Gay's the Word bookshop: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Gays the Word.jpg|thumb|Gay's the Word bookshop, July 2013|alt=exterior view of the shop]]'''Gay's the Word''' is an independent bookshop in Marchmont Street, [[Bloomsbury]], central London. It specialises in all types of gay and lesbian books, both fiction and non-fiction. It has hosted meetings by various community groups. | [[File:Gays the Word.jpg|thumb|Gay's the Word bookshop, July 2013|alt=exterior view of the shop]]'''Gay's the Word''' is an independent bookshop in Marchmont Street, [[Bloomsbury]], central London. It specialises in all types of gay and lesbian books, both fiction and non-fiction. It has hosted meetings by various community groups. | ||
The shop was founded in 1979 by [[Ernest Hole]] and others from [[Icebreakers]].<ref>http://www.polarimagazine.com/features/birth-gays-word/ Ernest Hole, "The Birth of Gay's the Word", ''[[Polari magazine]]'', 17 January 2012</ref> [[Mark Bunyan]] regularly performed in the shop. | The shop was founded in 1979 by [[Ernest Hole]] and others from [[Icebreakers]].<ref>[http://www.polarimagazine.com/features/birth-gays-word/ Ernest Hole], "The Birth of Gay's the Word", ''[[Polari magazine]]'', 17 January 2012</ref> [[Mark Bunyan]] regularly performed in the shop. | ||
In 1984 the shop was raided by Customs and Excise and a large quantity of books seized as being obscene; a defence fund was set up, raising over £55,000. | In 1984 the shop was raided by Customs and Excise and a large quantity of books seized as being obscene; a defence fund was set up, raising over £55,000. | ||
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The shop is owned by [[Jim MacSweeney]]. | The shop is owned by [[Jim MacSweeney]]. | ||
In August 2011, the shop was damaged in the London riots, the only shop in the street to be targeted.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2011/aug/08/london-riots-sci-fi-dystopian</ref> | In August 2011, the shop was damaged in the London riots, the only shop in the street to be targeted.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2011/aug/08/london-riots-sci-fi-dystopian Jonathan Jones], "London burning: history just went sci-fi", ''The Guardian'', 8 August 2011.</ref> | ||
In July 2012 the shop was burgled, with a safe and computer equipment being stolen.<ref>http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/07/11/london-gay-bookshop-burgled/</ref> | In July 2012 the shop was burgled, with a safe and computer equipment being stolen.<ref>[http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/07/11/london-gay-bookshop-burgled/ Stephen Gray], "London: Gay bookshop burgled", ''[[Pink News]]'', 11 July 2012.</ref> | ||
There is a monthly book group meeting at the shop. | There is a monthly book group meeting at the shop. | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
http://freespace.virgin.net/gays.theword | *[http://gaystheword.tumblr.com/ GTW website] | ||
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20160127183455/http://freespace.virgin.net/gays.theword previous website] archived by the Internet Archive as at 27 January 2016 | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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[[Category:Bookshops]] | [[Category:Bookshops]] | ||
[[ | [[ :Bloomsbury]] | ||
[[Category:Reading groups]] | [[Category:Reading groups]] | ||
Revision as of 14:12, 23 September 2016
Gay's the Word is an independent bookshop in Marchmont Street, Bloomsbury, central London. It specialises in all types of gay and lesbian books, both fiction and non-fiction. It has hosted meetings by various community groups.
The shop was founded in 1979 by Ernest Hole and others from Icebreakers.[1] Mark Bunyan regularly performed in the shop.
In 1984 the shop was raided by Customs and Excise and a large quantity of books seized as being obscene; a defence fund was set up, raising over £55,000.
In 2007 the shop was threatened with closure following increased rents and competition from online sales, but remains open following a campaign which received wide coverage in the press.
The shop is owned by Jim MacSweeney.
In August 2011, the shop was damaged in the London riots, the only shop in the street to be targeted.[2]
In July 2012 the shop was burgled, with a safe and computer equipment being stolen.[3]
There is a monthly book group meeting at the shop.
In February 2015 the shop was the venue for the London launch of Amiable Warriors Volume One.
Lesbian Discussion Group
The Lesbian Discussion Group is a friendly and welcoming group and FREE (although there is a donations box to help support the bookshop). It meets at the shop every Wednesday.[4]
External links
- GTW website
- previous website archived by the Internet Archive as at 27 January 2016
References
<references> Bloomsbury
- ↑ Ernest Hole, "The Birth of Gay's the Word", Polari magazine, 17 January 2012
- ↑ Jonathan Jones, "London burning: history just went sci-fi", The Guardian, 8 August 2011.
- ↑ Stephen Gray, "London: Gay bookshop burgled", Pink News, 11 July 2012.
- ↑ http://freespace.virgin.net/gays.theword/c_rev.htm