The Log Books

The Sound of Trans Freedom - 015 Jul 22, 2026

A stack of letters written by trans people asking for help in the 90s is an essential piece of queer history. The letters are rightly kept confidentially, but a year ago we were given special access to make a sound art piece using them. Today we’re marking the anniversary of that work, which was produced by Tash and Arlie Adlington, with contributions from Jesse Lawson, Kamari Romeo, naafi, and Imogen Sayers.

The Sound of Trans Freedom audio piece in full: Soundcloud | YouTube

Short films mentioned in this episode:

Sweetheart (dir Luke Wintour, 2025)

Dandelion (dir Fiona Obertinca, 2026)

The Sound of Trans Freedom was supported by an Engagement Grant from The National Archives

Thanks to all the contributors who gave their voices, thoughts and feelings to the pieces

The Press for Change archive letters read throughout the piece were by Serena James, recorded by David Pye

The featured artists were:

naafi, Kamari Romeo, Tom Sayers, Jesse Lawson

Archival audio courtesy of:

Gender Talk, a radio show speaking the language of gender created by Nancy Nangeroni, originally broadcast on WMBR Cambridge and Boston, USA. Find them at gendertalk.com.

Out-FM, a multi-racial, progressive LGBTQ+ public affairs and culture show on WBAI New York, USA. Listen to their extensive archive at outfm.org.

The Sound of Trans Freedom was...

Compiled and mixed by Arlie Adlington

Produced by Tash Walker

And the Executive Producers for Aunt Nell were Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

Thanks to:

Stephen Whittle

Press for Change

The National Archives

and

The Hall-Carpenter Archives at LSE

Listen to ad-free episodes by supporting the show on Patreon.

Aunt Nell: Newsletter | Instagram | YouTube | website

The Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The assistant producer is Mia Campbell

Music from Soundstripe

Original artwork by Natalie Doto

Thanks to the dreamboats at Acast

For the story of the helpline Switchboard and untold stories from Britain's LGBTQ+ history: listen to Seasons 1-3, co-produced with Shivani Dave.

For interviews from the research for our book, published by Faber & Faber: listen to Season 4.

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Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hastings queer history - 014 Jul 15, 2026

Tash went along to Hastings for a tour of Lemons, Laws and Secret Doors — an exhibition made by a local queer collective all about their history. There was so much to discover!

Tash and Adam are running a writing workshop at Joelle Taylor’s Maryville salon this weekend - tickets here!

Listen to ad-free episodes by supporting the show on Patreon.

Aunt Nell: Newsletter | Instagram | YouTube | website

The Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The assistant producer is Mia Campbell

Music from Soundstripe

Original artwork by Natalie Doto

Thanks to the dreamboats at Acast

For the story of the helpline Switchboard and untold stories from Britain's LGBTQ+ history: listen to Seasons 1-3, co-produced with Shivani Dave.

For interviews from the research for our book, published by Faber & Faber: listen to Season 4.

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Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FKA twigs, and why Adam is an alien - 013 Jul 08, 2026

Adam takes Tash on a deep dive of the artist FKA twigs: her style, her drive, her weirdness, and of course her delicious music. We covered the full range of her career and why she’s an icon for queers, women and weirdos. We love you, twigs!

Discussed in this episode:

Poni’s flip of Fallen Alien by FKA twigs

Listen to ad-free episodes by supporting the show on Patreon.

Aunt Nell: Newsletter | Instagram | YouTube | website

The Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The assistant producer is Mia Campbell

Music from Soundstripe

Original artwork by Natalie Doto

Thanks to the dreamboats at Acast

For the story of the helpline Switchboard and untold stories from Britain's LGBTQ+ history: listen to Seasons 1-3, co-produced with Shivani Dave.

For interviews from the research for our book, published by Faber & Faber: listen to Season 4.

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Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bradford’s queer history - 012 Jul 01, 2026

Tash got a tour of Bradford’s queer history with Alice Parsons, who runs the city’s Castles in the Sky project. We learnt all about the local Switchboard, the gay arts festival, the lesbian support line, and how these all stem from Bradford’s radical politics.

Discussed in this episode:

Amnesty International report on gender-critical movements and media

Castles in the Sky in Bradford

Listen to ad-free episodes by supporting the show on Patreon.

Aunt Nell: Newsletter | Instagram | YouTube | website

The Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The assistant producer is Mia Campbell

Music from Soundstripe

Original artwork by Natalie Doto

Thanks to the dreamboats at Acast

For the story of the helpline Switchboard and untold stories from Britain's LGBTQ+ history: listen to Seasons 1-3, co-produced with Shivani Dave.

For interviews from the research for our book, published by Faber & Faber: listen to Season 4.

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Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘Sferics’: the spooky sound of connection - 011 Jun 24, 2026

Tash has tuned into the secret sounds of electricity pylons (no, really) and discovered something unique about human connection and queer experience. We learnt about ‘sferics’ and about static electricity in the air, and how it affects us all.

Discussed in this episode:

Petition to call for a public inquiry into the impact of Section 28

Listen to ad-free episodes by supporting the show on Patreon.

Aunt Nell: Newsletter | Instagram | YouTube | website

The Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The assistant producer is Mia Campbell

Music from Soundstripe

Original artwork by Natalie Doto

Thanks to the dreamboats at Acast

For the story of the helpline Switchboard and untold stories from Britain's LGBTQ+ history: listen to Seasons 1-3, co-produced with Shivani Dave.

For interviews from the research for our book, published by Faber & Faber: listen to Season 4.

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Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our exclusive tour of Queer Britain - 010 Jun 17, 2026

Tash went down to Kings Cross in London to visit the newly re-opened Queer Britain museum. From nightclubs like Club Kali to footballers like Justin Fashanu, from the painter Carrington to dyke-themed folk songs, the museum captures every part of queer life. Thanks to Jennifer Shearman (curator) and Beau Brannick (assistant curator) and everyone at Queer Britain.

-Adam + Tash

Queer Britain’s website

The Quilt - podcast series made by Aunt Nell in partnership with Queer Britain

Listen to ad-free episodes by supporting the show on Patreon.

Aunt Nell: Newsletter | Instagram | YouTube | website

The Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The assistant producer is Mia Campbell

Music from Soundstripe

Original artwork by Natalie Doto

Thanks to the dreamboats at Acast

For the story of the helpline Switchboard and untold stories from Britain's LGBTQ+ history: listen to Seasons 1-3, co-produced with Shivani Dave.

For interviews from the research for our book, published by Faber & Faber: listen to Season 4.

KI7FHCTLCUOCNJZ9

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Staying afloat - 009 Jun 10, 2026

It feels like life is pulling many of us down at the moment — so we asked each other: what do you do to stay afloat? We discuss swimming, solo cinema trips, birds and well-stocked food cupboards. The queer future starts here?

-Adam + Tash

Listen to ad-free episodes by supporting the show on Patreon.

Aunt Nell: Newsletter | Instagram | YouTube | website

The Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The assistant producer is Mia Campbell

Music from Soundstripe

Original artwork by Natalie Doto

Thanks to the dreamboats at Acast

For the story of the helpline Switchboard and untold stories from Britain's LGBTQ+ history: listen to Seasons 1-3, co-produced with Shivani Dave.

For interviews from the research for our book, published by Faber & Faber: listen to Season 4.

