We’re looking into our history over the last 200 years but, even in the last 60 years, there have been many changes to the lives of LGBTQIA+ people living in Wiltshire both good and bad. For example: Partial decriminalisation of homosexuality; Pride and campaigns for civil rights; dangers such as AIDS in the 80s and Section 28 (but also the support groups that helped see us through); pubs, clubs and entertainment. The list goes on...
It’s a rich history – that should no longer be hidden
(you can submit anonymously if you prefer)
Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and in partnership with Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre in Chippenham and the Swindon Local Studies Library.
We Were Always Here is a groundbreaking year-long community history project to discover the stories of how our community lived in Wiltshire from c19th - 2014
(when same-sex marriage was legalised).
We hope to discover how LGBTQIA+ lives were lived in the past, and how things changed along the way ... and then tell everyone about it with a concise, illustrated book; dedicated history pages on this website and a touring exhibition; and the creation of a permanent LGBTQIA+ history collection in the partner archives.
LGBTQIA+ history has been hidden for too long.
We’re going to change that!
Can you help us?
Our We Were Always Here team of project volunteers is busy researching our history. They have been trained in archival research and oral history interviewing.
If you would like to take part in this project as a volunteer resarcher, or would like to tell your story in person (or would just like more information)
please email:
history@swindonwiltshirepride.org.uk
Come back soon to details of future memory social events.