A lunchtime talk at Weston Park Museum taught audiences the queer history of Sheffield for LGBTQ+ history Month in coordination with SAYiT charity.

Last week Fiona Moorcroft presented a talk focusing on queer and LGBTQ+ history in and around Sheffield. The talk included information on LGBTQ+ icons which lived, worked, and traveled through the city as well as famous buildings and areas and their relation to the community.

Fiona said: “I love queer history, and it’s even better when it’s local queer history. So much of our history has been erased, forgotten or rewritten.

“When we look at LGBTQ+ history, it can be tempting to view people and their lives through a modern lens. However, what we can say with confidence is that queer people have always been here, and Sheffield is riven with queer stories, places and faces.”

Fiona Moorcroft works for SAYiT, a Sheffield- based charity providing LGBTQ+ youth with support. The charity is now based on Carver Street. Fiona has worked for the charity for 4 and a half years performing LGBTQ+ training.

Fiona said: “SAYiT’s core mission has always been to provide practical and emotional support to LGBTQ+ young people in Sheffield.

“We run several youth groups, divided on age, for children and young people who are LGBTQ+ or who are questioning their sexuality and/ or gender.”

The charity directors worked in Sexual Health during the AIDs crisis and founded the charity in partial response to the passing and effects of Section 28.

The talk was organised within the LGBTQ+ history month along with other events happening throughout Sheffield centered around celebrating queer culture.

Audience member Reuben Greene said about the event, “The talk covered a variety of experiences all based around the local area.

“I really loved the community atmosphere. People in the audience clearly had personal connections to queer history in Sheffield. I thought the topics discussed were really interesting.”

SAYiT are hosting an open day on the 28th of March and have many events organised around Sheffield for the LGBTQ+ community and allies.