KI7FHCTLCUOCNJZ9

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hunky Jesus - 008 Jun 03, 2026

Every Easter in San Francisco, there’s a competition to find the best hunky Jesus. We didn’t go to it, BUT we spoke to Sister Roma, one of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the order of queer nuns that organises it. AND to filmmaker Jennifer Kroot who’s just made a film about the sisters and their search for hunky Jesus.

-Adam + Tash

Films:

Hunky Jesus

La Grazia

Teenage Sex And Death At Camp Miasma

I Saw the TV Glow

Queer disabled arts project:

Eff-able

TV:

The Repair Shop (BBC) - featuring the first Switchboard log book!

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Second adolescence - 007 May 27, 2026

Why have one adolescence when you can have two? That’s the reality for many LGBTQ+ people. So let’s talk about what happens when you come out (or let people in), and unleash a whole new era on yourself. Sex, friendships, romance, lifestyle — all these things are up for grabs again a second time around for many queer people. Why is that? And what does psychology research say about it?

-Adam + Tash

Discussed in this episode:

The Second Adolescence of LGBTQ+ Adulthood, Psychology Today (2023)

The importance of sexual and romantic development in understanding the developmental neuroscience of adolescence

Sexual Development Through the Lifespan

Sex, Clubs, Dissent: Visualising Queer Nightlife by Amelia Abraham (ed)

Heartstopper (Netflix)

We Are Who We Are (HBO/BBC)

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghosts of your former self - 006 May 20, 2026

We’ve got a star guest this week! Tino Orsini is a versatile character actor — you might have seen him playing the artist Banksy in Ted Lasso. For his next trick he’ll be on stage performing an intimate solo show about his own dark past. It’s all based around the time he tried to make it in Hollywood.

We loved hearing Tino’s reflections on immigration, addiction, sex, family secrets and, of course, showbiz. His new show is called Ghosts of West Hollywood and it’s on 2-7 June at the Et Cetera theatre in London.

-Adam + Tash

Aunt Nell: Instagram | YouTube | website

The Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The assistant producer is Mia Campbell

Music from Soundstripe

Original artwork by Natalie Doto

Thanks to the dreamboats at Acast

Seasons 1-3, from 2019-22, were co-produced with Shivani Dave, in partnership with Switchboard.

Season 4, from 2025-26, featured interviews for our book, published by Faber & Faber.

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Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lab rats - 005 May 13, 2026

Tash has been reading some intriguing studies about the psychology of lab rats — and has discovered something about themself in the process. So let’s talk about it! Join us while we gnaw on the topics of cages (real and imagined), being queer, and the power of nature.

-Adam + Tash

Discussed in this episode:

The Well Gardened Mind by Sue Stuart-Smith

Aunt Nell: Instagram | YouTube | website

The Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The assistant producer is Mia Campbell

Music from Soundstripe

Original artwork by Natalie Doto

Thanks to the dreamboats at Acast

Seasons 1-3, from 2019-22, were co-produced with Shivani Dave, in partnership with Switchboard.

Season 4, from 2025-26, featured interviews for our book, published by Faber & Faber.

KI7FHCTLCUOCNJZ9

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inherent Vice - 004 May 06, 2026

We make no secret that we’re obsessed with queer history and heritage. So in this episode Tash met Shoun Obana who’s created a zine called Inherent Vice, “for heritage professionals and enthusiasts alike”.

We’ve also got a poem by Tash, Dear Section 28.

-Adam + Tash

Discussed in this episode:

Zine: Inherent Vice

Radio poem: Dear Section 28, originally created for Short Cuts, series 33, a Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

Aunt Nell: Instagram | YouTube | website

The Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The assistant producer is Mia Campbell

Music from Soundstripe

Original artwork by Natalie Doto

Thanks to the dreamboats at Acast

Seasons 1-3, from 2019-22, were co-produced with Shivani Dave, in partnership with Switchboard.

Season 4, from 2025-26, featured interviews for our book, published by Faber & Faber.

KI7FHCTLCUOCNJZ9

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An Army of Lovers Cannot Fail - 003 Apr 29, 2026

Sometimes you read a book and feel ‘this is a bit of me!’ That’s how we both felt reading An Army of Lovers Cannot Fail, so we wanted to talk about it. It’s a book about friendship, across generations, and the power of queer solidarity. So it also led us to two recent photography exhibitions too.

-Adam + Tash

Discussed in this episode:

Book: An Army of Lovers Cannot Fail by Hélène Giannecchini

Exhibition: We Others: Donna Gottschalk and Hélène Giannecchini @ The Photographers’ Gallery until June 7th

Exhibition: Catherine Opie: To Be Seen @ National Portrait Gallery, until May 31st

Aunt Nell: Instagram | YouTube | website

The Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The assistant producer is Mia Campbell

Music from Soundstripe

Original artwork by Natalie Doto

Thanks to the dreamboats at Acast

Seasons 1-3, from 2019-22, were co-produced with Shivani Dave, in partnership with Switchboard.

Season 4, from 2025-26, featured interviews for our book, published by Faber & Faber.

KI7FHCTLCUOCNJZ9

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Margate Queer Library and Archive - 002 Apr 22, 2026

Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside…

Tash went for a swim (Adam went to the cafe), but we BOTH went to the Margate Queer Library and Archive, which is run by Sé Malaïka Nomyo. We also met Jen Scott, aka SHELLY GROTTO, who also told us about her work on Margate and Thanet’s queer history.

Discussed in this episode:

Space: Margate Queer Library and Archive

Video: New Rumours on YouTube

-Adam + Tash

Aunt Nell: Instagram | YouTube | website

The Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The assistant producer is Mia Campbell

Music from Soundstripe

Original artwork by Natalie Doto

Thanks to the dreamboats at Acast

Seasons 1-3, from 2019-22, were co-produced with Shivani Dave, in partnership with Switchboard.

Season 4, from 2025-26, featured interviews for our book, published by Faber & Faber.

KI7FHCTLCUOCNJZ9

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Stories of Our Lives - 001 Apr 15, 2026

We’re relaunching your favourite podcast!

We’re Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, and EVERY WEEK we get together to talk about history, politics, art and LGBTQ+ life.

From us ageing millennials nattering on, to interviews with exciting people doing amazing things, The Log Books contain… the stories of our lives.

Let us know what you think of the new format, and what you think we should feature.

-Adam + Tash

Aunt Nell: Instagram | YouTube | website

The Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The assistant producer is Mia Campbell

Music from Soundstripe

Original artwork by Natalie Doto

Thanks to the dreamboats at Acast

Seasons 1-3, from 2019-22, were co-produced with Shivani Dave, in partnership with Switchboard.

Season 4, from 2025-26, featured interviews for our book, published by Faber & Faber.

KI7FHCTLCUOCNJZ9

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Queer roots | Episode 15 Apr 08, 2026

Tash and Adam listen to Abi McIntosh, our youngest interviewee!, who first listed her sexuality on MySpace...

Abi also reflects on her experience of connecting with older queer Black people, and how this has changed how she sees herself.

You can listen to Abi on the podcast Black And Gay, Back In The Day on Apple and Spotify.

Buy our book or see our events listings: The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened.

Hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The voice of the log books: Serena James

Assistant producer: Marnie Woodmeade

Engineer: David Pye

Music: Tom Fosket-Barnes

Original artwork: Natalie Doto

Thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute; our publisher, Faber Books; the dreamboats at Acast; the staff and volunteers at Switchboard, and all the contributors who shared their stories.

Episode transcripts available here.

