Our LGBTQ+ Lives
September saw the launch of Women Like Us, which celebrates and explores the lives, stories, art and poetry of LGBTQ+ women.
As editor, I am proud to contribute to this community of inspirational storytellers. Feel free to browse my stories below …
Sex, Drugs and Cowpunk! … Lucy’s Story
“I wanted to be able to say, ‘Girls can do it too. We’re on the road, we’re in a band. Of course we drink, of course we take drugs, of course we go with groupies. We can do it too.’ I was always very fierce in that we shouldn’t be excluded because of our gender.”
Lucy Edwards from The Well Oiled Sisters
Growing Up Hated
Shona’s Story
“I’ve been hated for my skin colour, for my sexuality, for my mental health, things I can’t change. People are going to hate me whatever, so I might as well be who I am. I don’t care what people think anymore.”
An Afternoon in Primark Changed My Life
Joni’s Story
“It touched other aspects of my life for years to come: finding work was difficult because I was so searchable. Nobody wanted ‘that angry transwoman’ working for them.”
The Best Interviewee Ever: You! Interview Yourself for Your Autobiography
Interview yourself for your autobiography. A useful resource for autobiography writers.
Nervous First Interview with the Subject of My New Ghostwriting Project: LGBT She-Ra!
I contacted ‘LGBT She-Ra’ a few weeks back to see if she would do me the honour of sharing her life story, to potentially create a memoir together. I should add at this stage that ‘She-Ra’ is not her real name. It does, however, reflect what an absolute warrior she is – a warrior of the heart.
Learning to Breathe Again. A Therapy Session I Will Never Forget
“You’re in the river,” she says. “It’s choppy, too choppy, wild. It’s throwing you around. You’re drowning.”
What the hell is she trying to do? My panic intensifies, grows colour around it, as I’m thrown around by the unyielding current. How is this helping?
Opera Glasses and a Packet of Frazzles: Visiting the Theatre in the Middle of a Pandemic
“We could get dressed up, move the sofa, put the light out, grab the opera glasses and Frazzles.” (Our snack cupboard was looking a bit bare.)
So we did. I in my long pinstripe jacket and bowtie, hair oiled back and moustache drawn on with eyeliner pencil. She in her flapper dress and boa. I have no idea where she found the peacock feather to stick in her hair, but it was a nice touch.
Living Truthfully: The Freedom from Fear
It’s almost as if we spend our lives guarding our darkest secrets, shielding ourselves from the gaze of others, but what if these authentic parts are our most beautiful and human?
