Personal
Birmingham localities and the gay population
Gays are everywhere. There is no doubt that, representing 6% of the population, at 2008 levels, some 60,000 gay people live within the Birmingham City Council boundaries alone. But there is evidence that, once lesbians and gay men can exert some elem...
Community groups and organisations
Numerous groups have grown from the lesbian and gay community since the late 60s, including ones which are political, social, support, health, interest or activity based. Some are informal, some more structured, delivering services to the community. ...
Religion
Religion has played an important role in the lives of lesbians and gay men in a variety of ways. Three main areas are covered in the memories from contributors and associated events. Firstly, for many people, the religious and cultural traditions in...
Fashion and identity as statement
Many lesbian and gay people have used clothing and fashion as a means of self expression, as a political or cultural statement, to create a new identity or to show membership of the LG community or sector of the community. The Women's Liberation Mov...
Employment
To come out or not come out, homophobia in the work place, and changes over time, all are explored....
Education
Many people had become aware of their same sex attraction while they were still at school, or sometimes later at college or university. The way that educational establishments and fellow pupils reacted or related to homosexuality in general and them ...
Coming Out
'Coming Out' as a 'statement', whether personal or political, is a relatively recent phenomenon. Recognising and admitting one's own sexuality to one's self, is something every single one of us has done. The term 'coming out' is used retrospectively...
Challenging the status quo
As part of the political movement to challenge the status quo not just about sexuality but also about a range of societal structures, some people experimented with lifestyle and living arrangements. This included setting up and living in a commune, c...
Moving to (and from) Birmingham
Like any large city Birmingham is a transient city. People move here for a variety of reasons, be it for work, love, a new life and for some gay people to be able to socialise in a gay environment they may not find in smaller towns and cities. People...
Lesbian and gay parents
Many lesbians and a lesser number of gay men, are parents. Some had children before they acknowledged, or acted upon, their sexuality. Some lesbians and gay men, on coming out, had to make the choice to separate from their children. Others had to fig...
Finding each other
Finding each otherThe way that lesbians and gay men have met each other has changed over time. Contributors gave many examples of how and where they met both long term and more casual partners. They range from public places (men) through cottaging an...
Relationships
LGBT people form strong loving relationships in the same way heterosexuals do. Some of our contributors share stories about their relationships, how they met and fell in love....
Awareness of being different
A common bond between all lesbians and gay men no matter what background is the development of personal awareness that you are 'different' to those around you. This can happen at almost any age from childhood through adolescence into adult or late ad...