Call Switchboard on 0800 0119 100, email hello@switchboard.lgbt or instant message via www.switchboard.lgbt.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being both | Episode 14 Apr 01, 2026

Adam and Tash hear from Faizan, who co-founded Imaan, a network for queer Muslims.

Faizan recalls what it felt like to be growing up as a British Pakistani queer person in London in the 80s, and the electricity of a first (good) kiss.

Buy our book or see our events listings: The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened.

Hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The voice of the log books: Serena James

Assistant producer: Marnie Woodmeade

Engineer: David Pye

Music: Tom Fosket-Barnes

Original artwork: Natalie Doto

Thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute; our publisher, Faber Books; the dreamboats at Acast; the staff and volunteers at Switchboard, and all the contributors who shared their stories.

Episode transcripts available here.

Call Switchboard on 0800 0119 100, email hello@switchboard.lgbt or instant message via www.switchboard.lgbt.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Girl power | Episode 13 Mar 26, 2026

Adam and Tash listen to Steph Fuller recall what it was like for trans women to go out on the town in the 90s.

Steph reflects on growing up queer and trans, and what it meant to have places to go — in one of our most affecting and intimate interviews yet.

Buy our book or see our events listings: The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened.

Hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The voice of the log books: Serena James

Assistant producer: Marnie Woodmeade

Engineer: David Pye

Music: Tom Fosket-Barnes

Original artwork: Natalie Doto

Thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute; our publisher, Faber Books; the dreamboats at Acast; the staff and volunteers at Switchboard, and all the contributors who shared their stories.

Episode transcripts available here.

Call Switchboard on 0800 0119 100, email hello@switchboard.lgbt or instant message via www.switchboard.lgbt.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Active listening | Episode 12 Mar 19, 2026

Tash and Adam hear from Monty Moncrieff, who took calls for Switchboard for years and now runs London Friend.

Monty remembers what it was like to take difficult calls from LGBTQ+ people, and also to be listened to himself, when he gave his first interview in season 3 of The Log Books podcast.

Buy our book or see our events listings: The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened.

Hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The voice of the log books: Serena James

Assistant producer: Marnie Woodmeade

Engineer: David Pye

Music: Tom Fosket-Barnes

Original artwork: Natalie Doto

Thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute; our publisher, Faber Books; the dreamboats at Acast; the staff and volunteers at Switchboard, and all the contributors who shared their stories.

Episode transcripts available here.

Call Switchboard on 0800 0119 100, email hello@switchboard.lgbt or instant message via www.switchboard.lgbt.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No going back | Episode 11 Mar 12, 2026

Adam and Tash hear from Clare Truscott, a riotous femme punk who tirelessly serves her community and always has an abundance of stories to tell.

Clare reflects on being a part of the podcast and being a lesbian in the 80s and 90s, and how more recently she’s been campaigning to end homophobia in care homes for older people.

You can find out more about Clare’s work on Not Going In The Care Closet here.

Buy our book or see our events listings: The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened.

Hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The voice of the log books: Serena James

Assistant producer: Marnie Woodmeade

Engineer: David Pye

Music: Tom Fosket-Barnes

Original artwork: Natalie Doto

Thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute; our publisher, Faber Books; the dreamboats at Acast; the staff and volunteers at Switchboard, and all the contributors who shared their stories.

Episode transcripts available here.

Call Switchboard on 0800 0119 100, email hello@switchboard.lgbt or instant message via www.switchboard.lgbt.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Never pretending | Episode 10 Mar 05, 2026

Tash and Adam listen to Catherine Lee, who qualified as a teacher in the late 80s at a time when it was impossible for lesbians like her to be open at work.

Catherine reflects candidly on the impact of sharing her story on the original Log Books podcast, and how her life has transformed from shame to pride.

Buy our book or see our events listings: The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened.

Hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The voice of the log books: Serena James

Assistant producer: Marnie Woodmeade

Engineer: David Pye

Music: Tom Fosket-Barnes

Original artwork: Natalie Doto

Thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute; our publisher, Faber Books; the dreamboats at Acast; the staff and volunteers at Switchboard, and all the contributors who shared their stories.

Episode transcripts available here.

Call Switchboard on 0800 0119 100, email hello@switchboard.lgbt or instant message via www.switchboard.lgbt.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leather and love | Episode 9 Feb 26, 2026

Tash and Adam hear from Richard Desmond, aka Switchboard’s once resident leather queen.

Richard reflects on a life in the LGBTQ+ community, as a leatherman, a volunteer, a friend and lover. We love you, Richard.

Buy our book or see our events listings: The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened.

Hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The voice of the log books: Serena James

Assistant producer: Marnie Woodmeade

Engineer: David Pye

Music: Tom Fosket-Barnes

Original artwork: Natalie Doto

Thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute; our publisher, Faber Books; the dreamboats at Acast; the staff and volunteers at Switchboard, and all the contributors who shared their stories.

Episode transcripts available here.

Call Switchboard on 0800 0119 100, email hello@switchboard.lgbt or instant message via www.switchboard.lgbt.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dream homes | Episode 8 Feb 19, 2026

Tash and Adam listen to Graham McKerrow, who was editor of the newspaper Capital Gay in the 80s.

Graham reflects on his gay adolescence in the 70s, and how he and his partner transformed a South London house into a communal queer home.

Buy our book or see our events listings: The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened.

Hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The voice of the log books: Serena James

Assistant producer: Marnie Woodmeade

Engineer: David Pye

Music: Tom Fosket-Barnes

Original artwork: Natalie Doto

Thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute; our publisher, Faber Books; the dreamboats at Acast; the staff and volunteers at Switchboard, and all the contributors who shared their stories.

Episode transcripts available here.

Call Switchboard on 0800 0119 100, email hello@switchboard.lgbt or instant message via www.switchboard.lgbt.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Standing up, standing out | Episode 7 Feb 12, 2026

Adam and Tash hear from Andy Piccos, whose memories of Switchboard stretch back to 1977.

Andy remembers the queer family he met through volunteering and living the gay life, and what it was like to come out to his biological, Greek Cypriot family.

Buy our book or see our events listings: The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened.

Hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The voice of the log books: Serena James

Assistant producer: Marnie Woodmeade

Engineer: David Pye

Music: Tom Fosket-Barnes

Original artwork: Natalie Doto

Thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute; our publisher, Faber Books; the dreamboats at Acast; the staff and volunteers at Switchboard, and all the contributors who shared their stories.

Episode transcripts available here.

Call Switchboard on 0800 0119 100, email hello@switchboard.lgbt or instant message via www.switchboard.lgbt.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Life lessons | Episode 6 Feb 05, 2026

Tash and Adam catch-up with Femi Otitoju, one of the original contributors of The Log Books podcast, and one of Switchboard’s most valuable volunteers.

Femi reflects on what it meant to have her memories recorded, and how she and others made sure that Switchboard served Black people and women.

You can also listen to Femi speaking on the podcast Black And Gay, Back In The Day on Apple and Spotify.

Buy our book or see our events listings: The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened.

Hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The voice of the log books: Serena James

Assistant producer: Marnie Woodmeade

Engineer: David Pye

Music: Tom Fosket-Barnes

Original artwork: Natalie Doto

Thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute; our publisher, Faber Books; the dreamboats at Acast; the staff and volunteers at Switchboard, and all the contributors who shared their stories.

Episode transcripts available here.

