Out of The Shadows will be building a permanent archive of trans and gender-diverse stories built around written testimony or memoirs, photographs and film and audio recordings. Will you share your story with us?
We are looking for people to be filmed or interviewed telling their stories. We also want you to send us any photographs, images or written words that tell your story.
We are particularly hoping to tell the stories of older trans* people, trans* people of colour, disabled trans* people and others who have lived their life ‘in the shadows’. Email [email protected] to start to tell your story.
The Archive
Filmed Interviews – During 2024 and 2025, we filmed a series of interviews with local trans+, queer and non-binary folk, exploring their experiences of being trans. Watch them here.
Sound Recordings – Listen to Gordon Fawcett of The Makeover Rooms talk about life as female impersonator, Julie Gordon, and a series of taped interviews with local drag performers Paris d’Vil, Charlie Lucely, Lady Sian and more. You can also listen to podcasts from Radio Ava and Chester Pridecast here.
Written Memoirs – Read the funny, sad and often harrowing accounts of growing up trans through the last part of the 20th Century: Girl, Interrupted, Rach Kowalski’s Story, Growing Up In Anfield and the fascinating story of Gordon Fawcett of The Makeover Rooms and his career as a cabaret performer and make-up artist.
Poems & Prose – You can also read poetry and prose about trans+ lives and experiences submitted as part of the Prose Purple trans-themed writing competition in 2022 and 2024
Read about our own ‘Madame JoJo’, DJ Rach, her fascinating project GnG and club nights Foxy’s and TransKaos
