}
OH419 Interview with Kerry Sutton-Spence (OutStories Bristol)
Track 1 [01:05:34] [Session 1: November 7th, 2012] Kerry Ann Sutton-Spence [KS] (nee Sutton- Pratt) born 20th March,1960 in Aldershot, UK. Father – Army Captain then Manager at British Airways, Mother home duties then Personal Assistant to Managing Director of Plessey Radar.
[00:01:28] Describes early childhood memories, changes to area since childhood and differences for children presently [00:03:14] Describes memories of school, 12 yrs old when best friend moved away, describes difficulties with this and the academic focus of the school [00:04:15] Left school at 18 with poor self-esteem and lack of direction. Journalism course for 12 months at Portsmouth, then freelance work on local newspaper. Moved to London at 19 (~1979), job working for Harvey Goldsmith [00:05:04] Describes sense of freedom to begin to explore sexuality [00:05:43] Trip to Australia and New Zealand with Australian flatmate [00:05:49] Relates story of ringing gay helpline in Wellington, New Zealand (1981) [00:06:23] Describes brief relationship with woman when KS was 17 yrs old [00:06:52] Returns to London and answers advertisement in City Limits (listings magazine), meets about 5 women this way, describes brief relationship with one woman
[00:07:36] Describes initial thoughts of same sex attraction and impact on self-image from primary school, then boyfriends from 15 ys old but still being attracted to girls. [00:08:38] Comments on lack of positive lesbian role models in the 1970s. Describes understanding need to keep same sex attraction secret, relates story of keeping Spare Rib (magazine) under mattress [00:10:49] Relates story of ending first relationship with woman due to fear of disapproval from brother and friends [00:12:47] Describes feelings after first kiss with woman [00:13:26] Describes how being in New Zealand gave a freedom to start to explore sexuality on her own terms and continuing this on return to London [00:13:57] Describes coming out to a close friend and importance of not being rejected
[00:14:47] Describes relationship with woman in London, trip to Greece. Return to London relates putting advertisement in Time Out (magazine). Met another woman who she went out with. [0016:40] Describes life in Oxford doing teacher training, including joining the Gay Society. Describes some of the religious students and their attitudes. Met partner of 20 years, Rachel. [00:18:49] Describes gaining confidence to be more active politically, going to London Pride, marching against Clause 28 [00:19:37] Describes coming out to family members and their individual reactions (1985) [00:22:20] Describes first teaching post in Essex (1988), sharing house with straight people and being back in the closet. Moved house to share with a friend (Phil) and was much happier [00:24:16] Describes being out to two people at school and their positive reactions and why it did not feel safe to be out at school
[00:25:50] Describes move to Bristol in 1989 and decision to buy house. Describes teaching at Barton Hill [00:27:19] Relates wanting to explore gay scene in Bristol and contacting Gay West and attending coffee morning, comment that mainly men attended these. Member of Gay West for 10 years, describes social events and lack of political events. [00:28:40] Describes setting up women’s drop in below Greenleaf Bookshop and then, its demise, comments on lack of women’s groups at that time and how things are different now with lots of groups. [00:31:01] Reflects on social life at the time. Remembers lesbian venue, The Scarlett Coat but did not attend. Women’s disco at Arnos Court Hotel on Bath Road, attended occasionally. Did not feel very at home here, particularly due to amount of alcohol consumed [00:33:06] Joins Lesbian and Gay Switchboard (early 1990s) Describes social occasions with this group. Comments again on lack of knowledge of groups at time [00:34:35] Comments on broader politics and Gay West involvement in London Pride, marches to support anti-gay legislation or prejudice
[00:36:08] Describes life in early 1990s, decision to work part time. Relates story of being outed to parents via being filmed at Pride. [00:37:17] Describes initial involvement with National Gay and Lesbian Survey (NLGS) after talk by Ken Barrow (National Men’s Director of NLGS) at Oxford. Describes how the survey was set up based on Mass Observation Survey and its aims to record the lives of gay men and women [00:39:30] Finishes outing to parents story: KS now Women’s Director NGLS, involved in compilation book – “What a Lesbian Looks Like”. Relates story of wearing T shirt with book title on it and reactions of people and how she ended up on TV being seen by parents [00:42:10] Comments on challenging homophobic abuse at school and lack of school guidelines on teachers’ sexuality. Discusses lack of will of schools to battle homophobia the way racism is. Comments that it might be the age group (primary school),that minimises homophobic bullying despite the sexualisation of children, particularly girls [00:45:52] Comments on the changes due to social networking and the Internet from when KS was young [00:46:44] Describes time on Lesbian and Gay Switchboard, how types of call changed over 10 years and the diminishing need for the service.