Call Switchboard on 0800 0119 100, email hello@switchboard.lgbt or instant message via www.switchboard.lgbt.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exclusive book extract! | Episode 5 Jan 29, 2026

Our book is published TODAY! In this special episode, Tash and Adam read an exclusive excerpt from The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened, published by Faber & Faber.

This is a huge milestone for The Log Books project, which started when Tash found the log books over ten years ago. If you listened to our first three seasons, we thank you for sticking with us. If you’re a newcomer: welcome to your queer history!

Buy our book or see our events listings: The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened.

Hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The voice of the log books: Serena James

Assistant producer: Marnie Woodmeade

Engineer: David Pye

Music: Tom Fosket-Barnes

Original artwork: Natalie Doto

Thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute; our publisher, Faber Books; the dreamboats at Acast; the staff and volunteers at Switchboard, and all the contributors who shared their stories.

Episode transcripts available here.

Call Switchboard on 0800 0119 100, email hello@switchboard.lgbt or instant message via www.switchboard.lgbt.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The new life (and again) | Episode 4 Jan 22, 2026

Tash and Adam hear from Anson Mackay, who left a tiny, remote town in Scotland to embrace a gay identity, and then later another queer identity altogether.

Anson reflects with trusting candour on their experiences through the 80s and 90s, and how people feel compelled to explore their gender even before the right words have arrived.

Buy our book or see our events listings: The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened.

Hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The voice of the log books: Serena James

Assistant producer: Marnie Woodmeade

Engineer: David Pye

Music: Tom Fosket-Barnes

Original artwork: Natalie Doto

Thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute; our publisher, Faber Books; the dreamboats at Acast; the staff and volunteers at Switchboard, and all the contributors who shared their stories.

Episode transcripts available here.

Call Switchboard on 0800 0119 100, email hello@switchboard.lgbt or instant message via www.switchboard.lgbt.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Queer family solidarity | Episode 3 Jan 15, 2026

Adam and Tash are joined in this episode by Diana James, who discovered herself as a dyke in the 80s and joined Switchboard as its first trans volunteer.

Diana discusses what she learnt as she handled phone calls from distressed queer people, and how the older and younger generations need to support each other.

Buy our book or see our events listings: The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened.

Hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The voice of the log books: Serena James

Assistant producer: Marnie Woodmeade

Engineer: David Pye

Music: Tom Fosket-Barnes

Original artwork: Natalie Doto

Thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute; our publisher, Faber Books; the dreamboats at Acast; the staff and volunteers at Switchboard, and all the contributors who shared their stories.

Episode transcripts available here.

Call Switchboard on 0800 0119 100, email hello@switchboard.lgbt or instant message via www.switchboard.lgbt.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A teacher’s reckoning | Episode 2 Jan 08, 2026

Tash and Adam hear from Ruth Turner, who qualified as a teacher in the 1980s at the height of a destructive public debate over gay and lesbian rights.

Ruth recalls the chilling effect of Section 28, the law that forbade her from supporting queer students, and helps Tash to reckon with their own experience in school.

Buy our book or see our events listings: The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened.

Hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The voice of the log books: Serena James

Assistant producer: Marnie Woodmeade

Engineer: David Pye

Music: Tom Fosket-Barnes

Original artwork: Natalie Doto

Thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute; our publisher, Faber Books; the dreamboats at Acast; the staff and volunteers at Switchboard, and all the contributors who shared their stories.

Episode transcripts available here.

Call Switchboard on 0800 0119 100, email hello@switchboard.lgbt or instant message via www.switchboard.lgbt.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Switchboard’s first night | Episode 1 Jan 01, 2026

Adam and Tash’s first guest is John Lindsay, one of the founders of Switchboard, the national LGBTQIA+ helpline.

John takes us back to the first night in the phoneroom in 1974, when a ragtag gang of queers listened out for that first phone call.

Buy our book or see our events listings: The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened.

Hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The voice of the log books: Serena James

Assistant producer: Marnie Woodmeade

Engineer: David Pye

Music: Tom Fosket-Barnes

Original artwork: Natalie Doto

Thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute; our publisher, Faber Books; the dreamboats at Acast; the staff and volunteers at Switchboard, and all the contributors who shared their stories.

Episode transcripts available here.

Call Switchboard on 0800 0119 100, email hello@switchboard.lgbt or instant message via www.switchboard.lgbt.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All-new season, all-new interviews Dec 18, 2025

The UK’s best LGBTQ+ history podcast is BACK. After three groundbreaking seasons from 2019-22, featuring the unique archives at Switchboard, winning a string of awards, we’re returning with a new season.

We are Adam Zmith and Tash Walker, hosts and producers, and your guides into queer memories and countless, essential stories.

The all-new season of The Log Books will feature intimate interviews we’ve done as research for our book, which will be published by Faber on January 29th 2026.

We thought: we can’t fit everything into the book, so let’s bring back the podcast!

THE LOG BOOKS season 4 is produced by Aunt Nell.

New episodes from January 1st. Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss them!

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing... The Quilt Nov 12, 2024

The Quilt: Living memories of queer Britain & Northern Ireland

An audio exhibition open to anyone, anywhere, at any time of day, produced and hosted by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith.

Born from a collaboration between the producers of the award-winning podcast The Log Books and the UK’s first and only LGBTQ+ museum Queer Britain, challenges who and what makes queer history.

The series takes the listener on a journey across the UK, collecting queer memories, from queer people. The Quilt weaves together all these stories and histories, into a beautiful documentary patchwork series.

The Quilt is an audio archive for the future.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing: Queer Roots and Routes Apr 04, 2023

We'd love to introduce you to this new podcast we've been working Queer Roots and Routes!

Queer Roots and Routes is made by a collective.

We are queer. We are migrants or descended from migrants. And we want to tell our stories. Stories of where we’ve come from and how we move in the world today.

We don’t have a boss or a Beyoncé. So each episode of this six-part first series of Queer Roots and Routes has a different host and a different set of voices from our group. Our promise to you is that our podcast is GORGEOUS, FIERCE, SUPERGAY and... REVOLUTIONARY!

We all met through the MAUREEN project by The Love Tank, a not-for-profit community interest company that promotes health and wellbeing of under-served communities through education, capacity building and research.

An Aunt Nell Production

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

INTRODUCING: New podcast Black and Gay, Back in the Day Oct 02, 2022

We'd love to introduce you to this new podcast Black and Gay, Back in the Day which brings to life a photo archive of Black LGBTQIA+ life in Britain, from the 1970s through to the early 2000s.

Each episode is an intergenerational journey focusing on a key photograph from the archive - joining stories of the past, with those of today. Marc Thompson is the gentle, inquisitive and warm guide to the archive, helping a rotation of younger Black LGBTQIA+ co-hosts navigate these often untold stories. Each episode covers a different theme drawn out of a single photograph from the collection, submerging you into Black LGBTQIA+ history.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS: Tash and Adam tour the Out And About LGBTQ+ exhibition at the Barbican Feb 23, 2022

In this bonus episode made for Nothing Concrete, the podcast of London's Barbican, Tash and Adam riffle through many more items from LGBTQ+ history. The Bishopsgate Institute doesn't just look after the amazing Switchboard log books — they also hold gay badges, protest placards, intimate photo albums and historical trackie tops. Forty of these items are being displayed in the free exhibition Out and About! at the Barbican in London from February 28th to March 21st. To mark the occasion, Adam and Tash made this special episode for Nothing Concrete, featuring archivist Stef Dickers and recorded on location at the Barbican and in the bowels of Bishopsgate.

