Inverness queer book club lets LGBTQ+ community see themselves in literature for the first time
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For over a year now, a queer book club in Inverness has been encouraging members of the LGBTQ+ community to get back into reading and learn about their own history.
Growing out of the Inverness Kiki Family, the monthly literature discussions take place at Eden Court, and have featured a mix of fiction and non-fiction titles – chosen by a different attendee each month – including Alice Walker's The Colour Purple, Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City and books about asexuality and the Stonewall Riots.
Starting up in December 2022, the book club may only be at the start of its second year but it is already having an impact on its members.
Although improving over recent years, for a long time LGBTQ+ representation in any kind of media was few and far between – often relying on stereotypes that did not reflect reality for many people.
Queer history, too, has not always been accessible. In fact, due to Section 28, teaching about LGBTQ+ topics was banned altogether in schools for 12 years in Scotland, and 15 years in England and Wales from 1988.
That, then, is what potentially separates Inverness' queer book club from others – as well as providing a social space, it also allows people to see themselves in literature for the first time.
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"We let everyone give their thoughts on the book first, then we hit the group with some talking points about the book, or some hot takes, that we discuss," Inverness Kiki Family founder Stephen Doyle explained.
"It's common for attendees to open up about how a book relates to their own experiences.
"I used to read a lot, but by the time of the first book club meet-up my reading had been pretty much reduced to zero, so the book club has been great to get me back into reading, and also to read books that I normally wouldn't have tried."
Queer book club organiser Skye Simpson added: "Reading has always been one of my main hobbies. Despite this and being queer myself, I have not read that many books that have LGBTQ+ storylines or characters.
"There can be something magical and deeply meaningful about seeing people like yourself in a book, and reading also allows us to see into the experiences of people that you might not encounter otherwise.
"While the amount of books that feature queer stories and characters have increased and received more attention over the years, this has not always been the case and so it is important to highlight books with queer characters and stories.
"Furthermore, queer history typically isn't taught in schools, and by reading non-fiction books such as The Stonewall Reader can open people's eyes to the history of real queer people and their experiences."
"The queer book club is important since it provides another kind of space for LGBTQ+ people to hang out and meet other people, in a space where everyone is respected and don't have to be constantly on guard.
"People are able to be introduced to books that they normally wouldn't read, and it has also allowed people to meet and form friendships with other people in the LGBTQ+ community in and near Inverness, which has been lovely to see."
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