Queering Your Camden

24 ECHOES

Sarah Allen

Discover queer stories from LGBTQ+ people in your neighbourhood, from first dates to doctors appointments to nights out.

Statements have been collected via the Queering Camden website (www.queeringcamden.com). A select few are kindly voice acted by:

Sheenah Vickers https://www.spotlight.com/8615-4531-3598

Emma Rosier https://www.spotlight.com/3415-6754-6665

Ieuan Dolloway https://www.spotlight.com/0695-4506-1320

As statements are frequently submitted anonymously, the voice actors may not reflect the person who originally submitted the statement, but are intended as a tribute to the collective LGBTQ+ community of Camden.

If you feel inspired by the map, please feel welcome to submit your own story via the website listed above, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram @QueeringCamden.

This map is designed as part of the Forum+ LGBT History Month 2021 Celebrations, the full programme for which can be found at https://forumplus.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Camden_-Islington_LGBTHM21.pdf

I First Kissed... (Submitted by RB)

I first kissed my wonderful girlfriend here after months of pretending we hadn't been falling for each other since the day we met. We were at the top of Primrose Hill to watch the sunset with a picnic - the sunset was rubbish, the pitta bread was rock solid, and the strawberries were overripe, but I wouldn't have changed a thing.

1 sound

Once, Many Years Ago... (Submitted by Umberto)

Once, many years ago, during my exciting first year in London, I went on a date with a guy I had found online. We met just outside Holborn station, he had told me “you’ll recognise me, I will be the one with the guitar case looking tired”. I was young and full of dreams, and as soon as I saw his eyes, which changed from deep blue to grey according to the colour of the sky, I decided he would become my boyfriend. We had a great time that afternoon and I walked him back towards Tottenham Court Road tube station where we said goodbye and he disappeared down the stairs. But the few beers I had had made me decide to go after that handsome boy from Oxfordshire, so I run down the stairs, went through to the platform and looked around for signs of him. But he seemed to be gone. I was disappointed and made my way towards the stairs again, would I see him again? Just then I saw him, he must have been at the ticket machine while I rushed after him and he was now waiting for the next train. I can’t exactly remember what I told him at first, but I do remember trying to kiss him, making a fool of myself. And then, as the next eastbound central line train was about to approach, I looked at him and said “it’s like in Casablanca, please don’t get on that train!”. We had talked about old noir movies that afternoon and we had agreed that Humphrey Bogart was our hero, but the truth is I had not seen Casablanca and I only vaguely knew about the final “maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow” scene. And as it turns out, Bogart actually invites the girl to get on that airplane. He didn’t say anything back, just looked extremely confused. The train came into the station and he jumped in. I suddenly realised people were looking at me and dashed out. But hey, we ended up together for five beautiful years.

1 sound

Once, Many Years Ago... (Submitted by Umberto)

Once, many years ago, during my exciting first year in London, I went on a date with a guy I had found online. We met just outside Holborn station, he had told me “you’ll recognise me, I will be the one with the guitar case looking tired”. I was young and full of dreams, and as soon as I saw his eyes, which changed from deep blue to grey according to the colour of the sky, I decided he would become my boyfriend. We had a great time that afternoon and I walked him back towards Tottenham Court Road tube station where we said goodbye and he disappeared down the stairs. But the few beers I had had made me decide to go after that handsome boy from Oxfordshire, so I run down the stairs, went through to the platform and looked around for signs of him. But he seemed to be gone. I was disappointed and made my way towards the stairs again, would I see him again? Just then I saw him, he must have been at the ticket machine while I rushed after him and he was now waiting for the next train. I can’t exactly remember what I told him at first, but I do remember trying to kiss him, making a fool of myself. And then, as the next eastbound central line train was about to approach, I looked at him and said “it’s like in Casablanca, please don’t get on that train!”. We had talked about old noir movies that afternoon and we had agreed that Humphrey Bogart was our hero, but the truth is I had not seen Casablanca and I only vaguely knew about the final “maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow” scene. And as it turns out, Bogart actually invites the girl to get on that airplane. He didn’t say anything back, just looked extremely confused. The train came into the station and he jumped in. I suddenly realised people were looking at me and dashed out. But hey, we ended up together for five beautiful years.

1 sound

We've Had Loads of Comments.. (Submitted by RB)

We've had loads of comments during lockdown about being two women holding hands but, when walking back from Regent's Park after our hour's exercise one time, two guys passed us going in the opposite direction. A few paces down the road, they turned around and yelled: "Hi girls! We're gay too!" and took each others' hands. It was a brief and lovely moment of community - and one of the only comments we've been on the receiving end of in the last few months that I've not minded.

