}
OH428 Interview with Richard Dixon (OutStories Bristol)
Please note this is not a full, complete transcript but a detailed summary of the recording
V08_Dixon1 [00:18:15] Interviewer introduction, interviewee name, place and year of birth. Explains coming to Bristol as a student (in early 1980s) and to explore sexuality. Description of socialising. Mentions Oasis nightclub and The Elephant pub. Describes these places. Richard Sweet as owner and two older ladies behind bar. Mentions 49 Steps (nightclub), describes as bisexual. Met Charlie [Beaton] here. [00:03:49] Describes sexual identity and realisation of being gay. Diverse friendship group. [00:05:15] Describes being out as social worker. Focus of colleagues on sex life. Describes instance of being threatened. Describes how things have changed – sexuality more open now. [00:08:36] Involvement in National and Local Government Officers Association (NALGO) – now Unison. Describes political viewpoint – left of middle. 1990s - mentions Section 28. Outlines view on derogatory gay male language towards women. Describes gender balance in Bristol gay community in the past and now. [00:14:03] Discusses LGBT fostering, views on, experiences of. [00:16:43] Describes working experience and motivation.
V08_Dixon2 [00:32:19] Describes work as respite carer, being assessed as gay man. Recruiting foster carers – presence at pride. [00:02:37] Discusses effect of law change on adoption (2002) on recruiting LGBT adopters and foster carers. Describes atmosphere at work, over time, in different positions. Enjoys ‘frontline’ work. [00:04:45] Discusses personal relationships and friendships. Involvement in groups – gay cycling group, gay line dancing (1990s) – Pigsty Hill. Mentions going to national line dancing event in Cotswolds. [00:08:45] Describes involvement in communities – the street, friendship groups, gay groups. Gay Outdoor Club. Describes people and activities in cycling group. [00:11:27] Not involved in Pride. Mentions other activities: school governor, voluntary work – helpline for men who have been sexually abused. Mentions attendance at Prides (London and Bristol) – changes to Pride – smaller, less political. Current political activities. Discusses role as local primary school governor. Describes involvement with the local volunteer helpline. Mentions range of other volunteering activities. [00:17:14] Role of technology in changing communication relationships. Accessibility of information. Describes influence of magazine ‘Spare Rib’. Views on reasons for being camp then and now. [00:20:31] Discusses places lived in Bristol – St George, Bedminster, St Werburghs, Cotham, Redland, Montpelier. [00:22:31] Describes negative experiences. Role of clothes. View on discrimination. Describes clothes and meaning of fashion. [00:25:04] Describes economic background, type of school attended. Views on class. Describes view of class in Bristol. Discusses changing attitudes towards poverty – more blame now. Mentions observations on accents in Bristol, in relation to class.[00:30:47] Describes highlights of living in Bristol – friendships; multiculturalism. Notes LGBT struggle ongoing (nationally).
Quotes:
On friendships: ‘Having friends really...rather than having gay friends or straight friends, just having friends really’ [4:14]
On being gay then and now: ‘...if I was younger now, could explore my sexuality in a more fun way rather than hiding it... it was a quieter time in the ‘80s’ [7:37]
On technology and communication: ‘...when I was younger there weren’t so many reference points to go out and find out about gay things, so you might not go to all the gay bars and clubs, and that sort of stuff; but it’s nice to see what’s being talked about on the web, and there are these sites where you can meet other people, and you can see what people are saying and thinking about things...’ [17:14]
On class, and way it’s viewed is changing: ‘poverty these day is seen as a negative thing, a bad thing, you’re blamed for being poor, rather than years ago... now it’s about the deserving poor...and that frightens me a little bit.’ [27:14]
Concluding thought: ‘The fight is never over, on lesbian and gay issues, that things can always go back, like they have in America... there will always be a hatred towards lesbian and gay people, therefore you’ve always got to work together to make sure the struggle carries on really, to never give up, to always look over your shoulder’. [31:51].
V08_Dixon1 [00:18:15] Interviewer introduction, interviewee name, place and year of birth. Explains coming to Bristol as a student (in early 1980s) and to explore sexuality. Description of socialising. Mentions Oasis nightclub and The Elephant pub. Describes these places. Richard Sweet as owner and two older ladies behind bar. Mentions 49 Steps (nightclub), describes as bisexual. Met Charlie [Beaton] here. [00:03:49] Describes sexual identity and realisation of being gay. Diverse friendship group. [00:05:15] Describes being out as social worker. Focus of colleagues on sex life. Describes instance of being threatened. Describes how things have changed – sexuality more open now. [00:08:36] Involvement in National and Local Government Officers Association (NALGO) – now Unison. Describes political viewpoint – left of middle. 1990s - mentions Section 28. Outlines view on derogatory gay male language towards women. Describes gender balance in Bristol gay community in the past and now. [00:14:03] Discusses LGBT fostering, views on, experiences of. [00:16:43] Describes working experience and motivation.
V08_Dixon2 [00:32:19] Describes work as respite carer, being assessed as gay man. Recruiting foster carers – presence at pride. [00:02:37] Discusses effect of law change on adoption (2002) on recruiting LGBT adopters and foster carers. Describes atmosphere at work, over time, in different positions. Enjoys ‘frontline’ work. [00:04:45] Discusses personal relationships and friendships. Involvement in groups – gay cycling group, gay line dancing (1990s) – Pigsty Hill. Mentions going to national line dancing event in Cotswolds. [00:08:45] Describes involvement in communities – the street, friendship groups, gay groups. Gay Outdoor Club. Describes people and activities in cycling group. [00:11:27] Not involved in Pride. Mentions other activities: school governor, voluntary work – helpline for men who have been sexually abused. Mentions attendance at Prides (London and Bristol) – changes to Pride – smaller, less political. Current political activities. Discusses role as local primary school governor. Describes involvement with the local volunteer helpline. Mentions range of other volunteering activities. [00:17:14] Role of technology in changing communication relationships. Accessibility of information. Describes influence of magazine ‘Spare Rib’. Views on reasons for being camp then and now. [00:20:31] Discusses places lived in Bristol – St George, Bedminster, St Werburghs, Cotham, Redland, Montpelier. [00:22:31] Describes negative experiences. Role of clothes. View on discrimination. Describes clothes and meaning of fashion. [00:25:04] Describes economic background, type of school attended. Views on class. Describes view of class in Bristol. Discusses changing attitudes towards poverty – more blame now. Mentions observations on accents in Bristol, in relation to class.[00:30:47] Describes highlights of living in Bristol – friendships; multiculturalism. Notes LGBT struggle ongoing (nationally).
Quotes:
On friendships: ‘Having friends really...rather than having gay friends or straight friends, just having friends really’ [4:14]
On being gay then and now: ‘...if I was younger now, could explore my sexuality in a more fun way rather than hiding it... it was a quieter time in the ‘80s’ [7:37]
On technology and communication: ‘...when I was younger there weren’t so many reference points to go out and find out about gay things, so you might not go to all the gay bars and clubs, and that sort of stuff; but it’s nice to see what’s being talked about on the web, and there are these sites where you can meet other people, and you can see what people are saying and thinking about things...’ [17:14]
On class, and way it’s viewed is changing: ‘poverty these day is seen as a negative thing, a bad thing, you’re blamed for being poor, rather than years ago... now it’s about the deserving poor...and that frightens me a little bit.’ [27:14]
Concluding thought: ‘The fight is never over, on lesbian and gay issues, that things can always go back, like they have in America... there will always be a hatred towards lesbian and gay people, therefore you’ve always got to work together to make sure the struggle carries on really, to never give up, to always look over your shoulder’. [31:51].
