MK Q:mmunity Tales – Not Going Underground

The Milton Keynes LGBTQ+ Heritage Project has unearthed an incredible amount of information from archives, shared memorabilia, interviews and discussions at monthly History Clubs.
LGBTQ+ people have not always been visible in the MK community, but has always existed. Did you know there was an MK Campaign for Homosexual Equality in the 1970s, a Lesbian and Gay Switchboard in the 1980s, a youth group called Youthline in the 1990s? We had our own community centres: the Freedom Centre in Neath Hill and Q:Space in Witan Gate in the early 2000s!
There have been pubs, clubs, ‘gay nights’, ‘lesbian discos’, meals out, sports clubs and walking groups. Our catalogue of places and spaces has been transformed into two heritage walks and a queer map of Milton Keynes.
Over 15 months we have visited local and national archives, met over 100 people, and conducted over 30 interviews in collaboration with the Living Archive. We have heard countless inspiring stories, but also accounts of the discrimination and trauma.
Alongside the exhibition we are launching our e-book ‘MK Q:mmunity tales – local LGBTQ+ history since ‘67’ plus 2 films: ‘MK Q:mmunity Tales – Our Queer Voices’ (a documentary film telling the story of LGBTQ+ history in MK) and ‘MK Q:mmunity Tales – The Trans Script’ (a short documentary film telling the stories of trans people within our local community). The e-book is available to download via the Q:alliance website.
This project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Timings & Tours

Tuesday 16 September:

1400 - 1800

Wednesday 17 September:

1800 - 2000

Thursday 18 September:

1800 - 2000

Friday 19 September:

1600 - 2000

Saturday 20 September:

1100 - 1600

Location & directions

The Creative Void, The Old Bath House,, 205 Stratford Road, Wolverton, MIlton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK12 5RL

Directions:

Below the Old Bath House, next to Wolverton Tesco. Walk down the alley by the side of the trolleys (to the left of the Tesco entrance) through a gate and you’ll find the door to the Creative Void Exhibition Space on your left.

Contact on day:

The Heritage Team at Q:alliance

Telephone number:

+441908112196

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Additional information

Limited parking available for the Old Bathhouse (alongside Lidl), parking available for up to 3 hours in Wolverton Tesco Car Park. If you would like to bring a group please get in touch so we can arrange for a worker or volunteer to show you around the exhibition.

Check out our online channels

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