1 sound

When I was 14... (Submitted by Anonymous)

When I was 14 (2010) I went to Gay's the Word for the first time - what an amazing place. I found Armistead Maupin's first Tales of the City, and it absolutely changed my world. To this day, that series is one of my favourite (and I read a lot, there's some tough competition) and visiting that bookshop for the first time remains one of the nicest, most open experiences of a bookshop that I've ever had.

1 sound

Our Regular Monthly Meets... (Submitted by the London Bisexuals Meetup Group)

Our regular monthly meets have always been in a pub just outside Camden's SW corner boundary, and while the Pride in London parade I think has nearly always fallen into that category too, our group's point to form up at has been in the SE corner of Regents Park for the last few years.

1 sound

14 November 2018... (Submitted by the London Bisexuals Meetup Group)

14 November 2018 was the last Incite at the Phoenix lgbt poetry evening; was every month for quite a while. Incite was running since at least September 2016, probably a bit before then.

1 sound

23 Sept 2011... (Submitted by the London Bisexuals Meetup Group)

23 Sept 2011, Bi Coffee London & Camden LGBT Forum had a shared event at The 52 Club.

1 sound

Image (Submitted by Anonymous)

Image (Submitted by Paul Wolfe)

13 July 2013... (Submitted by the London Bisexuals Meetup Group)

13 July 2013, we had a picnic in Primrose Hill.

1 sound

Image (Submitted by Anonymous)

Me and My Partner... (Submitted by Anonymous)

Me and my partner had our first date here. We met in Leicester Square in person for the first time after knowing eachother online, but it was a thursday night and everywhere was closing soon, so we just walked until we reached this bar. It was playing a load of Beyonce and we drank whiskey and cokes all night. The security guard gave us a flower necklace. This night was full of laughter, one of the best of my life.

1 sound

I Had the Worst... (Submitted by Anonymous)

I had the worst series of doctors appointments here. Out of the 3 nurses/doctors I saw 2 of them were consistently homophobic when I was there to discuss my reproductive health. LGBTQ+ education is important in healthcare!

1 sound

Kissing My Girlfriend... (Submitted by Anonymous)

Kissing my girlfriend for the first time. She walked the opposite direction to continue chatting (flirting) with me and kissed me on the corner.

1 sound

Camden Was The... (Submitted by Anonymous)

Camden was the first place I truly lived like a lesbian. I had a small group of queer female friends that lived nearby and hung out a few times a week. I hadn't had many lesbian experiences in such a close knit space prior to Camden.

1 sound

I Once Went... (Submitted by Anonymous)

I once went on the worst date of my life - she flew from Germany to spend the weekend with me and it was disaster so I decided to call on a friend to help me out! We meet at the Ice Warf and she saved my ass. A year later we are dating and she is my girlfriend!......funny how one bad date can change things.

1 sound

It's Not a Moment... (Submitted by Evie)

It's not a moment really but this is where I have lived for four years in our queer little house with rainbow flags sticking out the window, glittery dresses on the balcony and drag creations being made in the living room. It was in this flat where I really came into my queerness in lots of different ways...

1 sound

The Kenwood Ladies Pond... (Submitted by Sam)

The Kenwood Ladies pond is where I found my lesbian community 20 years ago. Lesbians from all over London would gather there, our own little women-only sanctuary. It was an amazing diverse community. It has always been topless but nudity is forbidden. My dearest friend J loved the lifeguards a little too much. So she would strip off and wait for them to notice. She would ignore their whistle and shouts, and wait for them to come over and tell her off. She did it everytime. I never worked out if they knew what she was doing and why. I took my (non Camden) partner there recently, because I had to kiss her on that super special lesbian grass, which held so many memories for me. We raised a glass (well a beer) to J. No longer with us, but causing trouble somewhere I'm sure.

1 sound

I Have Been On... (Submitted by Anonymous)

I have been on several first dates on hampstead heath. There is always something different to do depending on the season and the person. It feels both a safe public and yet intimate place.

1 sound

My First Ever Night... (Submitted by Kate)

My first ever night in a gay club started in the South Cloisters at UCL with an LGB Society icebreaker. We went on to the Scala for Popstarz. I danced, and kisses, and felt attractive and loveable and liberated for the first time in my life. I was 18.

1 sound

Gay's The Word... (Submitted by Sam)

Gays the Word is the best bookshop in London. Every time I go in there I feel so normal and welcome, browsing through my history and stories. Its such a wonderful community gem!

1 sound

Camden Town Tube Station... (Submitted by Eleanor)

Camden Town tube station is where I met my (now) girlfriend for our very first date after we started chatting on a dating app. I saw her coming out of the tube station and smile at me and thought she was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. We went to a bar and then a quieter pub and talked all night and shared our first kiss. She now lives 5000 miles away from me in America but our relationship is still going strong.

1 sound

My First Ever... (Submitted by Anonymous)

My first ever queer home was in Camden. I’d never lived somewhere before where I was out without exception

1 sound

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