What do you know of Annie Hindle? Betsy Bonehill? Ella Shields and Hetty King? Maybe even Vesta Tilley?

Well they were all successful drag kings from history - or male impersonators as they were known then.

In this episode, SAYiT's Fiona Moorcroft (she/her) takes us through a brief history of these amazing humans and how they dominated the stage impersonating men of their eras - some more inclusively than others.

Photos of these drag kings will be shared on our socials so use this link to find your preferred social media outlet and take a look at these fabulous humans. Whilst you are there please do give us a follow.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience as part of our LGBTQ+ History Month series in February 2024 at Weston Park Museum in Sheffield - which forms part of Sheffield Museums who are also a charity.

SAYiT, who researched and organised the talk, is an LGBTQIA+ youth charity in South Yorkshire.

If you enjoyed this episode why not rate, review and subscribe as this helps others find the podcast. Plus take a look at our other episodes - especially those from our LGBTQ+ History Month series. Thank you to Vitaly Levkin for the music and to all the Proud Changemakers out there.

To celebrate Lesbian Visibility Week 2024 (happening from 22-28 April), two of our Proud Changemakers - Paige Hughes (she/her) and Lucy Straker (she/they) are bringing to you an episode all about lesbians.

So that’s the word lesbian, how it came to be (looking at lesbian history from Sappho, to Anne Lister through to Ellen DeGeneres and beyond), what being gay/a lesbian means to us and what we've learnt and experienced along the way.

We aim to be educational, spicy and humorous - plus throw in a few mic drop moments too. We do discuss our personal experiences, different types of lesbian pop culture and the tensions within the LGBTQIA+ community.

Please note that Proud Changemakers is a trans inclusive organisation and always will be.

Trigger warning - there are a couple of references to a gender based attack but no details are shared.

"Lesbian identity is strong and activist orientated. At it's heart it’s inclusive, radical and anti-patriarchy. I think it’s pretty beautiful." Paige Hughes (she/her)

Paige is a strategist and consultant for charities, placemakers and small businesses. She has 10+ years of experience in business development, marketing and communications. Paige has a degree in Politics from the University of Leeds, and an MSc in Place Management and Leadership, delivered by the Institute of Place Management at Manchester Metropolitan University,

Until recently, Paige was the Head of Business Development and Engagement for national membership organisation, CharityComms and now works freelance with charities, place-makers and small business owners, balancing strategic consultancy, creative coaching and hands-on delivery. See her website here.

Paige has had multiple volunteering roles, including a Trustee for a charity that supports people with Autism, mentorship and coaching for young professionals, a group lead at an LGBTQ charity, and has been a national EDI lead.

"I have negative connotations with the word lesbian as it has regularly been used in a derogatory way towards me. So I have always had a stronger connection to the word gay so that’s the one I use to describe myself." Lucy Straker (she/they)

⁠Lucy ⁠is the Campaigns Manager for Brake, the road safety charity. Here Lucy leads on the charity’s national campaigns which can include calling for new legislation to support all road users, raising public awareness of road dangers or advocating for road crash victims.

Lucy is also a public speaker and trainer on creating inclusive workplaces specifically regarding the LGBTQIA+ community. Lucy has co-founded and led a number of inclusion networks and activism groups across the voluntary sector during their 17 years of communications and campaigning work in the sector.

What are your thoughts around the word lesbian, its culture, identity etc? Reach out, get in touch - and you could be on our next lesbian pod! https://linktr.ee/proudchangemakers

Music was by ⁠Vitaliy Levkin⁠ from ⁠Pixabay⁠

This was recorded at the offices of SAYiT - an LGBTQIA+ youth charity in Sheffield and includes the expert knowledge of Dr Naomi Sutton (she/her), Liz Wilson (she/her) and Dr Jo Bassett (she/her) discussing why we need to remove the fear, stigma and general lack of understanding of HIV.

Dr Naomi Sutton - "My issue is the word AIDS. I really don't like that word because of the campaign. I think we really need to start saying people with HIV. Language is really important"

Liz Wilson - "There were two things going on that made it hard to tackle. The fear and stigma around HIV itself and the way that the government dealt with it, I think, encouraged that fear and stigma."

Dr Jo Bassett on taking Prep - "There's a lot of education around that really needs to get out there".

In this episode we talk about the how the UK responded in the 1980s when AIDS/HIV first came into our society, and then move onto how some of that misinformation remains even today when we now know so much more about it.

If you have any questions about topics raised in this episode, or you would like to join us for another episode on this topic or something else related to the LGBTQIA+ community then get in touch with us at https://linktr.ee/proudchangemakers. We always love to hear from you.

Please remember to rate, review and subscribe as it helps others find the podcast.

Please show your support to SAYiT who are a fabulous charity who have helped us tremendously in our first year. https://www.sayit.org.uk/

Music was by ⁠Vitaliy Levkin⁠ from ⁠Pixabay⁠

Proud Changemakers exists to empower the LGBTQIA+ voluntary sector and civil society leaders of tomorrow. The community supports and champions LGBTQIA+ and other leaders and civil society organisations. Proud Changemakers is a community, a network and a group, organised and coordinated by volunteers. This is a new, emerging and developing community, which welcomes new members, connections, funders and supporters.