Transcript here.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Thank you for being here” | Episode 10 Jan 10, 2022

This is it! After three seasons covering 1974 to 2003, Tash and Adam reach the final page in the log books in Switchboard’s archive. In this closing episode of The Log Books, Adam and Tash reflect on all the stories they’ve heard across the three years making this podcast. They also bring to light one type of log book entry that has not yet been covered in the podcast, and listen to young people who are living our queer futures.

Thank YOU, our amazing listeners, for joining us on this moving, empowering and joyous journey!

Content warning: biphobia, suicide and archaic language about transgender identities

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBTQI+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute. Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Not suitably dressed” | Episode 9 Jan 03, 2022

Rubber? Feet? Piss? Flogging? Role play? What’s your kink? In this episode Tash and Adam listen to dozens of dirty stories from the LGBTQI+ community in the 90s. From the publicly funded multi-gender kink night at the London Lesbian and Gay Centre to people wearing nappies and S&M dykes — this episode is raw, sexy, hilarious... and you’ll never be the same again. We also speak to Alex (the DJ Kiwi) from Crossbreed and Matt Skully about running kinky events and club nights today.

Content warning: extreme sex practices and state homophobia

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBTQI+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute. Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Interested and willing” | Episode 8 Dec 27, 2021

In the 90s more and more lesbians called Switchboard to ask where they could get hold of sperm. All sorts of LGBTQI+ people in the period sought to make families outside of conventional methods and constraints. In this episode, Tash and Adam hear stories from the people who pioneered queer family-making. We also catch-up with some folks who have their own experiences and opinions on what queer family means to them today.

Content warning: homophobia

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBTQI+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute. Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

For more information about the themes in this episode, take a look at:

NHS info: having a baby if you’re LGBT+

Stonewall: parenting rights

COTS: Childlessness Overcome Through Surrogacy

PACT: Parents and Children Together

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“The inability of others to understand” | Episode 7 Dec 20, 2021

There is still so much work to be done in making sure LGBTQI+ people with disabilities have what they need, but the 90s saw a definite shift in the right direction. Legal change, growing awareness, and a place at the front of the Pride march. In this episode, Tash and Adam hear from queer disability rights campaigners and, of course, Switchboard volunteers about handling calls about intersecting identities. They also catch up with Erin Ekins about the experience of being queer and neurodivergent today.

Content warning: archaic language around disability.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBTQI+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute. Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

For more information about the themes in this episode, take a look at:

Para Pride: Pride. In. Everyone.

Regard: Supporting Disabled LGBTQ people

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Needs support and reassurance” | Episode 6 Dec 13, 2021

Understanding and awareness of various gender identities grew from 1992 to 2003, and more and more trans people called Switchboard for support. This episode offers a fascinating insight into how the LGBTQI+ community evolved over the period, and how trans people grew stronger in asserting their identities. Essential listening for anyone interested in the recent history of gender and queer identity. Tash and Adam also hear from Steph Fuller, the general manager of Switchboard, about the nature of calls about gender identity today.

Content warning: archaic language around transgender identities, transphobia, and stories of negative medical experiences.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBTQI+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute. Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

For more information about the themes in this episode, take a look at:

Mermaids

London Friend

Gendered Intelligence

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“They do mean us harm” | Episode 5 Dec 06, 2021

On April 30th 1999, the Admiral Duncan gay pub in Soho was bombed by a homophobic Nazi. The attack followed a series of calls to Switchboard threatening violence. In this episode, Adam, Tash and volunteers at the helpline tell the story of the bombing from the phone room, as volunteers rushed to support the LGBTQI+ community. We also hear from John Sizzle, who runs The Glory pub in east London, on creating safer queer spaces today.

Content warning: homophobic language, and stories of hate crime and violence.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBTQI+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute. Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

For more information about the bombing, we recommend the Netflix documentary Nail Bomber: Manhunt

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“How refreshing” | Episode 4 Nov 29, 2021

Remember how you felt when you first saw the lesbian kiss on Brookside? Or *those* scenes in Queer As Folk?

This episode is a tour through the landmark television moments for queer people from 1992 to 2003. Taking in Hayley in Coronation Street and even the calls to Switchboard following a gay storyline on Peak Practice, Tash, Adam and contributors discuss the importance of TV representation, with a few laughs along the way. We also feature a conversation between producers Stella Merz (Gentleman Jack) and Katie Carpenter (Flowers, The Bisexual, Landscapers) about their experience as queer women in the TV industry today, compared to the 90s.

Content warning: archaic language around transgender identities.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBTQI+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute. Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Not an easy call at all” | Episode 3 Nov 22, 2021

Because Switchboard is set up to support people around matters of sexuality, volunteers sometimes take difficult calls from paedophiles and those who have been the victims of abuse. In this episode, Tash and Adam hear from Switchboard volunteers in the 90s about taking those calls, and how they supported people in these awful situations. This episode also features an interview with Oliver, a Switchboard volunteer today reflecting on taking difficult calls.

Content warning: paedophilia, rape, sexual assault, sexual violence, suicide, and archaic language around transgender identities.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBTQI+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute. Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

For support around the themes in this episode, take a look at:

Childline

GALOP

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“The little darlings” | Episode 2 Nov 15, 2021

In the 90s, if two men had sex and one was under 21, both could be imprisoned, while straight people could legally have sex at age 16. This inequality could not last, and that’s thanks to campaigners such as Hugo Greenhalgh and Euan Sutherland, supported by Stonewall. This is the story of their campaign to equalise the law, and of the Switchboard volunteers who helped. Tash and Adam also hear from Phil Samba, from Prepster and the Love Tank, about his work on campaigning around queer sex today.

Content warning: homophobic language.

TV clips from Age of Dissent, directed by Will Parry.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBTQI+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute. Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

For more information about the themes in this episode, take a look at:

Stonewall

Prepster

The Love Tank

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Multiple paradox net files” | Episode 1 Nov 08, 2021

The internet began to revolutionise LGBTQI+ life in the 1990s: chat rooms, emails, and of course dating websites. In this first episode of the third season of The Log Books, Tash and Adam pull out stories from the archive at Switchboard - the LGBT+ Helpline about people who called to talk about how the internet was changing their experience of sexuality and gender. They hear memories of early online photo searches and hook-ups arranged via chat rooms. And YouTuber Jake Edwards who grew up making videos about their transition and coming out as non-binary, explains their experience on the limits of the internet at making genuine connections today.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“The queer 90s” | Episode 0 Nov 01, 2021

Tash and Adam are back, with 11 all-new weekly episodes covering LGBTQI+ life from 1992 to 2003, using calls made to Switchboard in that period.

In this opening teaser episode, Tash and Adam visit two special locations to explain what’s coming up in the season. They also play clips from the forthcoming episodes, from the lesbians looking for sperm donors to the kinky group for people who like dressing up as babies.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBTQI+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute. Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing: Making Gay History Oct 25, 2021

Season three of The Log Books launches next week, November 1st, with eleven all-new episodes covering 1992 to 2003, released weekly.

FOR NOW — just before our third season begins — we want to share one of our inspirations. Making Gay History. This is such a special podcast to us at The Log Books, for showing us how to bring LGBTQI+ history to life sensitively, now working on its tenth season.

