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Handing on our History About the Project An oral history project Handing on our history is an LGBTQI history project collecting oral histories from before 2000. The project is focussed on social and political activists, but also includes recordings about the family and private lives of people who lived through the years of change before the start of the third Millennium. The project started as an Equal Arts Project, run by Richard Bliss and Alice Thwaite and you can see more about the original project by clickkng on the link which takes you to the Equal Arts website. Contact US If you would like to be recorded by the project please get in touch. If you would like to use any of the material in the site please send an email giving a brief outline of what you want to do with it. handingonourhistory@gmail.com Name Email Subject Message Thanks for submitting! Submit

The Recordings We are adding recordings to the site all the time. Please click on the drop down menu above or select from the list below to see recordings grouped by theme. Many of the recordings cover a number of topics so you may find it best to read the summary by each recording to find out more ​ HIV/AIDS PROUDWORDS ​

The North East is often overlooked in the history of HIV/AIDS in the UK, but there was ground-breaking work carried out in the region, in particular through the MESMAC project. The project is still operating in Newcastle, but with a brief that is wider than just working with men who have sex with men. More can be found out about the national MESMAC projects in the archives of Keele University. The Podcast This podcast explores how in the 1980s and 1990s working around HIV/AIDS was often challenging. In social work, medicine and community work, staff experienced discrimination and saw how people living with HIV/AIDS had to tackle stigma, as well as living with this new and unknown virus. The Full Recordings Dr Paula Mulvenna worked at the pioneering specialist HIV/AIDS hospice the Mildmay, she then brought her skills and knowledge to Newcastle. Nicola Sugden was one of the first people to be appointed as a specialist social worker for people living with HIV/AIDS. Patrick Price interviewed by Richard Bliss David Miller and Simon Bartlett interviewd by Bri Kiragu and moderated by Richard Bliss

Podcasts From time to time we make podcasts from the recordings. There may be a very short delay before each podcast plays. HIV/AIDS - Dealing with prejudice and uncertainty. Podcast created by Richard Bliss. This podcast explores how in the 1980s and 1990s working around HIV/AIDS was often challenging. In social work, medicine and community work, staff experienced discrimination and saw how people living with HIV/AIDS had to tackle stigma, as well as living with this new and unknown virus. A Whistle Stop tour of activism in the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's. Podcast created by Julie Ballands Tracking the changes in the North East from the Sexual Offences Act, to the setting up of early support services like the Friend and Lesbian Line telephone support lines, through to activism around HIV/AIDS and Section 28. DIY Queers in Space. Podcast created by Julie Ballands How lesbians in particular created their own safe spaces to socialise, make music, form friendships and find love in the latter part of the 20th Century.

Proud Words was described in the mission statement as a creative writing festival by LGBT people for LGBT people. Some writers were nervous about coming to begin with but its reputation built year on year and many writers both big and small said that they felt safe and validated as writers when appearing at the festival. The festival ran for 10 years from 1998. ​ The Full Recordings Lisa Matthews is a poet, writing scholar and Content Designer; she co-founded ProudWords and was on the management committee for 8 years. In this interview Lisa explains how Proudwords wasn’t designed to sell books. Lisa said that though the commercial side was part of it, it was never the main aim. And in terms of hosting events, they were free as they didn’t want the barrier of money at a cultural event. Lisa is interviewed by Richard Bliss. ​ Mary Lowe was the first paid member of staff for Proudwords. In this interview Mary talks about all the aspects of running the festival, from marketing in the days before the internet, through to working with first time published writers to famous names such as Jackie Kay. Mary is interviewed by Alex Medesan.