Liverpool’s LGBTQ+ History Told Through 100 Stories of Everyday Activism
Queer Scouse Activists preserves 100 stories of Liverpool’s LGBTQ+ community, from grassroots campaigning to personal acts of courage.
Liverpool’s LGBTQ+ history is being preserved through a collection of 100 story cards celebrating the people who helped shape the city’s queer communities, including those who never considered themselves activists.
Created by artist and activist Clare Jasmine Beloved, Queer Scouse Activists explores the experiences of people whose contributions range from public demonstrations to quieter forms of community support.
The digital collection launched on 18 October 2026 as part of Homotopia Festival and is available online, with the project continuing until 1 December.
The LGBTQ+ Stories That Rarely Make History Books
Public accounts of LGBTQ+ activism often concentrate on major demonstrations, legal developments and prominent campaigners, but Liverpool’s queer history also includes people who supported others through everyday experiences.
The project recognises that activism can happen in community spaces, workplaces, kitchens and nightclubs, where people build friendships, offer practical help and create opportunities for others.
Among the examples highlighted by the organisers are connections to Greenham Common, the women’s peace camp that became an important part of feminist and lesbian activism during the 1980s.
The project also acknowledges contemporary transgender activism, connecting different generations of people who have challenged discrimination and supported their communities.
By bringing these experiences together, the archive offers a broader account of how LGBTQ+ communities develop and sustain themselves.
Who Created Queer Scouse Activists?
Clare Jasmine Beloved developed the project using storytelling workshops and digital submissions to gather personal accounts connected to Liverpool’s queer history.
The collection draws on her experience of grassroots creativity and community activism, with support from Homotopia and the Museum of Liverpool.
Its format allows individual stories to be presented as part of a wider collection without requiring contributors to have been involved in a formal organisation or public campaign.
The project also challenges the idea that activism must involve large demonstrations or public recognition, giving space to people whose contributions may otherwise have gone undocumented.
Can You Add Your Own Story?
The collection is designed as a living archive, with organisers inviting further contributions from people who have experiences they would like to share.
Anyone wishing to contribute can send a short paragraph describing their experience, alongside a photograph, to clarecampbell@me.com.
Contributors must also confirm that permission has been granted for the photograph and written material to be used without copyright restrictions.
The invitation means the collection can continue developing as more people share their memories, rather than treating the first 100 cards as a complete account of Liverpool’s LGBTQ+ history.
Where Can You Explore the Collection?
The Queer Scouse Activists story cards are available to read online free of charge.
Readers can explore the 100-card archive or visit the official Homotopia project page for further information about contributing.
The project forms part of Homotopia Festival 2026, with its listed programme running until Tuesday 1 December.
