By Alex Kabaj
Significant efforts are being made to uncover and preserve LGBT+ history at Strathclyde: an important, yet largely unexplored part of our institution’s past. An ongoing archival research project led by Alex Kabaj, Graduate Intern at the Equality and Diversity Office and MSc Gender Studies Student, alongside Dr Anne Cameron, Senior Archives Assistant at the University of Strathclyde Archives and Special Collections, is exploring materials that document the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex individuals at Strathclyde.
A Journey into the Past
The project, which began in August 2023, focuses on primary sources such as the Strathclyde Telegraph, the student-run newspaper published by the Students’ Association at Strathclyde and its forerunner, the Royal College of Science and Technology, since 1960. The Telegraph offers invaluable insight into student life over the decades, revealing key milestones in the LGBT+ movement at Strathclyde. The founding of the Gay Society (GAYSOC) in 1971 and the establishment of the Strathclyde University Gay Rights Campaign in 1975 are two such notable moments.
Despite these and other early signs of activism, LGBT+ individuals in the 1960s and 1970s faced widespread legal and social discrimination. Until the passage of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1982, which partially decriminalized homosexual acts, LGBT+ individuals were subject to prosecution. Issues of the Telegraph from this period highlight the significant barriers faced by the LGBT+ community in their fight for equality.
Key Findings
To date, the project has scrutinised all issues of the Telegraph published from 1960-1994. This has revealed more than 300 columns, letters to the editor, music reviews and theatrical/drama advertisements relating to LGBT+ identities and sexualities. The students who founded the Gay Society at Strathclyde – the first initiative of its kind at a Scottish university – were actively involved in campaigning for gay rights, recognition, and support, both at the University and beyond. Many members of GAYSOC sought to create a confidential space for individuals to express themselves, which was much needed given the lack of support, isolation, and barriers to ‘coming out’ faced by many LGBT+ people at the time.
Notable initiatives supported over the years included the Lesbian Line (1987), which received a rent-free room and telephone at the University to continue its operations. Additionally, advice services like the PHACE West Gay Advisory Service were available. Strathclyde students were instrumental in opening the Glasgow Gay Centre on Sauchiehall Street in 1977.
The Telegraph also promoted LGBT+ events, including fundraisers such as safe-sex discos in support of the Scottish AIDS Monitor and social events like cheese and wine nights. Significantly, several of the LGBT+ venues advertised in the Telegraph are still open today.
Crowdsourcing History
One of the main challenges in uncovering Strathclyde’s LGBT+ past is the sheer volume of archival material to be reviewed. To assist in this effort, Anne and Alex organized several ‘crowdsourcing’ sessions where groups of students and staff were invited to comb through issues of the Strathclyde Telegraph and identify relevant material, thus contributing to the growing body of data for future research. Those who attended these sessions found the experience both interesting and rewarding, with one participant commenting that “it was great to feel of use to such an important project.”
The Archives team plan to hold further crowdsourcing events in the future, encouraging even more involvement from the Strathclyde community. The project aims to continue shedding light on untold stories and increasing the visibility of a community that has long been underrepresented.
Looking Ahead: Contributions and Community Engagement
To aid the collection and preservation of Strathclyde’s LGBT+ history, students and staff are encouraged to donate any relevant materials to the University Archives and Special Collections. The Archives team is particularly interested in collecting diaries and photographs, GAYSOC and other student society materials, event fliers, student handbooks and other memorabilia that reflect the diverse experiences of Strathclyde’s LGBT+ community.
As part of the celebrations for Strathclyde’s Diamond Jubilee in 2024, the University hosted an ‘LGBTQI+ at Strathclyde’ event, offering an exciting opportunity to engage with the project and its findings. This event also allowed engagement with external charities and stakeholders such as LGBT Health and Wellbeing and LGBT Youth Scotland. A commemorative booklet is being produced as a permanent record of the event. Future LGBT+ History Month programmes at the University will continue to showcase the ongoing research and encourage students and staff to reflect on the past and present experiences of the LGBT+ community.
How To Get Involved
Strathclyde is committed to preserving the diverse histories of its LGBT+ staff and students for the benefit of future generations. Those with relevant materials from their time at the University or one of its predecessor institutions are encouraged to contact the University Archives and Special Collections at archives@strath.ac.uk to discuss donations.
For more information on the LGBT+ History at Strathclyde project, email Alex Kabaj at: alex.kabaj@glasgow.ac.uk.