Gay’s the Word: the power of LGBTQ+ books - free workshop

In this workshop during LGBTQ+ History Month, come and discover the untold story of what happened when government officers raided a queer bookshop in 1984 — and how the community fought back against censorship.

Please bring any LGBTQ+ book that has significance to you for this workshop. If you are unable to bring a book the facilitators will provide the materials for you.

The workshop will be led by Adam Zmith (he/him), a writer who is on a team of creative people developing a new stage musical about the 1984 bookshop raid. The team has fallen in love with the story of how a community of queer booksellers and book lovers in London resisted government censorship of essential books. They want to share the story outside London with YOU. And if the story inspires you too, you can share what queer books mean to you and do something creative. Your feelings about the story and queer books will feed into the writing of the new stage musical.

The workshop will be led by Adam Zmith and Shivani Dave. They are on a team of creative people developing a new stage musical about the 1984 bookshop raid. The team has fallen in love with the story of how a community of queer booksellers and book lovers in London resisted government censorship of essential books. They want to share the story outside London with YOU. And if the story inspires you too, you can share what queer books mean to you and do something creative. Your feelings about the story and queer books will feed into the writing of the new stage musical.

The workshop will be a chance to discover history, discuss, interact and be creative. When books are your only option for understanding yourself, what happens when they are taken away?

About the facilitators:

Adam Zmith (he/him) is a writer and podcast producer whose work focuses on sex, queer identity, LGBTQ+ lives, history, art and desire. He is also an experienced workshop facilitator especially within LGBTQ+ communities of mixed ages and identities (trans* inclusive). Adam is the author of Solemates: A History of Our Fetish for Feet (404 Ink, 2024) and Deep Sniff: A History of Poppers and Queer Futures (Repeater Books, 2021). As a podcast producer he recently made The Quilt in partnership with Queer Britain museum, and previously produced The Log Books, The Film We Can’t See for the BBC, and Press Play, Turn On for Audible.

Shivani Dave (they/them) is a political commentator and journalist whose work focuses on human rights, science and technology. They are an experienced workshop facilitator having worked with Blossom LGBT+ in this capacity. Shiv is one of the organisers of the London Dyke March. They have previously written for outlets including The Guardian, BBC News, and Metro. They have appeared on Good Morning Britain, Sky News, and Jeremy Vine on 5 among others. Shiv is driven by a passion for sharing the stories of marginalised and oppressed people around the world. As a trans, non-binary, person of colour, Shiv is determined to ensure they create spaces that foster spaces without judgement or prejudice.

Content note:

This workshop will include a discussion of books that have a sexual content and questions of what is offensive and/or obscene.

Travel costs assistance:

If you’d like help with your travel costs so you can come to the workshop, please contact us on [email protected].

Accessibility:

Our venue, Kresen Kernow, is currently in the process of getting us the relevant information we need.

At the workshop we’ll have a designated Access and Welfare Officer who can work with you if you need support.

Our 3-hour workshop will have at least one break, but you’ll be able to come and go as you need during the workshop (relaxed space).

If you have any specific access needs or questions, please contact us on [email protected].

Supported by:

National Lottery Project Grant from Arts Council England

About the true story:

In the days before the Internet, a small network of LGBTQ+ bookshops were an important way of spreading queer stories and helping queer folks feel connected, not just through the physical shops but catalogues that sent their books around the UK. Gay's the Word in London is the most prominent of these; it's also the subject of a new musical being written about the 1984 raid where Thatcher's Customs officers invaded the shop and seized 800 books they considered 'obscene.' The government tried to stop the booksellers importing queer books, but our community fought back and the case collapsed.

Tickets are free but the event space is limited so please book a ticket if you intend on coming.

Refreshments will be provided.

Host or Publisher Shivani Dave