Month: July 2022

A Secret Disclosed: a queer short story (1895)

Posted on By Norena Shopland
The Book Club

Of medium height, slight build, clear, healthy complexion, beautiful dark eyes, and black hair that curled in bewitching waves over the fine brow. The possessor of regular, intellectual features; small, delicately-shaped hands, and feet, and a moustache so perfect in its size, its shape, its neatness, and its glossy blackness, that it was the admiration … Read More “A Secret Disclosed: a queer short story (1895)” »

The Baroness of Ystrad Rhondda: an early drag act

Posted on By Norena Shopland
Blogs

In 1895 this interview appeared with a music hall performer who appeared as ‘The Baroness of Ystrad Rhondda’: Mr. Kennedy Allen Tells the Story of His Stage Career and What he Thinks of the Welsh Language. One of the characters which will perhaps, be best remembered by those who have seen the Cardiff pantomimes will … Read More “The Baroness of Ystrad Rhondda: an early drag act” »

Queer Ancestry- A look into the familial lives of some of Wales’ Queer historical figures

Posted on By Norena Shopland
Blogs

Luke Blaidd (NB: Be advised that this blog contains descriptions of historical queerphobia and mention of 19th Century mistreatment of mentally ill individuals, intersex surgery, death) As ever with these history blogs, I like to draw upon classical history as a metaphor for the journeys I go on when researching queer Welsh history. When studying … Read More “Queer Ancestry- A look into the familial lives of some of Wales’ Queer historical figures” »

Speech for the BAGIS (British Association of Gender Identity Specialists) Virtual Conference

Posted on By Norena Shopland
Blogs

On Thursday 18 March 2021, Jenny-Anne Bishop a Trans Activist, Church Elder, Member of the Parliamentary Forum on Gender Identity, & the Trans Advisory Board for HM Prison & Probation, and co-founder of the Unique Transgender Network, a voluntary group supporting Trans (transgender) people in North Wales & West Cheshire, gave a speech to BAGIS. … Read More “Speech for the BAGIS (British Association of Gender Identity Specialists) Virtual Conference” »