3000 Lesbians Go to York
2:00pm, Saturday 29th March 2025
Location: Ironworks Studios, Brighton, BN1 4GD
“A weekend on Planet Dyke” - Val McDermid
In the first decade of this millennium, the Lesbian Arts Festival in York was the largest gathering of lesbian and bi women in the UK. Every autumn, thousands of women would flock to hear their favourite authors and singers, buy piles of lesbian books and dance till the clocks went back. Friendships and marriages were formed, and identities forged, at this much-loved festival.
Now Jane Traies has brought that iconic piece of queer women’s history to life again through the voices of those who were there. In this fascinating and lavishly-illustrated book – part oral history, part photo album – she tells the story of that sapphic idyll for a new generation.
3000 Lesbians Go to York is a treasure trove of inclusive queer history. It includes interviews with Jackie Kay, Stella Duffy, Sarah Waters, Val McDermid, Horse McDonald, festival founder Jenny Roberts and many others who attended or organised the festival.
Come and hear how the whole project began, listen to some of the individual stories and buy signed copies of the book at a special event discount.
3000 Lesbians Go to York is also in the process of becoming a documentary film. The trailer will be screened at this event.
About the author
Jane Traies is a queer historian whose work focuses on the hidden histories of marginalised women. Her previous books include the best-selling Now You See Me, a collection of older lesbian life stories, and Free to Be Me, about a group of lesbian and bisexual women seeking asylum in the UK. She is always looking for new ways to make silenced voices heard, and is enjoying her first experience of documentary film-making.
In the first decade of this millennium, the Lesbian Arts Festival in York was the largest gathering of lesbian and bi women in the UK. Every autumn, thousands of women would flock to hear their favourite authors and singers, buy piles of lesbian books and dance till the clocks went back. Friendships and marriages were formed, and identities forged, at this much-loved festival.
Now Jane Traies has brought that iconic piece of queer women’s history to life again through the voices of those who were there. In this fascinating and lavishly-illustrated book – part oral history, part photo album – she tells the story of that sapphic idyll for a new generation.
3000 Lesbians Go to York is a treasure trove of inclusive queer history. It includes interviews with Jackie Kay, Stella Duffy, Sarah Waters, Val McDermid, Horse McDonald, festival founder Jenny Roberts and many others who attended or organised the festival.
Come and hear how the whole project began, listen to some of the individual stories and buy signed copies of the book at a special event discount.
3000 Lesbians Go to York is also in the process of becoming a documentary film. The trailer will be screened at this event.
About the author
Jane Traies is a queer historian whose work focuses on the hidden histories of marginalised women. Her previous books include the best-selling Now You See Me, a collection of older lesbian life stories, and Free to Be Me, about a group of lesbian and bisexual women seeking asylum in the UK. She is always looking for new ways to make silenced voices heard, and is enjoying her first experience of documentary film-making.
Event Details
Sat 29 Mar 2025, 2:00PM until 4:00PM
Location
Ironworks Studios, Brighton, BN1 4GD
Sat 29 Mar 2025, 2:00PM until 4:00PM
Location
Ironworks Studios, Brighton, BN1 4GD
This is a New Writing South and Queer Heritage South partnership event.
