Episode 5 - Maruska Greenwood OBE.

In this episode of Queer Edinburgh: The Tapes, we speak to Maruska Greenwood. Since moving to Edinburgh in the 1980s, Maruska has been an activist, campaigner, and volunteer as part of the Scottish Homosexual Action Group (SHAG), the Lothian Gay and Lesbian Switchboard, and more. She recently retired from heading up LGBT Health and Wellbeing - Scotland’s largest charity supporting LGBTQ+ adults - after 14 years. Since then, she has been awarded an OBE for her services to equality. She is currently a director at the Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive. This episode covers themes of activism, LGBT Health and Wellbeing, community, and Edinburgh’s queer spaces throughout the years. 

Episode 4: Bob Orr.

In this episode of Queer Edinburgh: The Tapes, we speak to Bob Orr. Bob co-founded Edinburgh’s LGBT bookshop Lavender Menace in the 1980s with Sigrid Nielsen. He also managed its successor, West and Wilde, throughout the 1990s. Bob co-managed Edinburgh’s popular House music club, Taste. Today, Bob is a co-director of the Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive. He is also a member of Scotland’s LGBT choir, Loud and Proud. His interview covers themes of queer entrepreneurship, activism, nightlight and social life, and HIV.

Episode 3. Kate Fearnley.

In this episode of Queer Edinburgh: The Tapes we speak to Kate Fearnley. Kate was a founding member of the Edinburgh Bisexual Group, which was active between 1984 and 2000. This group offered meetings, conferences and a phoneline to Edinburgh's bisexual community. Kate was a part of various activist movements, including Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners. She also worked at Edinburgh's LGBTQ+ bookshop, Lavender Menace (which later became West and Wilde). This episode covers themes of bisexuality and bierasure, activism, community and belonging.