Samra talks about challenging ideas about homosexuality in Africa and the importance of activism coming from a place of love.

Lesley's jumpers

Lesley lived in Leeds for 30 years. She was a founding member of Leeds Lesbian Line and knitted the jumpers in this video to celebrate lesbian experience.

Assumptions about disability, sexuality and sex

Becca talks about feeling desexualised because of her chronic illness, and how this impacts on her experience of LGBTIQ+ spaces.

Keighley's LGBT group

Richard, a member of Bradford's Equity Partnership and an LGBT group in Keighley, talks about some of the activities he and his friends get up to. (Recorded at Happy Valley Pride 2018.)

'That's something for you to take back to Yorkshire'

Linda braves the Gateways Club in London and has her first dance and kiss with a woman.

The infamous Clitty Rubquick

Addie introduces her comic alter-ego, the pink-wearing, piano-playing Clitty Rubquick, who has toured the country with a mixture of stand-up and songs.

Dungarees and Docs

Jo remembers the lesbian dress code of dungarees, Doc Martens and short hair, and she talks of finding role models in US lesbian poets.

The first trans person to speak at a Conservative Party Conference

Sue talks about her speech at the 2018 Conservative Party Conference, the impact of a letter from Theresa May and her views on the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) reform.

Dating apps and the erasure of queer spaces

Hannah talks about her experiences of using dating apps and why they have become important as a means of meeting people.

Fitting into communities

Kirsty explores how she's viewed in the D/deaf and queer communities and why she's sometimes 'not seen as deaf enough' but also 'not queer enough' as well.

Misunderstandings about being bi

John talks about how he's been viewed with suspicion by gay men and how his bisexuality is just one part of him.

Exploring gender through dance

Wieke Eringa talks about the positive relationship between an international dance project 'Performing Gender' and the Leeds-based 'Gender Moves', which featured members of the local LGBTIQ+ community.

Being out in prison

As a lesbian working with offenders in a West Yorkshire prison, Nic says it's important to 'break down stigma and stereotypes'.

Cravats and suede shoes

Barry remembers his first visit to a 'sweet shop' (gay bar) in the late 1950s and talks about the tell-tale signs of men wearing cravats and suede shoes.

Biphobia within the queer community

Sue describes feeling like an imposter for being bisexual within the 1980s lesbian and gay scene in Leeds.

The Women's Workshop in Leeds

Sue describes her role in the 'Women in Manual Trades' collective in 1970s Leeds.

Lesbians and gays unite against Section 28

Carl remembers Section 28 as a catalyst for change in Leeds.

Bradford's lesbian scene

Lorraine remembers the butch/femme lesbian scene in 1980s Bradford, the impact of feminism and her involvement with Bradford's Lesbian Line.

Clive seeks medical help for being gay

On his mum's advice, Clive seeks medical help and is given unusual advice by a sympathetic psychologist.

Outed online

In 2017, Ahmed was outed in Bangladesh by an online article about LGBT rights, and fled his home after violent attack on his family. He describes his journey to the UK and how he ended up in Wakefield.

The General Will and the One-off Theatre Company

Gerry remembers his involvement in radical theatre in Bradford and his part in a play called 'Men' performed by the One-off Theatre Company.

An international queer community

In this short video, recorded at Leeds Pride in 2018, Finlay talks about the varied international events they've taken part in since joining a queer choir.

Coming out in the late 1990s

Aged 16 when Queer As Folk aired on TV, Ryan decided to tell his family and friends that he was gay, only to face homophobic bullying at school.

Huddersfield Pride '81

After continued raids on Huddersfield's Gemini Club, London Pride decided to move the national march to Huddersfield in 1981 in support of club owner John Addy. In this clip Peter describes the march and the presence of the National Front.

Realising you're non-binary

Quinn talks about being non-binary and and how they were always uncomfortable being labelled as a man.

Coming out again and again

Gay couple Stuart and Mike talk about assumptions made by colleagues in the workplace, and how coming out is an ongoing process rather than a one-time deal.

A residential for black queer kids

Norrina describes how it felt to be on a residential in the Lake District for young black queers.

Remembering Roy

David describes how important it is to him as a gay man to keep alive the memory of his deceased long-term partner.

Queer culture in Leeds

Kathleen remembers being drawn to Leeds' queer culture and the overlaps between squatting, queer parties and Leeds Queer Film Fest.

