PATH Project

Prejudice & Solidarity Archived Throughout History

LGBT+ History

Art, Expression and Self-identification

Art, Performance and Self-Identification

The earliest direct example of Queer artist in Aberdeen is Elizabeth (Bessie) Craigmyle. She publishes her poetry books dedicated to her love Margaret Dale, first one in 1885 when Dale was in Argentina, and in 1888, to the news of her death.

Digital Version below:

 ‘A Handful of Pansies’, by Bessie Craigmyle, catalogue number L A X Craig h in University of Aberdeen Museums and Special Collections, is licensed under CC By 4.0.

Link provides a digitised version of her second book, A Handful of Pansies from 1888, digitised thanks to the PATH Project.

Drag Culture – As late as 1969, transvestitism was a punishable offence, man was fined £2 for being dressed in woman’s clothes. Yet, ‘Female Impersonator shows’ existed all the way in early 20th Century. (Aberdeen Press and Journal-December 1911)

Television in the 70s, featured negative stereotypes of homosexual men, caricaturing their appearance and performance, with jokes to humiliate ‘anyone feeling gay’

In 1984, an article in the Evening express discusses in detail the idea of Drag and how people perceive it. First drag queen group performing – The Bloody Marys, all from Aberdeen.

Electric Rhythm: A Night At The Club ,Creative Commons Zero (CC0)

Queer entertainment has been particularly scrutinised and criticised between 1970 and 2000 and it seems to follow a pattern – report on an event in UK or US, highlight people’s problems with it, mention conforming opinion from Aberdeen.

Gaysoc at UoA also stepped in to provide voice for other LGBT+ groups, such as organising a space for the play organised by Gay Sweatshop Theatre Group from London, after the city cancelled their performance at the Northern Hotel.

Drag Culture

As late as 1969, transvestitism was a punishable offence, man was fined £2 for being dressed in woman’s clothes. Yet, ‘Female Impersonator shows’ existed all the way in early 20th Century. (Aberdeen Press and Journal-December 1911)

In 1973, a review of an American show is met with mixed receptions, with rather prejudicial outlook on the queer community – albeit the reviewer focuses on the content. It is in this period where travelling drag shows from England do visit Scotland and Aberdeen – people are familiar with the form of entertainment.

In 1984, an article in the Evening express discusses in detail the idea of Drag and how people perceive it. First drag queen group performing – The Bloody Marys, all from Aberdeen.

Queer inclusive publishing

Gay News available in Aberdeen Library in 1978 caused several responses in Aberdeen Evening Express, with 5 of the featured 7 tried to oppose the accessibility (frightened of descent in morality and spreading homosexuality).

By 1992 however, the publication of the Tartan Skirt takes place in Lumphanan, Aberdeenshire, mainly transfeminine magazine published for almost 4 years supporting the transgender community by sharing tips and featured stories of other people.

Oct 14, 1996 – an exhibition in the Aberdeen Art gallery until November 9th, including Transgender Portraits by Deborah Hammond.

The Tartan Skirt: The Scottish Magazine for the Gender Community No. 16 (October 1995) , Copyright Undetermined https://rightsstatements.org/page/UND/1.0/?language=en https://www.digitaltransgenderarchive.net/files/v405s963x