Stories - West Yorkshire Queer Stories

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.

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.

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'.

A poem for Bi Awareness Month 2018

Vanessa reads her poem, which challenges myths and stereotypes about bisexuality.

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.

The campaign for a GaySoc at Leeds College of Music

Clive recalls how he campaigned for a GaySoc at Leeds College of Music in 1986, with the support of Ian McKellen and the University of Leeds' Student Union.

'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.

Harvey worked in entertainment for all of his life, performing magic, and working in the circus and theatre. Here he talks about his role as the Entertainment Manager at a holiday camp, his matching day-glo outfits and 'camp bingo'.

Setting up a bi group in 1989

Chris talks about setting up a bi group in Leeds in 1989 and recalls how bisexuals were marginalised at that time.

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.

Slogans and chants

Three former members of the AIDS awareness activist group, ACT UP Leeds, look through a collection of old badges and reminisce about popular slogans and chants from the early 1990s.

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.

Positive and Confident Together

Members of the peer-led PACT group at Leeds Skyline describe how they support each other as gay and bisexual men living with HIV.

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.

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.

The importance of seeing yourself represented

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

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.

Becoming a lesbian mum in the 1980s

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

'A chance to dream'

Kuchu Pride reflects on a relationship that has helped her find healing, and the feeling that she now has a future after a traumatic past.

Queer culture in Leeds

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

Biphobia within the queer community

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

World AIDS Day 1990: Action in Leeds

Gill remembers a demo from her activist days with ACT UP Leeds, which didn't quite go to plan.

The world of same-sex ballroom dancing

Stuart has danced in international contests with a male dancing partner, as well as show teams and a hit film!

Gay Abandon and the joy of singing

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

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.

Coming out to your grandma

Emily recalls her grandmother's response when she came out to her as lesbian and the way her grandmother saw her marriage as comparable to a traditional heterosexual one.

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.

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.

Kirsty's queer zines

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

The growth of Leeds Pride

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

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.

Representing women

Jane talks about her move to Leeds to start work with the Trade Union Resource and Information Centre and her later work with the council's Women's Equal Opportunities Group and the Women's Committee.

'We even made the rings'

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.

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 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.

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.

Leeds Student Radio's LGBT+ show

Joe, the presenter of Leeds Student Radio's LGBT+ programme, talks about his show's ethos and music policy.

'I feel very attached to my queer identity'

Noah talks about coming out, first as a lesbian, then as bisexual, then as trans, then as a gay man, and then as a pansexual gay man.

Life in a shared gay house in Leeds

In this written piece, author Stevan Alcock remembers the feeling of belonging he experienced as a member of a gay communal household throughout the 1970s.

Being visible in Bradford

After her move from Pakistan to Bradford, Hafsa found she was able to open up about her sexuality.

An introduction to gay culture

On a trip to London in the 1980s, David learns about gay culture from Capital Gay newspaper.

'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'.

Family acceptance

Assif explains that any discussion of dating can be awkward within his family, regardless of sexuality.

How Leeds' Viaduct pub became a gay venue

Terry George recounts the story of how he went from owning Fibre and Mission to buying the pub across the road and giving it a new LGBT identity.

The need to talk about mental health

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

A song for Trans Day of Remembrance

Claye sings 'You Wish, You Wish', an 'angry and sad' adapted folk song, first performed at the Leeds TDOR vigil in 2018.

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.

Jen's coming out story

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

'Without lesbian feminists...'

Lal talks about the importance of remembering lesbian feminist activism.

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!

A residential for black queer kids

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

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.

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.

Offering support on the women's minibus

Driving the women's minibus at the University of Leeds gave Jackie a chance to talk about being lesbian and present herself as a role model but it led to unexpected consequences.

'I'm a mother who became a lesbian'

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

'Stuck right in the middle of gender and biological sex'

Pete describes changing attitudes to intersex births, their experiences with the medical profession and how they feel 'invisible' in the medical records but 'very visible in public'.

Transphobia at work

Gem talks about starting a new job and experiencing institutional transphobia which almost made them give up the position.

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.

Gay personal ads and phone lines

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

Being bi, being visible and being proud

Emily describes the feeling of marching in Pride as part of Leeds Bi Group and her hope to inspire others.

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.

Queerology, a Leeds-based art collective

Luna talks about the reasons for setting up the Queerology art collective and the exhibitions held in Leeds in 2017.