Getting arrested at Greenham Common

Lynn describes the impact that Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp had on her and how she planned to get arrested and spend a week in prison, with unexpected consequences.

Joining the Campaign for Homosexual Equality

Raymond describes joining CHE (the Campaign for Homosexual Equality) and going to his first meet-up with the Leeds group in the 1970s.

Does the queer scene in Leeds do enough for people of colour?

Yvonne describes the 'burnout' some activists have experienced trying to make queer spaces more welcoming for people of colour.

'Stuck between two worlds'

Emma explores the similarities between being bi and having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

On being a soft butch

Cutting her hair short helped Paula become confident about her identity and feel part of a lesbian community. She talks about being a soft butch and how others view her.

A different kind of trans support group

Amelia talks about the support she gets as a trans woman from her medieval battle re-enactment society.

Being a 'late bloomer'

Leo talks about developing M.E., which led to her being a 'late bloomer', and boxing up her feelings about sexuality.

What was the ACT UP movement in Leeds?

An extract from a talk given by Mick Ward in September 2018 on the history of the AIDS activist group, ACT UP Leeds.

Campaigning for gender neutral toilets

Riley talks about the impact of a NUS LGBT conference which led to them being part of the Trans Caucus and campaigning for gender neutral toilets.

Coming out later in life

Coming out can be difficult but Sue describes how she was helped by friends and local LGBTIQ+ groups.

Discovering the Gay Liberation Front

Patrick learns about the Gay Liberation Front from reading Oz magazine in the 1970s.

Working with Sage

Keith explains why he enjoys volunteering for Sage, the network for LGBT+ people aged over 50 in Leeds.

Trans swimming sessions at Bramley Baths

Dylan went along to a swimming session aimed at trans and non-binary people in Leeds and describes what it was like.

Leeds Animation Workshop

Terry, from Leeds Animation Workshop, talks about the difficulty of including LGBT content in films made by the Workshop in their earlier days and she reflects on how things have changed.

'Oh, you'll grow out of it…'

Helen recalls how her gender identity as a child in the 1950s wasn't understood by her parents and how there was the threat of the 'mental hospital'.

Thirty years of World AIDS Day

In a speech written to mark World AIDS Day 2018 in Leeds, John Roe looks back on how life has changed since his own HIV diagnosis in 1988.

'You can't pray the gay away'

Rebel explains that, for some people in religious families, coming out to their parents is simply not an option.

The shadow of AIDS

John remembers hearing about AIDS for the first time in 1981 in Leeds and how the situation developed globally.

Seventeen years down the mines

Geoff talks about the difficulties of being gay and working as a miner.

'You haven't changed a bit, have you!'

Jessica talks about her transition and how she discovered she was intersex.

'Without lesbian feminists...'

Lal talks about the importance of remembering lesbian feminist activism.

'I didn't seem to have a mind of my own'

Steve reflects on the influence of his mother and Catholicism on his upbringing, and how he felt 'easily persuaded' into living a conventional life.

Fetish, fashion and going out in Leeds

Johann, the founder of Leeds Fetishmen, describes his fetish gear, music on the scene, and how fetish groups are starting to venture into 'everyday bars'.

Queer Spirit Over Orlando

Bruce describes his reaction to the Orlando nightclub shooting of 2016, which led him to create 'Queer Spirit Over Orlando', an artwork 'intended for healing'.

The importance of seeing yourself represented

Tristan remembers the impact of a 'Doctor Who' episode and how it gave him a representation of bisexuality.

Aversion therapy

Concerned about living a 'double life', Bill asked for 'treatment' for being gay from his doctor in the 1960s. He tried aversion therapy and describes what it involved.

A film festival 'outside the sparkly, white, gay male norm'

Clare talks about the DIY ethos of Leeds Queer Film Festival which began in 2005, and the need to see representation of different realities on the screen.

Fighting for the people who can’t be heard

Aaron talks about his sexual health work for Yorkshire MESMAC, including outreach with Traveller communities, and the importance of recognizing that not everyone can be out and proud.

Dancing Bear

Director Jamie Fletcher describes the theatre show 'Dancing Bear', which explores gender, sexuality and faith, and was performed at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2017.

Experiences of 'gender euphoria'

Nāgakuśala describes their pleasure at being referred to using they/them pronouns, and discusses how 'performing' a specific gender can also be pleasurable.

Adopting as a gay couple

Rob explains his motivation for adoption and talks through the process that led to him and his partner becoming 'the first gay male couple to be assessed in the north of England'.

