History

We have a long and important LGBT+ history in Scotland, documented over the years by a number of different organisations and dedicated individuals.

Here, we highlight some of the most valuable assets in discovering our shared story over centuries, including the most detailed LGBT+ timeline ever produced in Scotland.

Scotland’s LGBT+ History Timeline (1603 to 2018, Pink Saltire)


Queer Scotland

Jeff Meek has curated a fantastic resource over many decades, capturing Scottish LGBT+ history and experiences.

His website contains a huge range of useful information, publications and clippings across the years.


Our Story Scotland

This charity capture the real life stories of Scotland’s LGBT+ people for their oral history archive and have produced a number of excellent projects over the years.

Check out their website for a wealth of resources and information detailing the lives of queer people in Scotland.


BBC: Coming Oot – A Fabulous History of Gay Scotland

Documentary shown on BBC Scotland and available on iPlayer since November 2015.

Read more about the programme here.

BBC Article (July 2017) – Illegal to be Gay – Scotlands history


The Hive LGBT+ Centre launch (August 2022, Pink Saltire)

In 2022, after fundraising more than £100,000, Scotland’s largest dedicated LGBT+ community hub was opened in Kirkcaldy town centre by the charity Pink Saltire.

The site now boasts a gym, cafe, meeting rooms, library, food pantry, special events and wellbeing support for the LGBT+ community, run by a Love & Harmony SCIO.


Glasgow Women’s Library

The women’s library has the largest collection of resources on LBT women’s history in Scotland. It’s vast archives contain fascinating details and insights across a range of topics, including the Glasgow Lesbian Avengers and the national Lesbian Archive.


LGBT History Month in Scotland

Held every February across the UK, LGBT+ History Month creates an opportunity for organisations and the wider community to look back at our heritage and to share our stories and experiences from a very different time. It gives us all an opportunity to compare how things are today and to mark the immense contribution of community leaders and those who fought for our rights and visibility in Scotland and across the world.

This blog, from LGBT Youth Scotland, describes more of the story here in Scotland.


The Pink Triangle

Why is the pink triangle an important and powerful icon for our movement? Read more about the legacy of the Nazi’s attack on LGBT+ people and how this symbol has been reclaimed to mark strength, solidarity and strength, described in this graphic published by Pink Saltire in 2015.


Gender Fluidity in Scottish History

The blog ‘Random Scottish History’ carries a podcast on some of the references to gender fluidity across Scottish history and the site is a fabulous resource for quirky and often unknown stories from queer heritage here in Scotland.

Listen to ‘Gender Fluidity in Scottish History’ here.


Time for Inclusive Education (TIE)

The TIE website has a range of informative and quality resources available to help teaching professionals create fun and interactive learning opportunities for all ages of young people.


Historic Environment Scotland

A Brief Timeline of LGBT History in Scotland


LGBT History in Scotland

Check out the blog pages detailing information including the Scottish Minorities Group origins here.


National Records Scotland

Hidden LGBT+ Histories


Thomas Hoskyns Leonard Blog

This blog entry contains detail on Edinburgh’s LGBT+ history including the Regent Bar.


Scotland with Hannah

Edinburgh’s LGBTQ History blog


Scottish LGBT+ News

LGBT+ News archive (2014 – 2023, Pink Saltire)

Pink News archive

ScotsGay Archive (ended 2021)


Scottish Pride History

A short history of Pride in Scotland video (2022, Pink Saltire)

Pride History in Scotland

World Pride 2020 video message by FM Nicola Sturgeon & Pink Saltire

Pride Dates & Hosts (1995 to 2025)

Pride Scotland Snapchat campaign (2017, Pink Saltire)

Mardi Gla pride parade (Glasgow)
West Lothian Pride (Livingston)
Fife Pride (Kirkcaldy)
Glasgow’s Pride