Over the past year, the Past Shelves oral history project has interviewed volunteers about their memories of Lavender Menace and West & Wilde.

The interviews shed light on the role that LGBTQ+ books and bookshops played in the 1980s and 1990s. These conversations have opened the door to discuss representation, activism, and what is possible for LGBTQ+ life. We’d like to thank the interviewees for sharing their stories so generously.

Community impact

These extracts explore the impact that Lavender Menace and West & Wilde bookshops had on the LGBTQ+ community.

Seeing yourself represented

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Staying discrete

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West & Wilde

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New possibilities

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Activism

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