Research into the LGBTQ+ history of Wales
Proud Writing is a project run by LGBTQ+ author/historian Norena Shopland in collaboration with Cerian Wilshere-Davies, Youth Engagement Facilitator for Amgueddfa Cymru. The writing workshops consisted of an initial four sessions and proved so popular that additional sessions were added. Each workshop consisted of a short text taken from historic newspapers from Welsh Newspapers Online … Read More “Proud Writing free eBook” »
In 1897 a short story appeared in a Welsh newspaper written by Clara J Denton (1842-1927) an American writer, the daughter of David Melick Fort and Glorvinia Maloney, and wife of Lemi Bradley Denton whom she married 1865, in Detroit, Michigan. Clara wrote several children’s books as well becoming the first president of the Grand … Read More “Francis or Frances” »
(For Welsh see below) Amgueddfa Cymru has been collaborating with Welsh LGBTQ+ Historian Norena Shopland to run a Creative writing project that focuses on creatively responding to pieces of Wales’ often hidden or forgotten LGBTQ+ history. We are inviting people to submit prose, poems, or artwork inspired by the four historic texts in this pack … Read More “Proud Writing Call Out:” »
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)” »
Norena Shopland In 1957, just after the Wolfenden Report had been published recommending partial decriminalisation for homosexual men, it became clear the UK government would do nothing. As a result, A. E. ‘Tony’ Dyson (1928- 2002) literary critic, university lecturer, and gay rights campaigner wrote his famous letter from Bangor University to the Times asking … Read More “Queer readings in J. B. Priestley’s Benighted” »
This story appeared in the Evening Express I Arthur Pagewood and Henry Varcoe had become close friends and intimates, although their acquaintance was by no means one of long standing. In fact, it had commenced about twelve months before the period at which our story opens in the smoking room of a Westminster club of … Read More “Short story: The Collaborators (1901)” »
This story was published in the Western Mail 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 … Read More “Short story: A Secret Disclosed (1895)” »
This story was published in the Weekly Mail and is the only known copy. “What has become of Girly Grey? Several people asked the question, but no one supplied the answer. None knew, few cared. He was not the sort of fellow you would trouble about, a poor actor, an effeminate dandy, and a prig. … Read More “Short story: My Lord’s Revenge (1890)” »
Listings marked with an * indicate inclusion in the anthology Queer Square Mile. This is an ongoing list, so come back regularly to see new additions – and if you know of any published short stories with reference to Wales please do let us know. 1837 The Conquest, Or A Mail Companion, I. H. 1883 … Read More “A timeline of LGBTQ+ Short Stories of Wales” »
Tom Davies World War I has ended but in the racial cauldron of the slums of Cardiff’s Tiger Bay, a different war begins. Here, Sophie James, a beautiful young Somali whore, plies her dangerous trade. The idealistic Reverend Thomas, believing himself called by God, works among the warring races. The novel features a number of … Read More “Fire in the Bay (1990)” »