To give you a taste of Making Gay History, we’re dropping one of our favourite episodes right here. In this episode, host Eric Marcus interviews Edythe Eyde, who started a newsletter for lesbians in 1947 through illicit use of her typewriter in her office job as a secretary. Edythe even sings for Eric from her porch — one of her witty ditties about cute butches...

You can find Making Gay History wherever you get your podcasts or at www.makinggayhistory.com. We hope you enjoy this amazing podcast and come back for The Log Books season three.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing: Call Me Mother Apr 20, 2021

News! We’re making season three of The Log Books because we’ve received a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

While you wait, here’s an episode of Call Me Mother, another podcast, featuring an interview with Sandra Caldwell, a 67-year-old actor who was forced to hide part of herself for 40 years. We loved hearing Sandra tell her story to Shon Faye, with such warmth and wisdom, and we think you will too.

We’ll be back with the third season of The Log Books later in 2021... See you soon.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Would like to stay” | Episode 11 Jan 25, 2021

We have so many fascinating stories for our final episode of the season: a lesbian who helped a gay immigrant to stay legally in the UK, a gay refugee who fled Syria, an Indian who learnt that cruising is different in India, Canada and the UK, and a British Indian who built mixed dance nights for London’s range of cultures.

Tash and Adam hear about the people who phoned Switchboard for advice on how to live, love and work in the UK, and from a range of contributors with different perspectives on borders, cultures and LGBTQ+ identity.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute and the BFI National Archive.

‘Louise’ voiced by Cathy Tyson

'Sami' voiced by Aso Sherabayani

Clip from Here and Now: Gay Black Group used with permission from MACE, the Media Archive for Central England at the University of Lincoln. First broadcast on June 26th, 1983.

For more information about the themes in this episode, take a look at:

Legal advice from the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants

Black Pride UK

Naz and Matt Foundation

Kaleidoscope Trust

Peter Tatchell Foundation : Speaking out for Human Rights

Lesbians & Gays Support the Migrants

UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group

Gaysians

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Crude form of censorship” | Episode 10 Jan 18, 2021

After a gay bookshop was raided by customs officers in 1984, the booksellers fought back. This is the story of censorship and community solidarity, and it is not the only one in this episode. Tash and Adam explore the actions of the British state to stop people from seeing things that were considered obscene in the 80s. We also feature a story from people whose magazines and posters were seized, and Adam even sings a song.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute and the BFI National Archive.

For more information, take a look at:

More about Operation Tiger

More about Yulia Tsvetkova’s case

Fringe! Queer Film and Arts Fest

Ezra Benisty

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“No reason whatsoever to doubt” | Episode 9 Jan 11, 2021

From 1983 to 1991, calls to Switchboard about rape and domestic violence increased in number. So in this episode Tash and Adam hear some of those stories and ask volunteers from the time to share their experience of supporting survivors. This episode also features an account of how Switchboard evolved in order to improve how it handled calls about violence, and an update on how these matters are handled today by GALOP, the LGBT+ anti-violence charity.

Content warning: domestic violence, abusive relationships, rape and sexual consent, and suicide.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute and the BFI National Archive.

For more information, take a look at:

Get help from GALOP

SurvivorsUK for help with male rape and sexual abuse

Book:

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Kiss my rump” | Episode 8 Jan 04, 2021

It wasn’t easy being young in the Eighties! Tash and Adam read log book entries and hear stories about growing up, looking for help, and even a teenager who took the government to court. We also catch up with the changes happening around relationships and sex education in schools right now, via Kaley Foran from The Key.

Content warning: Suicide, sexual consent and under-age sex.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute and the BFI National Archive.

For more information take a look at:

Brook, a charity with help and advice about healthy relationships and sexual health

Sex Education Forum, partners working on relationships and sex education for young people

The Key, with advice for school leaders

Educate & Celebrate, helping to make education more inclusive

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Fatally disruptive” | Episode 7 Dec 28, 2020

In 1988 the British government passed explicitly anti-gay legislation. Through log book entries from Switchboard, Tash and Adam return to the scene: lawmakers spaffing about what constitutes a family, gay teachers zipping up and living in fear, and bewildered young people with seemingly nowhere to turn to for advice. This episode is filled with untold stories about Section 28 of the Local Government Act and the censorship of LGBTQ+ lives — and concludes with the joyous launch of a new kids’ book by Olly Pike called Kenny Lives With Erica and Martina.

Content warning: attacks on LGBTQ+ people, including language that some people may find offensive.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute and the BFI National Archive.

TV clip from Gay Rights – The London Programme, produced by LWT, April 10th, 1987.

TV clip from Back In The Closet, produced by Thames TV, January 14th, 1988.

For more information about Section 28, take a look at:

Section 28 detailed history from the LGBT+ History Forum

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Right on, sister!” | Episode 6 Dec 21, 2020

Lipstick on the windscreen to tackle homophobia — just one of the stories in this latest episode from 1983 to 1991. Tash and Adam focus on the hostility in the air during this period, from people using HIV/AIDS as a reason for their prejudice to tensions within Catholic families. We conclude by speaking to Hafsa Qureshi about her experience as a bisexual Muslim woman today.

Content warning: attacks on LGBTQ+ people and biphobia.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute and the BFI National Archive.

A book:

Go The Way Your Blood Beats by Michael Amherst

For more information, take a look at:

Imaan, supporting LGBTQ+ Muslims

Hidayah, supporting LGBTQ+ Muslims

Naz and Matt Foundation, tackling homophobia triggered by religion

Tackling biphobia, support from GALOP

BiPride UK, a safe space for bisexual people in the UK

OneBodyOneFaith, empowering LGBT+ Chrisitans advocating for change

Keshet, supporting LGBTQ+ Jews

Sarbat, LGBT Sikhs

Quest, a support group for LGBT+ Catholics

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Expect extra calls” | Episode 5 Dec 14, 2020

Every time anything to do with LGBTQ+ life was mentioned on TV or in the newspaper in the 80s, Switchboard volunteers took extra calls. In this episode, Tash and Adam speak to the people behind TV programmes and newspaper columns, and hear about the feverish atmosphere that led to anti-gay legislation in 1988. The section on today has two very special guests: our very own Shivani Dave, and Simon McCallum from the BFI National Archive, both comparing the media today with 1983 to 1991.

Content warning: some archaic language that some listeners may find offensive as our contributors discuss how language was used to attack people especially in the media.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute and the BFI National Archive.

LAGNA

Lesbian and Gay Newsmedia Archive at the Bishopsgate Institute

TV

Watch more episodes of Gay Life on the BFI Player.

Books

Mediawatch: Treatment of Male and Female Homosexuality in the British Media by Terry Sanderson

Policing Desire by Simon Watney

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“A hedgehog in my kitchen” | Episode 4 Dec 07, 2020

Some light and laughter in our fourth episode of this season! Tash and Adam hear memories of joy and strength from 1983 to 1991, through the log books at Switchboard and stories from people who remember those years. We also feature the Lesbian Strength Marches, Switchboard’s one-millionth call and an interview with Thigh High, the band who centre their music on queer joy.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute and the BFI National Archive.

Songs by Thigh High featured in this episode, Go Slow and Nannas on the Rampage, used with kind permission of the band. Listen to Thigh High on Spotify.

