Birmingham Queer Archive are seeking LGBTQ+ people interested in being interviewed to talk about about their lives and memories within Birmingham (and surrounding areas). We are looking to hear from people from the Global Majority, women, and trans and non-binary people. This is not an exhaustive or exclusionary list of people we want to engage.
Interviewing team
Our experienced and trained LGBTQ+ interviewers will provide a safe and welcoming space to share as much or as little as you feel comfortable and help guide you through the process of oral history interviewing.
Dr Hassan (he/him) Lead Interviewer
What really draws me to this project is that it sits at the intersection of things that have shaped my work for years: queer storytelling, archival practice(s), and working directly with communities to document lived experience(s). So, a project like the Birmingham Queer Archive feels incredibly important, particularly because of its focus on voices that have historically been overlooked: women, Global Majority communities, trans and non-binary people. It is also very important to me that the interviews we conduct are not extractive and are instead led with care and as a means to platform underrepresented voices from our community. And on a local level, being based in Birmingham, I think there’s something really powerful about creating a resource that captures the city’s queer histories in a way that people can access, recognise themselves in, and build from.
Sym (they/it) Assistant Interviewer
As a Brummie / Black Country bab who experienced their queer becoming in various communities in Birmingham – as well as working with queer and QTIBPOC folk in the city for over 8 years – Sym is interested in queer archives and histories as a part of their own lineage in Birmingham, and how these stories can bring a new sense of affinity to the city – for themself and other queer brummies trying to find their place.
Fran (she/her) Assistant Interviewer
I’m excited to be part of the team recording conversations for the Birmingham Queer archive for now, for the past and for the future. The importance of an archive to recognise voices that are not always clearly present or heard, to document Birmingham’s queerness and diaspora. The focus on Global majority, trans, non-binary and women’s voices is a reason and passion to be involved with this project. More than ever, giving increasing danger, minimising and taking away of the personhood and rights of LGBTQA+ people, listening, documenting, asking questions of people and their experiences is about care and recognition. Birmingham is a place I live and I’m delighted to be part of this team and project to document people in their own words to show queer life as it has been lived, is being lived, could and will be.
Get in touch
If you are interested in being interviewed, as well as other roles we require help with, fill in our Expression of Interest form.
Cruising, Kink & Leather Stories
Come and chat to Owain about the first time you cruised, a kink space that felt like home or a piece of leather gear that was transformational. Whatever story you want to share, he wants to hear from you.
Owain (he/him) Historian & Artist
I’m excited to join Birmingham Queer Archive to help preserve and work with often overlooked but important queer histories in our city; those of cruising, kink communities and sites of sexual self discovery both past and present.
Register your interest via this form