Non-binary labels and pronouns

In a conversation with their mum, Kellan talks about different words describing gender and sexuality, and how these have changed since the 1970s.

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 shadow of AIDS

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

Settling into Hebden Bridge

Dawn talks about moving to Hebden Bridge and feeling like a 'baby dyke all over again' as she settled in to the community.

'For the record...'

Ajamu X talks about his upbringing in Huddersfield, his nights out in the area as a young queer black man, and his work and study on the subject of black/queer archiving.

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.

Discovering the Gay Liberation Front

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

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.

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.

Bradford Pride

Jonathan remembers the first Bradford Pride held in a rainy Peel Park in 2005 and talks about how it has changed since then.

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.

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.

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.

Vanessa, her mum and 'Empire'

Vanessa remembers how TV show 'Empire' helped her have a conversation with her mum about her bisexuality and how it changed their relationship.

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.

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.

Young and queer in Todmorden

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

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.

Lesbians and gays unite against Section 28

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

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.

'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.

A feeling of belonging

Paul (aka Marigold Adams) talks about becoming part of the LGBT community, working at The Sun in Bradford and inspiring people through drag.

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.

A protest to 'Reclaim Leeds Pride'

Sky explains the reasons for the protest blockade of Leeds Pride in 2017.

Working with Sage

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

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.

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.

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.

Debating how we lived our lives

Joy remembers the debates within feminism, and tensions between lesbians and straight women.

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.

Ideas about feminism and lesbian separatism

Members of Sage Women's Space discuss what feminism means to them, their views on men and the importance of lesbian separatism.

'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.

'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.

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.

New freedoms, new risks?

Male homosexuality was partially decriminalised in the UK in 1967 but, as Robert explains, this meant gay men could be targeted by police in new ways.

Coming out and dealing with homophobia

Richard explores his own 'coming out' and recounts two homophobic incidents to make sure they're not forgotten: 'I tell these stories because it's important'.

'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.

Zines by Non-Binary Leeds

Leonidas outlines the creation of two zines, one encapsulating 'non-binary Leeds 2019' and another about the wider history of non-binary people.

Teaching under Section 28

Following the introduction of Section 28, teachers had to rethink the way they taught certain subjects. Char remembers the impact on a colleague's 'diversity library' at school.

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.

Moving to Marsden and dealing with homophobia

Marion talks about her move to the village of Marsden in the early 2000s. She remembers feeling vulnerable and having to deal with homophobia but also how her daughter helped her to settle in.

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.

SpeedQueen

Suzy talks about running SpeedQueen and the importance of tackling intolerance and sexism by creating LGBT+ friendly club nights.

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'.

'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.

Blayds Bar

Maggie remembers going to the lesbian-friendly Blayds Bar in Leeds in the late 1990s, and how it compared to small-town Cornwall, where she ran a club during the 1980s.

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.

Being feminine and queer

Jess talks about coming out, labels, and issues of visibility as someone who is feminine-presenting.

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.

Pink Picnic memories

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

'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.

Growing up gay in a closed community

David recalls the difficulties in discovering his sexuality while growing up in a Plymouth Brethren community.

The Brick Box

Rosie talks about setting up The Brick Box, a queer friendly bar in Bradford, and the importance of having a safer spaces policy 'The Declaration of Love'

The Women's Workshop in Leeds

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

Being trans in Cottingley

Ash talks about living in a small community and finding support and social groups as a trans person.

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.

How the Leeds Hunters inclusive rugby club started

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

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.

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'.

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.

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.

Queer Migrant Takeover

Axelle talks about the impact of going to Queer Migrant Takeover in Leeds, and how it felt to be in the majority for once.

Coming out later in life

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

Seventeen years down the mines

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

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.

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.

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.)

The attraction of Hebden Bridge

Having lived in Hebden Bridge for nine years, David talks about how it's a special place but can feel like living in a bubble.

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.

AIDS and the deaf community

Howard describes the lack of information and support deaf gay men received when the impact of AIDS started to be felt in the 1980s, and how it affected a friend of his who was deaf and HIV positive.

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.

The early days of Yorkshire MESMAC

Tom Doyle, MESMAC's Chief Executive, remembers the development of "the MESMAC project" and some of its initiatives around sexual health awareness in the 1990s.

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.