Our Local LGBT+ History
As older LGBT+ people most of us have memories of times long before we achieved the rights that we enjoy in Britain today. This part of our website is about our local LGBT+ history and why it is important.
There is plenty of evidence to tell us that there have always been human beings who engaged in same sex relationships, or who did not conform to conventional gender norms. The social climate these individuals lived in, and the language they had available to them, has changed significantly and continues to evolve.
Exploring LGBT+ history is important because it helps us understand who we are and how our community was shaped by those who lived before us. It helps us recognise the roots of LGBT+ identities and how they continue to change.
As older LGBT+ people our lives have foundations that reach back into this history. It is important that we add our memories to archives where there is presently so little that tells the story of previous generations of LGBT+ people.
We are creating a timeline of local LGBT+ history which you can explore by selecting one of the links below. Or scroll down for posts about news, projects and workshops.
Explore Local LGBT+ History
News, Projects and Workshops
In the posts below you can read about projects, workshops and publications exploring themes around LGBT+ history and identity.
Derbyshire LGBT+ History Project
DerbyshireLGBT+ has successfully acquired funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to undertake two history projects. “Our Stories: Discovering our hidden LGBT+ history” and “Our Stories: Discover our hidden HIV history”
LGBT+ History in the Staffordshire Moorlands
Following the first Moorlands Pride a group of young people are researching local LGBT+ history. Here are a few things I can offer from my own research which I hope may provide some inspiration about where and how to look…
LGBT+ Lives Photography & Heritage Project
Workshop dates for our new heritage and photography project in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire that explores, shares and celebrates the identities and histories of LGBT+ lives.
Recently Added or Updated on Our Timeline
Read the latest posts and articles added to our timeline
1970s – The Grand in Hanley
The Grand in Trinity Street, Hanley was a hotel built at the end of the nineteenth century adjacent to the Hanley railway station which is now long gone. It was one of the venues in the first listings for Stoke-on-Trent that was published by Gay News in 1973 and it continued to be listed throughout the 1970s
1990 – The Three Tuns
The Three Tuns was a local gay venue situated at 9 Bucknall New Road, Stoke-on-Trent. It was first listed in Gay Times magazine from 1993 onwards, however, it is also mentioned in an article about Stoke in Gay Times published in July 1990 and was likely a gay venue some time before this.
2014 – SGD Life and Proud
In 2014 a new community newsletter was launched called SGD Life, which stands for Sexuality and Gender Diversity, it later changed it’s name to Proud. The newsletter contained a range of interesting material including articles on LGBT+ history that recorded recollections that might otherwise have been lost.
The Origins of Our Gay Scene
The earliest reference to gay friendly venues comes from oral history passed down within our community. It is said that as early as the 1920s The Unicorn Inn was used a meeting place for men and that during the second world war The Antelope and The Stage Door were well known as gay friendly pubs.
1998 – Planning a Gay Festival
In early 1998 the North Staffs Lesbian and Gay Community forum announced plans to hold a gala event that would have been Stoke-on-Trent’s first Pride if it had gone ahead. Mike Wolfe, later to become Stoke’s first elected Mayor, bravely fronted the public announcements on behalf of the forum.
2006 – The First Stoke Pride
In 2006 The Club and Three Tuns along with other established venues hosted the “Big Pink Car Park” event. This was the first community event that could properly be called Stoke Pride. Previous attempts to organise an event as early as 1998 and in 2003 had been abandoned.