Interview with Shaun (pt 1)
- Reference Number: DW-94/1/20/2
- Date: 2013
- Level: Piece
- Extent: 1 item
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Description: 1.15- ?There?s no realising about it I?ve been gay forever and I?ve known that since was in primary school? but didn?t come out until 23, didn?t know why he left it that long, laments not going to canal street when studying in Manchester, didn?t know it existed
2.40- things weren?t as open when he came out, now every soap has gay characters, films and politicians too, back then there was only the iceberg gay ad, mentions of gay footballers driven to suicide
3.45- never really had a grand desire to come out, as he got into his 20s started thinking about purpose in life, why was he looking at all of these men and not doing anything about it
4.10- decided to do something about it whilst at teacher training college
6.10- feels that soaps are sometimes adding gay characters just to be fashionable, talks about EastEnders
6.45- talks about it becoming fashionable in the late 90s early 2000s, the gay best friend thing, feels like now we are moving into a better space where it doesn?t matter, not fashionable not negative, just the way you are
7.40- talks again about AIDS iceberg ad, influence of channel 4 on him, showing things which explored the gay lifestyle and effect of AIDs
8.35- lucky with family, never had to do a big coming out, they weren?t bothered at all, they all attended his civil partnership, is aware other people haven?t been so lucky
9.45- gay was used as an insult when he was at school, in the same way ginger freckles black and Asian was also used. Didn?t really experience any homophobic bullying. Did mess around with other boys at school, but they are all straight now, he is now
11- came out at teacher training college, to some of the people he was close to, they encouraged him to go for it
11.30- his parents are both teachers, but he has always worked in pubs. The first aged 18 was the Crooked House in Dudley. Through university was interested in entertainment industry, was socials rep. Even whilst teaching was still involved with entertainment e.g. mobile discos and Dudley hospital radio station
12.30- did love teaching but knew he wanted to be in the pub/club industry
12.50- first experience running a venue was the lord raglan in Wolverhampton, previous person who ran it also went on to the Dorchester and Subway City, unfortunately it didn?t work out, but it was a great learning curve.
14.20- then moved on to route 66 in Birmingham, then Martha?s a gay bar and club in Portsmouth, met his other half in Portsmouth
14.55- moved back to Birmingham in 2005 took over as manager at Route 2 (formerly route 66)
15.05- in 2006, took over the Queens Arms became a real success, and then moved to the White Hart, took on the New Inns which became the old gorgeous and eventually they have ended up there in the new Gorgeous and they also have Divine,
15.45- ?Without blowing our trumpet too loudly we?ve taken the gay scene from being a backstreet a backstreet scene in Wolverhampton into being out in the open with erm pride flag flying and er moving in the direction that I think they both scenes they should be in terms of gay straight both making everyone go whether you?re gay or straight making everyone join together having a good fun night out?
16.40- old nightingale in Birmingham, having to knock on the door to be let in. Feels the gay scene more generally were in the backstreets, only in the past 10 years or so that gay venues have been able to move into the centre. Wolverhampton was behind Birmingham, when they first came there was only the Greyhound and the White Hart at the end of town
19.10- talks about meeting his partner in Portsmouth ?something just clicked? and ?it just felt right? they?ve been together 9 years, had a civil partnership at Dudley registry office
20.10- used to be a regular church goer with his parents, All Saints Church in Sedgley (?), even as a teenager felt that people at church were wrong, not being Christian but wrapped up in themselves, would love to get married in a church, particularly at All Saints to make a point and ruffle a few feathers
21.30- as he?s gotten older realised his work isn?t conducive to having children
- Access Status: Open
- Contact: Wolverhampton Archives, Wolverhampton Archives & Local Studies