Being Muslim and gay

Husein, who has an Iraqi father and Welsh mother, describes how his identity has room for both his sexuality and religious beliefs.

Perceptions of lesbian motherhood

Sally talks about her children calling her the 'spare mummy' because she hadn't given birth to them, and how it feels to be an older lesbian parent.

The Lesbian Identity Project

Angela talks about the background to the Lesbian Identity Project (LIP) which aimed to capture the histories of lesbians from the north of England.

Shouted at in the street

Lewis shares two anecdotes about dealing with insults and homophobia from strangers in public, in a video recorded at Leeds Pride 2018.

The growth of Leeds Pride

Ali talks about how Leeds Pride has developed over the years.

How the Leeds Hunters inclusive rugby club started

Club archivist Jonathan looks back over the history of the Leeds Hunters RUFC.

LGBT peace activism

Susan considers the links between her sexuality and peace activism.

Gay Abandon and the joy of singing

Jane talks about running Gay Abandon, Leeds' LGBT choir, and how singing helps to bring people together.

A magazine for young lesbians in Bradford

Norrina talks about 'In Yer Face' magazine, made by and for young lesbians in the 1990s.

Doing your own therapy

Wendy remembers being invited to a writing group and dealing with her difficult childhood and the death of her brother by writing 'Jellybabies', an autobiographical play performed in Bradford.

A 'Friend' in Leeds and Bradford

Eric recalls helping out on the befriending and counselling phone service 'Friend', set up by the Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE) in the 1970s.

Coming out as trans at school

Koban describes the process of coming out as a trans teenager, from identifying with people on TV to asking for a change of name on school records.

Gay personal ads and phone lines

The Older and Bolder group in Bradford remember personal ads in Gay Times and saucy phone lines.

At school in Batley

Laura talks about what it's like being a trans girl at school in Batley, what support is available for LGBTIQ+ pupils, and how sexuality and gender are covered in lessons.

The aftermath of abuse

Roy recalls the devastating effects of being sexually abused by an older man during his teenage years, including the impact on his family, education and mental health.

Young and queer in Todmorden

Kiya and Leah reflect on life as a young gay couple in Todmorden.

Seeking asylum in Wakefield

Karim describes the trauma of being detained in the UK and the helplessness he felt adjusting to life in a new country.

Leeds' inclusive running club

Members of the LGBT+ athletics group Leeds Frontrunners discuss how they built up their membership and aim to foster a sense of community.

Jacqui and a Drag King's Sideburns

Jacqui's mother sadly passed away, but she has a unique way of keeping her memory alive - within her drag act.

A 'rebirth' in Huddersfield

When Melissa moved to Huddersfield to go to university, she decided to be completely out as a gay woman, and it was on Tinder that she found love.

The growth of TransLeeds

Pidge talks about taking over TransLeeds and reflects on how it has developed as an organisation and the support it offers to the trans community.

Cover stories and denial

Ruth feared that coming out during her nursing training in the 1980s would affect her future career and she would be seen as 'untrustworthy'. Having distant boyfriends and denying rumours seemed like the safest approach.

Finding a community on Tumblr

Being part of the first generation to grow up on social media, Vex talks about finding community and exploring sex and sexuality on Tumblr.

Pride and partnership

Simon and Craig's civil partnership happened to coincide with Leeds' first ever Pride march, leading to some amusing scenarios...

A tour of cruising sites in Leeds

Pat's work for sexual health charity MESMAC has given him an insight into the different cruising sites in Leeds, how they have changed and who uses them. He gives us a tour of the Ridge in Armley, Fleet Lane and Black Hill Lane.

A network of lesbian mums

Susan describes the supportive local network of lesbian mums in 1980s Leeds.

'We have a history... We're not alone'

Nikolai reflects on Pride as a time of solidarity and shared history in this short video recorded at Happy Valley Pride in 2018.

Founding the Yorkshire Trans Choir

Claye explains the need for a new choir to suit the voices of trans people, and treats us to a little singing!

The UK's first national trans conference

A reading of the Yorkshire Post's report on the social event held at Leeds' Guildford Hotel to tie in with 'The First National TV/TS Conference' in March 1974.

Disability, sexuality and gender

Leeds Disabled People’s Organisation (LDPO) and WYQS volunteer Gill Crawshaw arranged a group recording to focus on disability, sexuality and gender. In the interview AJ, Becca, Leo and Kirsty reflect on coming out, queer spaces, friendships and relationships.