Swindon & Wiltshire Pride is calling on people across the county to share their memories and experiences as part of We Were Always Here: Wiltshire’s Hidden LGBTQIA+ Social History.
Richard Hall of the LGBTQIA+ heritage project
This is community heritage project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The project explores two centuries of local LGBTQIA+ history, from the early 19th century through to the legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2014.
It aims to uncover how ordinary people in Wiltshire lived, loved, faced prejudice, built community, and celebrated progress against changing social attitudes.
A Swindon & Wiltshire Pride spokesperson said: "By collecting personal stories, memories, photographs, and local knowledge, the project will help bring overlooked LGBTQIA+ experiences into the public record and share them with both the community and wider audiences.
"The project team has already begun speaking with community members who remember local venues, personalities, and LGBTQIA+ life in Wiltshire during the 1980s and 1990s.
"Early discoveries include a personal account of coming out and the gay scene in 1990s Swindon, alongside the story of a gay Second World War pilot and former Chippenham MP. The team believes there are many more stories still to be found, especially from earlier periods of Wiltshire’s history.
"Swindon & Wiltshire Pride is now inviting anyone with memories, documents, photographs or lived experience connected to LGBTQIA+ life in Wiltshire to get involved and help ensure these histories are preserved for future generations.
"For more information, or to share your stories, visit www.swindonandwiltshirepride.org.uk/pride-history-project or email [email protected]."
As part of Pride Fortnight, a free talk entitled Why LGBTQIA+ History Matters will take place on 4 August at the Pride Hub, Brunel Plaza, Swindon. The talk will be given by social, architectural and queer historian Andrew Foyle.
Anyone interested in the project, or in contributing information, is encouraged to attend. Members of the project team will be available to answer questions and explain how people can share their stories safely and respectfully.
For more details on this and other Pride Fortnight events, visit https://www.swindonwiltshirepride.org.uk/event-tickets
The We Were Always Here team will have a stall in the Community & Organisations zone at the Swindon & Wiltshire Pride main event on Saturday 15 August. They will be sharing information about the project and inviting people to contribute their stories.
People can find out about the talk and all other Pride Fortnight events at www.swindonwiltshirepride.org.uk/event-tickets
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