Queer History is Cornish History

Community Map

Our LGBTQ map of Cornwall currently shows a number of historical queer stories and now we want to open this map up to community submissions!

We would like to collect stories from the Cornish LGBTQ community to document how Queer Cornwall looks today and throughout modern history. We would like to document past events, festivals, meetings, strikes, protests, night clubs – any stories that detail life in Cornwall as a queer person. From the first pride in Cornwall to the virtual pride of 2020, we want to hear your stories!

Documenting our experiences will ensure that these stories are not lost like many of the historical queer stories that came before us, and by sharing these stories we hope to stay connected the community and state proudly that: we’re here & we’re queer.

If you would like to share your story please submit here

Accessibility by WAH

First Cornwall Pride 2008

The first official Cornwall Pride was held in Truro in 2008. A group of evangelical Christians held a silent protest against the event and one stage a line of 50 protesters linked arms across the road and turned their backs on the approaching revellers.

Submitted by Queer Kernow

Cornwall pride moves 2017

2017 Once held in Truro, Cornwall Pride moved to Newquay in 2017.

submitted by Queer Kernow

Deja Vu closes 2017

Cornwall’s only full time gay bar closes in

2017

(Qdos/Deja Vu)

submitted by Queer Kernow

Dead Unicorn Ventures 2018

Dead Unicorn Ventures formed in 2018, an events organisation that formed as an alternative traditional prides. They also publish the zine ‘Dykes Ink’

submitted by Queer Kernow

Coronavirus story

Cornwall Film Festival. Sharing Louise #42 from one of their Coronavirus Stories Cornwall audio project.

Louise has lived down here for four years and has always cared for her partner. During lockdown her partner went into the hospital.

“I mean ever since i’ve lived here for 4 years now, my partner has been ill so that time has really been framed by illness.

Once I got over the shock of not being able to see my partner, work went crazy

Ive really got to inhabit my own space, and enjoy my own living space. So that has been a delight. Think it’s a time that’s full of contrast.”

Listen to Louise’s full story Here

Credit for image goes to Cornwall Film Festival.

P vs S Court Case

In 1996, there was a landmark trans rights case that happened right here in Cornwall, which extended workplace protections for ‘transsexuals’. The ruling stated that you couldn’t discriminate against people in the workplace based on gender identity and this was the first such ruling not only in this country, but internationally.

Proud Eden

First started in 2017, the Eden Project hosts an event of all things LGBTQ with their ‘Proud Eden’ annual event. A celebration of LGBTQ+ culture, the event features queer poets, writers, singers and films.

Rainbow Source Radio

The Source 96.1 fm

Established in 2009, Cornwall’s longest running LGBTQ+ radio show features Simon and Steve bringing music, conversations and LGBTQ+ news to the masses, featuring guests such as Peter Tatchell, a founder of the Gay Liberation Front and Sue Sanders who co-founded LGBT history month.

Running for over 10 years Rainbow Source Radio has become a staple of queer life in Cornwall every wednesday evening.

Beach Picnic Hayle

A precursor to Cornwall Pride was a Beach Picnic held at Hayle beach in 2007- often small unassociated events occurred in Cornwall before an official Pride event occurred in 2008

Saddle Tramps Pub

Saddle tramps in Carbis Bay was an LGBT friendly bar in business in the 1980s, where gay nights were held.

Sadly, Saddle Tramps was shut down after locals boycotted the venue. People on others nights would not use the same glasses which had been used by gay people or want to sit on the same seats because of AIDS

OutBack Newsletter

‘Outback Newsletter for Lesbians in Cornwall and the South West’ was a community led publication that was set up in 1997 and ran until 2008.

The Newsletter was a fantastic mix for write-in letters, event listings, gardening tips, poetry, art, news articles and personal interviews with local women.

Image Courtesy of the Archives and Cornish Studies Service, Kresen Kernow

CLL

Cornwall Lesbian Line was a support line which ran on Thursday evenings between 8pm-10pm. The line was set up in 1989 to help lesbians in Cornwall with rural isolation, emotional support, welfare advice and acted as a social network sharing event details.

Image Courtesy of the Archives and Cornish Studies Service, Kresen Kernow

Arts Club Penzance

Sunday night at the Arts Club in Penzance was a mixed LGBT night-club that became a staple venue for the community in the 90’s/00’s. As this sketch shows (found in Outback Newsletter) the Arts Club was an excellent social place where couples found each other

Image Courtesy of the Archives and Cornish Studies Service, Kresen Kernow

Annual Garden Fete

Prior to Cornwall Pride being established in Cornwall in 2008, word-of-mouth events were put on, such as the annual LGBT Garden Fete- we can tell from Outback Newsletters that they were around in the 90’s and early 00’s.

Badges

Wearing a badge is a simple, but powerful, signifier for coming out and being seen. The community created through the take up of uniform badges helped early activists create unity within the disparate sections of the LGBTQ+ community.

Badges are still popular today with activists, organisations and protests. Cornwall Pride have their own badge, as do we, here at Queer Kernow