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Damage caused” | Episode 3 Nov 30, 2020

Bottling attacks and cruel newspaper editorials — this is the story of how the HIV/AIDS crisis hit the LGBTQ+ community in the 80s. Through Switchboard’s unique log book entries, Tash and Adam also uncover the story of a very special volunteer who handled the hardest calls you can imagine. This episode concludes the three-part set of episodes on HIV/AIDS in Season Two, before we move on to other stories found in the log books.

Content warning: Illness, death, archaic language, and ill-treatment and discrimination of people living with HIV and AIDS.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute and the BFI National Archive.

TV clip from The London Programme produced by London Weekend Television, 08/03/1985.

For more information about the themes in this episode, take a look at:

From organisations:

All about HIV from the Terrence Higgins Trust

All about PrEP from Prepster

National Aids Trust, the UK’s HIV rights charity

Positively UK, advocates for and supporters of people living with HIV

Positive East, health and wellbeing for people living with HIV

The National AIDS Map, which grew out of Switchboard!

Tonic Living, which seeks to build LGBT+ affirming retirement communities

TV:

BBC Horizon Killer in the Village from 1983

Podcasts:

From Probably True with Scott Flashheart:

Doctor part 1

Doctor part 2

Plague

Books:

Policing Desire by Simon Watney

The End of Innocence by Simon Garfield

AIDS: Don’t Die of Prejudice by Norman Fowler

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“One hell of a state” | Episode 2 Nov 23, 2020

Tash and Adam continue exploring the HIV/AIDS crisis through the calls made to Switchboard from 1983 to 1991, in this second of three episodes on the subject. This episode contains memories of Switchboard volunteer Mark Ashton, more from George, and further log book entries from the anonymous volunteer looking for others with an HIV diagnosis. We also have untold stories about the UK government’s official public health campaign from 1987 and words from Dr Tristan Barber on the status of HIV prevention and treatment today.

Content warning: Illness, death, and ill-treatment and discrimination of people living with HIV and AIDS.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute and the BFI National Archive.

TV clip from Daytime: AIDS produced by Thames TV, 02/07/1988. TV ad clip from the UK government campaign AIDS: Don’t Die of Ignorance campaign produced in 1987.

For more information about the themes in this episode, take a look at:

From organisations:

All about HIV from the Terrence Higgins Trust

All about PrEP from Prepster

National Aids Trust, the UK’s HIV rights charity

Positively UK, advocates for and supporters of people living with HIV

Positive East, health and wellbeing for people living with HIV

The National AIDS Map, which grew out of Switchboard!

Tonic Living, which seeks to build LGBT+ affirming retirement communities

TV:

BBC Horizon Killer in the Village from 1983

Podcasts:

From Probably True with Scott Flashheart:

Doctor part 1

Doctor part 2

Plague

Books:

Policing Desire by Simon Watney

The End of Innocence by Simon Garfield

AIDS: Don’t Die of Prejudice by Norman Fowler

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Please be gentle” | Episode 1 Nov 16, 2020

This is the story of the early years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic as it has never been told before: through the voices and notes of the people who took phone calls made to an LGBTQ+ helpline. From 1983 to 1991, Switchboard volunteers supported people living with HIV, their loved ones, and people scared of it. In the first of three special episodes that start Season Two of The Log Books, Tash and Adam hear from survivors, a nurse and a doctor, and the people who were among the first to tackle what became a crisis.

Content warning: Illness, death, and ill-treatment and discrimination of people living with HIV and AIDS.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline. With thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute and the BFI National Archive.

For more information about the themes in this episode, take a look at:

From organisations:

All about HIV from the Terrence Higgins Trust

All about PrEP from Prepster

National Aids Trust, the UK’s HIV rights charity

Positively UK, advocates for and supporters of people living with HIV

Positive East, health and wellbeing for people living with HIV

NAM AIDS Map, which grew out of Switchboard!

Tonic Living, which seeks to build LGBT+ affirming retirement communities

TV:

BBC Horizon Killer in the Village from 1983

Podcasts:

From Probably True with Scott Flashheart:

Doctor part 1

Doctor part 2

Plague

Books:

Policing Desire by Simon Watney

The End of Innocence by Simon Garfield

AIDS: Don’t Die of Prejudice by Norman Fowler

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Re-opening The Log Books | Episode 0 Nov 02, 2020

The award-winning podcast The Log Books returns for Season Two!

Our brand-new set of episodes cover 1983 to 1991, continuing where Season One left off in 1982. As always, our re-telling of Britain’s history is led by the handwritten notes made by volunteers at Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline.

In this short episode, hosts Tash and Adam return to the Switchboard log books by visiting two locations that are integral to LGBTQ+ history in these years. We hope you’re as excited as we are about the re-opening of The Log Books, and for all the stories, memories and reflections ahead.

Transcript here.

The Log Books: stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced in partnership with Switchboard, the LGBT+ helpline.

Produced by Shivani Dave, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

Nightclub music at the start of this episode by Pond5

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Joy, friendship and also bitterness” | Season 2 preview episode Jun 29, 2020

Season 2 of The Log Books is coming soon... Our unique exploration of the UK’s queer history through the pages of Switchboard’s log books will be strong, reflective and antiviral!

If you’d like to support our work in bringing season 2 to life, you can contribute financially at supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

In this preview episode, Tash, Adam and Shivani welcome you into their production process for their next full season. The behind-the-scenes glimpse features old and new voices talking about the stories they want to share from 1983 to 1991. The season will cover HIV/AIDS, Section 28, the media — and the countless colourful stories from LGBT+ life that flowed through Switchboard.

Transcript here.

If you have a story to share, please contact us here: www.thelogbooks.org/your-story.

This preview episode was recorded during the Covid-19 lockdown in May and June 2020. We’ll be back in the autumn with the full season 2!

Excerpt from "Gay Rights (The London Programme)", first broadcast by London Weekend Television 10/04/87. With thanks to the BFI National Archive.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Adam Smith and Tash Walker, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline.

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Just needs a chat” | Bonus lockdown episode Apr 27, 2020

This strange moment in history is bringing feelings of isolation and loneliness to so many of us. The coronavirus lockdown has even slowed the production of season 2 of The Log Books, as Tash and Adam are stuck at home. So let’s talk about it.

We’ve based this special lockdown episode on untold stories from calls to Switchboard from the 70s and 80s, as usual. But the episode is also built around Adam and Tash’s reflections on the experiences of those LGBTQ+ callers’ from history and all of us today. We remain physically distant while trying new ways to be socially connected.

Thanks to everyone who read log book entries for this bonus episode: Luis Amália, Frances Lubbe, Rhian Petty and Amy Spiller.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Adam Smith and Tash Walker, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline.

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

For more information about the themes in this episode, take a look at:

London LGBTIQ+ COVID19 Mutual Aid

COVID-19 – How LGBT-inclusive organisations can help

Covid-19 Information and Resources

NHS: Mental wellbeing while staying at home

Rethink: Covid-19 and mental illness

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Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“How nice!” | Bonus LIVE Episode 1 Feb 24, 2020

We’ve taken The Log Books out of the archive for LGBT History Month! We recorded this special episode in front of an audience at an event in London on February 5th 2020. You’ll hear fresh voices and familiar ones, including Tash and Adam. As ever, we are led by the handwritten notes made by volunteers in Switchboard’s log books from 1974 to 1982.

The event was held at the Finsbury Library and co-organised by Islington’s Pride, a Heritage Fund project that aims to preserve, archive and celebrate Islington’s LGBT+ heritage.

Transcript here.

