AN ANDOVER man who has spent several years researching Hampshire’s LGBT history has released a new booklet on the subject, which will be on sale at the town’s first Pride event.
Dr Clifford Williams first published A Queer A-Z of Hampshire in 2019, which chronicled the county’s LGBT history.
Copies were sold at Andover Museum and elsewhere across Hampshire so quickly that it went out of print.
READ MORE: 'I really hope Andover Pride can bring the local LGBTQ+ community together'
He has now updated the booklet and will be selling it at Andover Pride on Saturday, June 22. Copies will cost £3.
Dr Williams, who has lived in Andover for more than 35 years, grew up as a gay teenager in south London, when homosexual acts under 21 were illegal and you could be sacked from work for being openly gay.
He said in the late 70s he was fortunate to find a youth group catering for gay teenagers, which was very rare.
Dr Williams is working with Hampshire Archives on building up the LGBT history archive collection.
He is also collating stories from older LGBT residents of Andover.
Andover Pride, hosted by the Mayor of Andover and Andover Town Council, along with partners Test Valley Borough Council, Andover College, InAndover and Andover Mind, will take place in Pocket Park, behind Town Mills.
The event is the first of its kind to be held in the town.
It will be free to attend, and will be taking place from 12pm-6pm.
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