Queer Heritage Trailblazers: Stories of ordinary LGBTQ+ people doing extraordinary things
by Sue Shave
LGBTQ+ people have always been a part of our society, yet their contributions are often hidden, written out or overlooked. In this presentation, we meet LGBTQ+ individuals from across the UK who have made significant contributions to British and global history. You may have heard of more famous Surrey LGBTQ+ figures, such as playwright Noel Coward, inventor and codebreaker Alan Turing, and Suffragette and composer Dame Ethel Smythe.
Now, discover the stories of lesser-known LGBTQ+ trailblazers from the past 200 years. Surrey stories include Roberta Cowell, the first legally recognized trans woman, racing driver, and mechanic at Brooklands; and Janet Gulland, the first female apprentice at Vickers Armstrong, who later became Director of Market Research at British Aerospace Weybridge in the early 20th century. We will also highlight UK icons such as Sophia Jex-Blake, Scotland’s first female doctor; Ann Lister, the Georgian diarist who documented her love affairs with women; Patrick Trevor-Roper, the eye surgeon who helped decriminalize male homosexuality in 1967; and Mark Ashton, founder of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners.
Sue Shave is a queer heritage consultant who has worked with organizations including Queer Britain, Queer Heritage South, We're Still Here Blackpool, and Margate Pride. In 2022, Sue helped create the Brooklands Stories Uncovered project, highlighting LGBTQ+ stories and other community histories. She has served as a Museum Director for four UK independent museums and is currently the Interim CEO of the Manchester Jewish Museum.
Presented by Elmbridge Borough Council. All proceeds from ticket sales go to Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre
Bookselling partner: Cobham Bookshop