Young people told us that there was something unique about the love and support they found within the LGBTQ+ community. Finding other people, through youth groups or pride events, or even through spotting someone else with colourful hair, makes us feel safe and accepted and able to express who we truly are.
Messages
Anonymous
A drawing completed at Comic Con by a young person.
Togetherness
Sophie, MCM Comic Con
A drawing completed at Comic Con in response to the drawing prompt “togetherness.”
Family
Anonymous
A drawing completed at Comic Con in response to the drawing prompt “family”
Growth
Conor McCormack
A short graphic quote about finding people who help you grow.
Submitted via our online submission form
Beyond Gender
Beyond Gender group, Edinburgh, 2023
A group of four young people ask each other questions about life, identity, special interests, and relationships.
Topics: Community, friendship, queer relationships, gender identity, family relationships, neurodivergence, mental heath, culture, mushrooms and nature.
Click to play, or listen on Soundcloud here.
Pride Flag
MCM Comic Con, September 2023
Messages written on a pride flag by attendees of MCM Comic Con in September 2023
There Are People There For You
Quote from Andrew, 20, he/him, MardiGla 2023.
Illustrations by Seán Casey, design by Chris Newton.
Look After Each Other
Quote from Christie,
Edinburgh Pride 2023.
Illustrations by Seán Casey, design by Chris Newton.
I think I’m Going To Be Okay
Quote from Ruairidh, 24, he/him, MardiGla 2023.
Illustrations by Seán Casey, design by Chris Newton.
Matthew’s Tile (Name TBC)
Matthew, 15, Stirling
“I created this piece about how I was bullied for being gay, but now that I have joined the LGBT Youth Scotland group in Stirling I can be myself without worrying about being bullied.
“I want to show people that they are not alone- there are people who will like you and support you for who you are.
“My hopes for the future are to grow as an artist and work with famous companies. I want to work with other creative people and have my own gallery and exhibition. I also want to go to university to study art.”
Edinburgh: A City of Pride
Madeleine Leisk, 30, Edinburgh
A map of Edinburgh’s LGBTQ+ history designed by illustrator Madeleine Leisk. Scroll down to hear more about Madeleine, the story behind the map, and the places it highlights.
GLOW - Who We Are
We are beyond thrilled to share this very special animation created by young people who attend the LGBTYS GLOW youth group in Perth, with the help of the incredible team at Media Co-op. The group spent a day spent with Media Co-op at the AK Bell Library creating the stop motion animation. The young people had full creative control over the images, music, and wording, and used their own photos as well as maps and material from Perth and Kinross Archives and the National Library of Scotland to animate words taken from their oral history interviews with (Un)Seen, (Un)Heard. The video perfectly captures the creativity of the young people and their experiences of being LGBTQ+ in Perth.
The animation was launched during the Celebrating Young Voices exhibition at the AK Bell Library, and was shortlisted in the animation category at the 2024 Scottish Youth Film Festival. You can listen to the full interviews these stories were taken from here.
Share your story
This exhibition is an organic thing – an accessible archive space where you can tell or show us what life is like for you. You are so welcome here and we’d love you to feel a part of what we are doing.
If you’d like to share what community means to you, you can add your story to our archives via the submission portal here.
Our Partners
National Lottery Heritage Fund
National Library of Scotland
