Do you have a story to tell? If it
has a connection to Blackpool we want to hear it. Funny, sensitive,
liberating or ordinary, it is important to the Rainbow Project.
We don’t want the LGBT social history to be lost and
we need you to tell us your part of it.
[contact us]
"Going into Autumn Leaves when it was
owned by Frank, with cabaret thrown in with your meal, smoke
machines, bubble machines, cannon etc. One dark October night
after Gang Show (about 15 years ago), going there with a group
of Scout Leaders and meeting some of the LGBT community -
especially Pearl - with her acerbic tongue and ready wit."
"Sutcliffe Hotel was a gay meeting
place that kept getting raided by the police!"
"Derby Baths sauna suite was great
for gay men meeting. Many used to bring sandwiches and a Thermos,
and made a day of it."
"Yates, South Shore had a gay disco
upstairs."
"Clifton Hotel North Promenade was
Blackpool’s only gay bar until 1970 when Lucys Bar opened."
"Top Floor Gays, late 70’s early
80’s, was very popular with young gays."
"Rose & Crown, 1960’s, Sunday
lunch time."
"My first gay experience with another boy
was when I just turned 16. It was with my friend called
Michael. It was his first time too. It happened
on a golf course here in Blackpool. Even though I was
extremely nervous at the time and I could feel my heart in
my chest racing to the dozen. I was also happy and
relieved that my first time finally happened. Because
I’ve always fancied boys and so obviously always wondered
what it would be like to go with another boy and finally
I experienced it. I was happy; it felt very natural
to me. Also it happened with a good friend and not
a stranger. I really enjoyed my first time!"
"A special memory - dancing on the stage
in the Flamingo with my friend and not worrying for the first
time about what people were thinking about me."
"In 1995, the somewhat crude comments overheard
outside Funny Girls added to my concerns that there was a
need for education in the gender arena. I have since
been proud to have worked with 3 police forces and to have
done sensitive and educational media work - but still
10 years on I - like you - am fighting bigotry and ignorance.
We must succeed." [Transfemale]
"I liked Pepe’s when it was
dark and mysterious. The club was much better when
it was smaller, felt more intimate; had many a great night
getting rat-arsed with friends on a Tuesday (half price night)
and had enough for chips on the way home (all for £5).
There was a nice gay cafe which didn’t last long on
Springfield Road."
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