[00:48:25] Describes life in 2000, lack of involvement in Gay West, travelling [00:49:37] Describes having own wedding ceremony in 1990, then wearing a wedding ring and her Grandmother’s reaction [00:51:07] Story of grandmother’s visit and comment on double bed in KS’s house [00:51:43] Describes civil partnership, impact of being treated equally and hope that Labour gave on being elected. Comments importance of civil partnership [00:54:12] Describes different reactions of friends to civil partnerships and KS’s caution about having another civil partnership in current relationship. Discusses why it was important to have a civil partnership initially and the validation it gave [00:57:07] Describes her role in running the National Gay and Lesbian Survey, paranoia of the 80s and changes to the age of consent. Describes events leading up to the NGLS’s demise and where the deposit it held. Comments on hope that the information will eventually be available on the Internet.
[01:01:31] Describes current life, living in Bristol and plans for the future. Has joined SingOut Bristol and comments on the amount of things to do in Bristol for gay people. Comments on changes to life over the past 10 years and getting older [01:04:23] Advice for younger people to seize the day [01:05:34]
Exhibition Ideas/Quotes:
[00:08:38] Comments on lack of positive lesbian role models in the 70’s. Describes understanding need to keep same sex attraction secret, relates story of keeping Spare Rib (magazine) under mattress
[00:12:47] Describes feelings after first kiss with woman
[00:13:57] Describes coming out to a close friend and importance of not being rejected
[00:19:39] Quote about coming out to sister on Christmas Day “Well, there’s nothing on the telly, you’ve got to talk about something”
[00:37:17] Describes initial involvement with National Gay and Lesbian Survey after talk by Ken Barrow (National Men’s Director of National Gay and Lesbian Survey) at Oxford. Describes how the survey was set up based on Mass Observation Survey and its aims to record the lives of gay men and women
[00:39:30] Finishes outing to parents story: KS now Women’s Director NGLS, involved in compilation book – “What a Lesbian Looks Like”. Relates story of wearing T shirt with book title on it and reactions of people and how she ended up on TV being seen by parents
[00:51:07] Story of grandmother’s visit and comment on double bed in KS’s house
[00:01:28] Describes early childhood memories, changes to area since childhood and differences for children presently [00:03:14] Describes memories of school, 12 yrs old when best friend moved away, describes difficulties with this and the academic focus of the school [00:04:15] Left school at 18 with poor self-esteem and lack of direction. Journalism course for 12 months at Portsmouth, then freelance work on local newspaper. Moved to London at 19 (~1979), job working for Harvey Goldsmith [00:05:04] Describes sense of freedom to begin to explore sexuality [00:05:43] Trip to Australia and New Zealand with Australian flatmate [00:05:49] Relates story of ringing gay helpline in Wellington, New Zealand (1981) [00:06:23] Describes brief relationship with woman when KS was 17 yrs old [00:06:52] Returns to London and answers advertisement in City Limits (listings magazine), meets about 5 women this way, describes brief relationship with one woman
[00:07:36] Describes initial thoughts of same sex attraction and impact on self-image from primary school, then boyfriends from 15 ys old but still being attracted to girls. [00:08:38] Comments on lack of positive lesbian role models in the 1970s. Describes understanding need to keep same sex attraction secret, relates story of keeping Spare Rib (magazine) under mattress [00:10:49] Relates story of ending first relationship with woman due to fear of disapproval from brother and friends [00:12:47] Describes feelings after first kiss with woman [00:13:26] Describes how being in New Zealand gave a freedom to start to explore sexuality on her own terms and continuing this on return to London [00:13:57] Describes coming out to a close friend and importance of not being rejected
[00:14:47] Describes relationship with woman in London, trip to Greece. Return to London relates putting advertisement in Time Out (magazine). Met another woman who she went out with. [0016:40] Describes life in Oxford doing teacher training, including joining the Gay Society. Describes some of the religious students and their attitudes. Met partner of 20 years, Rachel. [00:18:49] Describes gaining confidence to be more active politically, going to London Pride, marching against Clause 28 [00:19:37] Describes coming out to family members and their individual reactions (1985) [00:22:20] Describes first teaching post in Essex (1988), sharing house with straight people and being back in the closet. Moved house to share with a friend (Phil) and was much happier [00:24:16] Describes being out to two people at school and their positive reactions and why it did not feel safe to be out at school
