Interview with Rory Smith for Queer In Brighton, Oral History Project 2012-2014 (23/07/2013)

Title: Interview with Rory Smith for Queer In Brighton, Oral History Project 2012-2014 (23/07/2013)
Date: 23/07/2013
Publisher: Queer in Brighton
Contributor: Interviewer: David Sheppeard; Interviewee: Rory Smith; Authors of metadata: Rowan Briscoe
Format: .wav
Type: Oral History
Creator: Queer in Brighton
Spatial Coverage: Brighton & Hove, UK
Language: English
Rights Holder: Queer in Brighton
Rights: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Temporal Coverage: 2000s; 2010s

Description: Rory Smith is interviewed by David Sheppeard in The Marlborough theatre green room. Rory came to Brighton in 2001 when he was 18 for university. He speaks about other close family members coming out to him before he came out as bisexual, and how it wasn’t until his third year of university that he discovered LGBT nightlife in Brighton. He speaks about being intimidated by the lesbian scene in the mid-2000s and how starting a drag king troupe helped him explore his gender identity. Whilst working for a trans charity he began to be solely referred to as Rory and use he/him pronouns. He speaks about bi erasure in Brighton and how it has been even more of a challenge post-transition
Rory talks about being part of the group that started the Club Wotever events at The West Hill, which was one of the only alternative queer events at the time. The Cowley Club is also mentioned as part of this scene and it’s involvement with Queer Mutiny, an activist group. Rory then became involved in FTM Brighton and notes how a Trans Day of Remembrance became the catalyst for a new wave of local trans activism, including Trans Pride.

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Interview with Rory Smith for Queer In Brighton, Oral History Project 2012-2014 (23/07/2013)

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