Here are the voices you’ll hear:

Julian Hows, LGBT+ rights activist and former Switchboard volunteer

Marlin Khondoker, project archivist with Islington's Pride

Seán McGovern, project manager with Islington's Pride

Femi Otitoju, former Switchboard volunteer

Adam Smith, co-producer of The Log Books

Tash Walker, co-producer of The Log Books and co-chair of Switchboard

...and members of our live audience

Special thanks to everyone who helped with the event and this bonus podcast episode: Luis Amália, Scott Flashheart, Helen MacKenzie, Egle Rutkauskaite and Eliot Smith.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Adam Smith and Tash Walker, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline.

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Closing The Log Books | Episode 9 Dec 30, 2019

Hello listeners, thank you for joining us through the laughter and tears of queer life in Britain from 1974 to 1982. In this final episode of our first season, Adam and Tash reflect on the stories we’ve all heard. We love hearing your reactions to the stories we’re telling too. Please keep them coming!

Transcript here.

The handwritten notes in Switchboard’s log books continue through the difficult years of the 80s. So we are planning to make a second season, covering 1983 to the early 90s. If you can help with funding, ideas or would like to share your story from those years, please email us on hello@thelogbooks.org.

— Shivani, Tash and Adam

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Adam Smith and Tash Walker, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline.

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I was an inconvenience” | Episode 8 Dec 23, 2019

The early log books open up a world before HIV, showing what it was like for LGBTQ+ people needing healthcare between discos in the 70s. A doctor and a patient are among those who tell Tash and Adam what it was like. Some of the same infections are on the rise again today, as explained by Dr Tristan Barber, a consultant in HIV and sexual health.

Content warning: stories about transitioning and being intersex.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Adam Smith and Tash Walker, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline.

For more information about LGBTQ+ health, take a look at:

Unexpected fluids

SXT: Sexual health information

GMFA — the gay men’s health project

Beating about the bush

Lesbian Sex 101

Mens R Us

CliniQ

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“It’s great to be gay!” | Episode 7 Dec 16, 2019

People often make a phone call because they are lonely and isolated, as the log books at Switchboard show. Exploring this issue, Tash and Adam hear from Tony Whitehead and others who took such calls in the dead of night. Chryssy Hunter explains about the issue of loneliness among our LGBTQ+ elders today.

Content warning: stories about racism, including slurs, and suicide.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Adam Smith and Tash Walker, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline.

For more information about loneliness among LGBTQ+ elders, take a look at:

Opening Doors London

Tackling loneliness and isolation can help older LGBT people’s health

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Anything goes” | Episode 6 Dec 09, 2019

In the 70s, there was no such thing as an “LGBTQ+ community”. The log books reveal how identities, labels and definitions have always been in flux among those with minority sexual and gender identities. Former Switchboard volunteer Diana James is among the contributors who explains all this to Tash and Adam. Transgender and non-binary activists Owl and Fox Fisher guide us through their thoughts on how identities form in today’s internet-focused world.

Content warning: historic terms.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Adam Smith and Tash Walker, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline.

For more information about identities and labels, take a look at:

Why We Need More Queer Identity Labels, Not Fewer

Stonewall’s glossary of terms

A Brief History of the LGBTQ Initialism

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“You might well be very angry!” | Episode 5 Dec 02, 2019

The 70s was a hotbed of activism, from lesbians fighting for child custody to gay men demanding equal laws for the age of sexual consent. Tracking the movement through the log books, Tash and Adam hear from activists on the frontline, including Lisa Power and Ted Brown. Meanwhile, young activists in a resurgent Gay Liberation Front discuss the actions they plan for 2020...

Content warning: stories about racism and stories with sexual content.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Adam Smith and Tash Walker, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline.

For more information about LGBTQ+ rights, take a look at:

Blowing the Lid by Stuart Feather

No Bath But Plenty of Bubbles by Lisa Power

A short history of LGBT rights from the British Library

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Pretty policemen” | Episode 4 Nov 25, 2019

The log books are full of stories about raids on parties and arrests made in public toilets, as the police sought to stop men having sex with men in the 70s and 80s. Tash and Adam hear from the people who suffered through unfair laws and police persecution, a lawyer who defended them, and a retired police officer with regrets. Contributors include Terry Stewart, who is still seeking a pardon for his conviction today.

Content warning: difficult stories of persecution by the police.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Adam Smith and Tash Walker, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline.

For more information about pardons and disregards for old crimes, take a look at:

Alan Turing law: Gay, unjustly convicted - and now denied a pardon

Don’t fall for the myth that it’s 50 years since we decriminalised homosexuality

Information on previous convictions, from Galop

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Let's not shy away from sex" | Episode 3 Nov 18, 2019

A quick glimpse into Switchboard’s log books from the late 70s might make you think that every caller wanted to know about sex. Tash and Adam hear from former volunteers such as Femi Otitoju on advising callers about how to do it, where to cruise, and importing sex toys. Contemporary poems from Michelle Mangal, Annie Hayter and Richard Scott put sex lives into modern words.

Content warning: sexual content.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Adam Smith and Tash Walker, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline.

Transcript here.

Poems:

Mooncup by Michelle Mangal

Public Toilets in Regent's Park by Richard Scott, reproduced with the kind permission of Faber and Faber

God-birth by Annie Hayter

For more information about the items in this episode, take a look at:

Mens R Us info for men having sex with men

Unexpected Fluids podcast

Beating about the bush sexual health guide for lesbians

Lesbian Sex 101

Back Pocket Guide Trans Men

Juno Roche on her book Queer Sex

Risk Aware Consensual Kink

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Huddled together in a corner" | Episode 2 Nov 11, 2019

Pubs and clubs have brought LGBTQ+ people together for many years—to chat, plot, dance, and hook-up. Tash and Adam listen to stories from nights out in the 70s/80s, from the log books and new interviews. They hear how Elaine and Lyn’s lives changed forever in a pub more than three decades ago, and from the queer babes behind Aphrodyki, one of London’s hottest nights today.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Adam Smith and Tash Walker, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline.

Transcript here.

For more information about queer nightlife, take a look at:

Queer today, gone tomorrow: the fight to save LGBT nightlife

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Crashpad needed" | Episode 1 Nov 04, 2019

Runaways and rough sleepers, communes and flatshares, crashpads and catastrophes... Stories about home feature heavily in Switchboard’s log books. Tash and Adam listen to LGBT+ people who searched for somewhere to live in the 1970s, and hear about the persistent problem of homelessness in 2019.

Content warning: stories of suicide and racism, and historic terms.

Transcript here.

The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Adam Smith and Tash Walker, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline.

For more information about homelessness, take a look at:

The Outside Project

akt

LGBT Youth Homelessness report by akt for the Proud Trust

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Opening The Log Books Oct 16, 2019

What if we told you that we could glimpse into LGBT+ life from decades ago?

The Log Books are a unique set of documents tracking Britain’s queer history through the voices of people who have called for help.

Since 1974 volunteers at Switchboard, the LGBT+ helpline, have written callers’ stories down in log books. Hosts Tash Walker and Adam Smith are re-opening these pages today, to hear worries and joys from Britain’s queer history. Episodes of The Log Books include untold stories from dozens of voices, and conversations about being queer today. The first full episode arrives on November 4th, 2019.

The Log Books is produced by Shivani Dave, Adam Smith and Tash Walker, in partnership with Switchboard, the LGBT+ helpline.

Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.