[00:25:50] Describes move to Bristol in 1989 and decision to buy house. Describes teaching at Barton Hill [00:27:19] Relates wanting to explore gay scene in Bristol and contacting Gay West and attending coffee morning, comment that mainly men attended these. Member of Gay West for 10 years, describes social events and lack of political events. [00:28:40] Describes setting up women’s drop in below Greenleaf Bookshop and then, its demise, comments on lack of women’s groups at that time and how things are different now with lots of groups. [00:31:01] Reflects on social life at the time. Remembers lesbian venue, The Scarlett Coat but did not attend. Women’s disco at Arnos Court Hotel on Bath Road, attended occasionally. Did not feel very at home here, particularly due to amount of alcohol consumed [00:33:06] Joins Lesbian and Gay Switchboard (early 1990s) Describes social occasions with this group. Comments again on lack of knowledge of groups at time [00:34:35] Comments on broader politics and Gay West involvement in London Pride, marches to support anti-gay legislation or prejudice
[00:36:08] Describes life in early 1990s, decision to work part time. Relates story of being outed to parents via being filmed at Pride. [00:37:17] Describes initial involvement with National Gay and Lesbian Survey (NLGS) after talk by Ken Barrow (National Men’s Director of NLGS) at Oxford. Describes how the survey was set up based on Mass Observation Survey and its aims to record the lives of gay men and women [00:39:30] Finishes outing to parents story: KS now Women’s Director NGLS, involved in compilation book – “What a Lesbian Looks Like”. Relates story of wearing T shirt with book title on it and reactions of people and how she ended up on TV being seen by parents [00:42:10] Comments on challenging homophobic abuse at school and lack of school guidelines on teachers’ sexuality. Discusses lack of will of schools to battle homophobia the way racism is. Comments that it might be the age group (primary school),that minimises homophobic bullying despite the sexualisation of children, particularly girls [00:45:52] Comments on the changes due to social networking and the Internet from when KS was young [00:46:44] Describes time on Lesbian and Gay Switchboard, how types of call changed over 10 years and the diminishing need for the service.
[00:48:25] Describes life in 2000, lack of involvement in Gay West, travelling [00:49:37] Describes having own wedding ceremony in 1990, then wearing a wedding ring and her Grandmother’s reaction [00:51:07] Story of grandmother’s visit and comment on double bed in KS’s house [00:51:43] Describes civil partnership, impact of being treated equally and hope that Labour gave on being elected. Comments importance of civil partnership [00:54:12] Describes different reactions of friends to civil partnerships and KS’s caution about having another civil partnership in current relationship. Discusses why it was important to have a civil partnership initially and the validation it gave [00:57:07] Describes her role in running the National Gay and Lesbian Survey, paranoia of the 80s and changes to the age of consent. Describes events leading up to the NGLS’s demise and where the deposit it held. Comments on hope that the information will eventually be available on the Internet.
[01:01:31] Describes current life, living in Bristol and plans for the future. Has joined SingOut Bristol and comments on the amount of things to do in Bristol for gay people. Comments on changes to life over the past 10 years and getting older [01:04:23] Advice for younger people to seize the day [01:05:34]
Exhibition Ideas/Quotes:
[00:08:38] Comments on lack of positive lesbian role models in the 70’s. Describes understanding need to keep same sex attraction secret, relates story of keeping Spare Rib (magazine) under mattress
[00:12:47] Describes feelings after first kiss with woman
[00:13:57] Describes coming out to a close friend and importance of not being rejected
[00:19:39] Quote about coming out to sister on Christmas Day “Well, there’s nothing on the telly, you’ve got to talk about something”
[00:37:17] Describes initial involvement with National Gay and Lesbian Survey after talk by Ken Barrow (National Men’s Director of National Gay and Lesbian Survey) at Oxford. Describes how the survey was set up based on Mass Observation Survey and its aims to record the lives of gay men and women
[00:39:30] Finishes outing to parents story: KS now Women’s Director NGLS, involved in compilation book – “What a Lesbian Looks Like”. Relates story of wearing T shirt with book title on it and reactions of people and how she ended up on TV being seen by parents
[00:51:07] Story of grandmother’s visit and comment on double bed in KS’s house
